As the largest body of an orchestra, it's always great to have a string sectional to unify style, articulation, and even phrasing. If you are not a string player yourself, what are the mistakes to avoid when leading a string sectional?
Instead of:
- Get stuck in bowing discussions
- Not knowing your terms
- Give instructions on bowing or fingering
Do this:
- Always have a set of bowings marked in the part before distributing them
- Describe the sounds you want
- Let the principals / concertmaster adjust things as they see fit
- Get help, be over-prepared, and bring an open mind to see what they are offering you!
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