r/orchestra

I've recently got access to quite a few xylophone and want to try and learn some music with friends who are mostly beginners - any suggestions for pieces to try would be appreciated thanks!

I started playing the violin in April of 2025. August 30th i’ll be starting the auditioned youth orchestra and August 25th is the first day of my junior year of high school and i’ll have my first day of orchestra ever that day. My teacher essentially just shoved it in my face to audition for the youth orchestra (i’m not complaining) i initially didn’t think i would be ready for it but he thinks i was, and i practiced the audition pieces and auditioned and got accepted. My mind has just been unable to stop fixating on the first rehearsals and the whole entire thing will be like, i’ve been endlessly googling about this but i feel like my “situation” is so nuanced and specific that the endless searching hasn’t yielded the right answers to help me. I am a really big over-thinker though and i try to prepare for any situation i’m not certain about by debating every likely scenario and trying to prepare for it…

Ive improved a lot over the year and few months of playing the violin for the audition we had to play a 3 octave melodic minor scale of our choice i chose D melodic minor, we also had to play an excerpt from Ruslan and Ludmilla overture, one composed by Berlioz, I cannot remember the other ones. But everyone keeps telling me i got accepted so that should eliminate my fears and there’s nothing to be scared for but i know how demanding orchestras are, my sight reading is atrocious, cover your ears if im sight reading anything besides quarter notes, a scale if i see it in music, or music with a tempo that is really slow. Im just terrified because they youth orchestra has played music like griegs in the hall of the mountain king, HTTYDs music and it all just sounds HARD. My teacher told me “the music will be hard but don’t let it discourage you” i’m trying to live by that but it’s hard. Can you guys just help me out please i’d really appreciate it.

Need advice! I was never in band or choir in school and I’m joining an orchestra as an adult. Tips?

-cellist

I just released my first album and I'm excited to share it with you all here. Tracks 1 (Little Overture - linked above) and 5 (Interlude) are pure classical pieces (just piano and strings).

The music is influenced mostly by Romantic period (Chopin is my favourite -- see track 5) with a bit of Beethoven too (more track 1).

Hope you enjoy and thanks for listening!

My long-term goal is to become a strong arranger and orchestrator in the tradition of people like Quincy Jones, Nelson Riddle, and George Martin. I'm interested in understanding harmony, counterpoint, voicing, orchestral colour, score reading, arranging, and composition.

The theory books don't seem linear.

For those of you who became competent arrangers and orchestrators, what path did you take?

If you were starting over today with the goal of becoming a professional-level arranger/orchestrator, what would you prioritise first, and what would you study simultaneously rather than sequentially?

And at what point would you move from self-study to a tutor?

I'm particularly interested in practical advice from people who work in film, jazz, big band, studio arranging, or orchestral writing.

Throwaway account to remain anonymous.

I won an audition today. It’s a top tier orchestra with a 6 figure salary. Truly, my dream job.

I thought I’d feel happy, relieved and excited. Instead, I’m lost for words and feel totally numb.

I was more than likely going to quit if I didn’t win this. Maybe it hasn’t sunk in yet?

Ugh. Wow. I’m playing an opera gala concert this weekend in a local orchestra and then I guess I’ll look at upcoming rep in the dream job? I’ll be on probation. Brahms, Beethoven, Wagner, Strauss…it’s all there.

Does the numbness/anxiety end? Does audition success change anything?! At least I’ll make a living wage…

EDIT: thank you so, so much to everyone who responded. I truly didn’t realize how much the toll of freelancing/auditioning has had on my body for years. I get glimpses of whoa, I did this. I won. And then my shoulders drop LOL. That post project depression recommendation to look up in one of the comments blew my mind. Spot on. My teachers told me they’re proud, which feels fantastic (people don’t talk much about how horrible it can feel to be a graduate of so and so’s impressive studio and be one of the few who hadn’t won something). My friends have told me how happy they are for me, how a big job is appropriate. LOL I don’t know about that, but I’ll take it. But seriously, a huge thanks to all of you for the comments, words of wisdom, upvotes. Very cool.

Here's the links to them:

Movement I: https://musescore.com/user/113211719/scores/35233121

Movement II: https://musescore.com/user/113211719/scores/35233013

Movement III: https://musescore.com/user/113211719/scores/35233127

Movement IV: https://musescore.com/user/113211719/scores/35233169

Please tell me where it was good and where I need to improve. Thank you!

Oh about the numbering: 10.x because I just chose 10 randomly(Idk why) and the x is the order of composing. Meaning 10.3 was the third to be composed.

My 9 yo was accepted into the first (youngest, lowest level) orchestra at what would be considered the top youth orchestra in a major city and also the first orchestra at the local music conservatory youth orchestra program (BYSO PE vs NCE STO for those who are local). Does prestige and how competitive it is to get into an orchestra matter if my kid is likely not going to become a professional violinist? Would it be a black mark on the kid if they turn down the BYSO spot and then in later years audition again? How much does say being in a top youth orchestra matter in a college application if they’re not applying to be a music major? Why wouldn’t someone just pick a more chill orchestra? I know some parents of BYSO kids who say the pressure is so huge and yet also say not to give up this opportunity.

Hello! I’ve played viola for almost 6 years now and I’ve improved somewhat, but with my orchestra we sort of stay in the same place, as in pieces rotate every year. For example, I have a piece I played in 6th grade now in my senior year of highschool to play again. Of course some new songs are added that can be somewhat difficult but I’m honestly sick of staying in the same exact skill level for so long, this past year I had to ask to do my own piano parts to give me something more to do other than play the same songs on viola. This summer with so much free time I want to use it to the best I can by practicing my instruments and I’m unsure of where to start with viola. Do I use Suzuki books or should I try something else entirely? I want to be more than prepared for orchestra as well as actually have fun with it because I’m finding playing the same songs over my years at my school very stagnant and repetitive. Thank you for any help!!