CONCERT Orchestra Notes – October 13, 2026
Dear Concert Orchestra,
Thank you for your work in rehearsal on Sunday, October 11.
Please remember to always sign in when you arrive for rehearsal. Only four wind/brass players signed in on Sunday, and there were definitely more of you there.
Please practice with a metronome! Start at slower tempos and make sure you can play your part accurately and comfortably. Then, increase the tempo very gradually to gain facility. See below under “HOW TO PRACTICE WITH A METRONOME.”
Also, a reminder that this coming Sunday (10/18) is our concert dress check and ensemble photo. Please come in concert dress (all black), and make sure a Group Manager OKs your attire.
Finally, our concert is in just about a month from today. The days are going to FLY BY, so let’s make sure everyone’s individual parts are fully learned by now, so we can spend the next 4 weeks bringing our ensemble playing to the highest possible level.
Please see below for a rehearsal recap, plans for 10/18, and more details.
Best,
Dr. G.
weekend rehearsals left before concert:
4
Rehearsal Recap: Sunday, October 11
- 5:15pm-6:30pm: woodwind coachings – each woodwind section worked with coaches from the Oregon Symphony on relevant passages from all movements. Double reeds were together.
- 5:15pm-6:30pm: sectionals
- Strings with Vijeta Sathyaraj @ Contrabassment – worked on Chanson du Toréador & Danse Bohéme.
- Brass @ Fireside Room – worked on relevant passages from all movements.
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: full orchestra rehearsal with RGR
- We worked on Habanera, Prelude, Danse Bohéme and Aragonaise. Felipe conducted Danse Bohéme. For Aragonaise, @woodwinds: please make sure to practice with a metronome. @everyone: see below for a suggested strategy for metronome practicing.
HOW TO PRACTICE WITH A METRONOME
Metronome practice is crucially important. You should be practicing with a metronome regularly (i.e. every day).
A basic strategy for metronome practice is the following:
- Select a specific passage you want to work on (not too short, not too long).
- Make sure you have good fingerings/bowings, plans for articulation, dynamics, etc.
- Select a VERY slow tempo, at which you can play the passage very accurately and comfortably, with polish and ease, and without stopping.
- Repeat a few times (MINDFULLY!! – this means you’ll be trying as best as you can to focus on what you’re doing. Your mind might wander, and that’s OK. Bring your focus back to the music each time it happens. DO NOT practice while watching videos, etc).
- If you’re able to play the passage 2 or 3 times (accurately, comfortably, with polish and ease, without mistakes, and without stopping), increase the metronome tempo by 1 o 2 clicks. Go back to step 4, and repeat until you reach performance tempo.
Example with Bizet’s Aragonaise:
Select your passage (e.g. oboe and clarinets, m. 22 to letter C; or 1st violins, m. 73 to m. 82). Start slow (in 3, eight note = 120). Make sure you feel every single eight note in the bar. Increase the metronome tempo gradually until you might want to switch to “in 1.” For example, once you get to eight note = 165, switch to dotted quarter = 55, and continue increasing the tempo until you reach [dotted quarter = 74].
CONCERT ORCHESTRA – Rehearsal Plan for Sunday, October 18
- 5:00pm: arrival & check-in (COME IN ALL-BLACK CONCERT ATTIRE)
- Sign in at the front desk and head to your sectional rooms.
- 5:15pm-6:30pm: sectionals
- Strings with Vijeta Sathyaraj @ Contrabassment – work on Aragonaise, Intermezzo, and others as needed
- Woodwinds and Brass with Adam Eccleston @ Fireside Room – work on Aragonaise, Danse Bohéme, and others as needed
- 6:30pm-7:00pm: break
- 7:00pm-8:30pm: full orchestra rehearsal with RGR
- 7pm-7:10pm: Group photo 📸
- 7:10pm-8:30pm: Aragonaise, Chanson du Toréador, Les Torédors, Intermezzo.
Leadership Auditions due October 27
Our optional leadership auditions are due October 27th, as per our season calendar. While these auditions are optional, I highly encourage everybody to submit one. It’s one of the most effective ways for you to show me your individual work and progress.
The list of excerpts and instructions have been posted here.
You can submit your audition on this form.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Audio/Video Reference Playlist
I’ve created a YouTube playlist that you can use as a resource to listen to our repertoire. This playlist is linked on the side bar of this page (or at the bottom if you’re on a mobile device).
Please use it! Or even better: use it and find even more recordings by different orchestras and conductors. The more you listen to our repertoire, the better you’ll understand the big picture of the music.
MYS Online Music Library
All parts are available on our website as PDF files. Please go to our Online Music Library. It is linked on the side bar of this page (or at the bottom if you’re on a mobile device). The password is playmys.
This is useful if you lose your hard copies and need to print fresh ones at home, or if you want to use a digital device (like an iPad with a Bluetooth page turning pedal).
Bring your friends to MYS
If you have friends at school who would enjoy playing with us, send me their name and email and I’m happy to reach out. Or, you could give them my email. Right now, in this orchestra, we could use more violas, basses, brass and percussion.
Availability for private lessons
I don’t take long-term regular private students, but this season I will have some availability for “one-off” violin, viola or conducting lessons. The lessons can be at MYS, 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!
Dr. G.
MYS Musicians at Washington Park | Fall 2026 | Photo by Sheepscot Creative