CONCERT Orchestra Notes – 9/16/25 | Metropolitan Youth Symphony

Posted on September 16, 2025September 16, 2025 by mys-staff

Hi all,

Good work on Sunday 9/14. Thanks for your preparation. Please see below for this week’s notes.

Thanks!

Dr. G.

Rehearsal Recap – 9/14/25

We had our first week of sectionals. Strings worked with Casey in the pavilion, and winds/brass worked with Adam in the cafeteria.
We spent most of our time during the tutti portion of rehearsal on the exposition of the Smyth Symphony. We found that the syncopations that start around m. 65 can be tricky. Please practice these with a metronome. You could start by setting your metronome to ~140 (with an accent every three beats if possible), and practice these syncopations making sure you’re changing notes on the 3rd and 6th beats (right before the accented one). Once you’re comfortable, increase the metronome speed by a few clicks and repeat the process. Eventually, you’ll want to switch the metronome to ~60 or so, and play the music “in two.” So, the triple subdivision will be internal (in your head).
Please also make sure to practice all the dynamic changes: subito dynamics, crescendos, diminuendos, etc.
Towards the end of rehearsal, we spent a little time on Brahms, starting at letter F. Please make sure you’re VERY aware of the difference between 3 bars before G and 2 bars before H. Remember that the tempo doesn’t change anymore after letter F.

Rehearsal Plan – 9/21/25

This coming Sunday will be the first weekend with coachings. We will have separate coaches for each string section (violin 1, violin 2, violas, cello+bass). The following week (9/28) will be the brass’s turn, and the following (10/5) the woodwinds’ turn.

Please arrive by 1:45pm at All Saints: 601 NE Cesar E Chavez Blvd, Portland, OR 97232. We can always use extra hands to help set up the room if you are able to get there closer to 1:30pm.
1:45pm – EVERYBODY SIGN IN IN CAFETERIA.
2:00pm-3:15pm – strings coachings (various locations); winds/brass sectional with Adam Eccleson in cafeteria
- Please focus on Smyth: letter D to the end of the piece – our goal tempo for this piece will be dotted quarter = 112. For this rehearsal, be prepared to play accurately at dotted quarter = 90.
3:15pm-3:30pm – break (strings: come back to cafeteria)
3:30pm-4:30pm – Smyth: letter D to end, dotted quarter = 90
4:30pm-5:00pm – Brahms: letter [F] (“Vivo”) to end – we’ll keep the same plan as last Sunday for Brahms: our goal tempo for the “vivo” sections of this piece will be quarter = 148. For this rehearsal, be prepared to play accurately at quarter = 120.

MYS CONCERT Part Assignments, Orchestra Schedule, Repertoire, Audio Reference, etc…

There is a small update to our Part Assignments document (violin 1). No updates this week to our schedule or repertoire list.

You can always find the most updated versions of these documents on the sidebar of this blog.

Reminder: suggestions for our spring term challenge piece

One final reminder to suggest pieces for our spring term challenge piece. Below are the overall requirements for this piece. If you think of anything, please email me and I’ll add your suggestion to my list! If there are 2 or 3 suitable options, I might have you all vote. Please send your ideas by Friday this week (9/19).

Duration: about 10 minutes maximum (this can be a single movement of a larger piece, a stand-alone concert piece, or a combination of a few shorter movements).
Instrumentation: full symphony orchestra (woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings). Harp and piano are welcome too.
Difficulty: realistic for the ensemble. We want it to be challenging, but not overwhelmingly difficult. If in doubt, send me your suggestion anyway and I’ll let you know.

Find PDF Practice Parts at the MYS Online Music Library

If you lose your part, or need to access a digital copy for any reason, you can find one in our Online Music Library. Look for the button “C.O. Music Library” on the sidebar or the bottom of this blog page. The password is playmys.

Register for Music Theory

Our intermediate and advanced Music Theory classes take place on Monday or Tuesday evenings, starting September 29 or 30. This class is STRONGLY recommended for everyone. More information and registration here.

Availability for private lessons

I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability on Monday afternoons for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be in person at my home studio in SE Portland, or via Zoom. (I may also be available for private coaching sessions for other instruments, but my specific instrumental training is upper strings.) Shoot me an e-mail if you’re interested for more details.

Happy practicing,
(and don’t forget to bring a music stand)