What I Didn't Learn in Undergrad

My apologies for my disappearance. I decided in the last few weeks that real live contact with a few people I get to see about once a year was more important than virtual contact with many I see every day. Tee hee.

I've been in vacation mode for about a month- a trip to the alma mater to visit old friends and favorite places, the holidays, two of my best friends visiting and me showing them around this place. Now that it's over, I'm basically totally refreshed and excited to get back to work. I'm lining up some audtions, scheming about chamber music, and really into the orchestra (this week...)

I was thinking today during rehearsal about what I didn't learn in undergard. Keeping in mind that I learned so much I can hardly believe it in undergrad, it's interesting to think about it a year and a half out, with no negative connotations, promise. Also, remember that this list doesn't necessarily mean I've learned it since, although some of them I think I have, but at least it means I've become aware that I don't know it, which is the first step, right?


1) How to play the stopped low C-sharp at the end of Tchaikovsky's 6th Symphony so that it rattles.
2) It really is all about air.
3) Pitches have tendencies when they are crescendo-ing or decrescendo-ing.
4) Low horn players play fairly loud, loud or really loud most of the time.
5) What mouthpiece I should play.
6) What horn I should play.
7) That I want to be a second horn player.
8) No, it really is all about air.
9) Most people worry about endurance.
10) Almost the most important thing you can do is play in tune.
11) Watch the concertmaster.
12) Pay attention to the cellos.
13) Listen to the basses.
14) My mid-register D's are usually flat, my low F-sharps are usually sharp, my high G-sharps are usually sharp, and my low D's sound better when I use thumb and 3.
15) Really, it is all about air.

Sorry, that was probably more interesting for some than others. But considering 75% of my readers are brass players (I think), I will leave it at that. I promise my next post will be about falling in love or getting in a fight with a best friend to balance it out. :)