Im 2nd chair in 1st violins of an orchestra,last year i was #1 wat do i do to get back up since i feel so bad?

Question

My self esteem has lowered ever since i was put a level lower. i can't afford a tutor, but ther's on way 'practice' will make me better again. the first chair is already so talented, beyond my playing. there's another girl who is aiming for my chair and im pretty sure she's going to take it. i hav no idea how i will redeem myself. last year everyone praised me, but now people just ask me how when i played for 2 years the violin before Tom, the 1st chair, and now he's better than me. i feel so bad about myself. i don't even hav a violin at home since my parents can't afford it either.

Answer 1

If you can't afford a tutor, then all the drive to improve has to come from YOU.  It can be done, but not without serious work and time commitment.  YES there is an amount of practice that will make you better again; the question is if you have the drive and commitment to see it through.  Talking defeatist about it will get you no where.  The bottom line is that you have to be willing to work harder than Tom if you want his chair, and you better be working harder than the person below you if you want to keep your chair.

Simple Strategies:

--Double your personal practice time.  ANY practice is better than none.  Ask your director if its possible for you to come in before school or stay after school and practice on your own.

--play more than your school ensemble music.  Solos and etudes are much more demanding of you as a player than any orchestra part.  You don't have to spend a fortune.  Ask your orchestra director if you can look through some file cabinets of music (I'm sure they've got some), or even check your local library (city and college libraries would have better sheet music collections than a rural town library)

--Listen to more performers on your instrument.  Hillary Hahn and Andre Rieu immediately come to mind, but there are MANY more that you could find, again a library would be easiest & cheapest.  Actively listen to their performances--especially their tone quality and vibrato, that's the defining aspect of a mature student musician.  Emulate their sound in your own playing.

--Make your ensemble time count.  Mark corrections in your parts the first time you make a mistake.  Listen to the 1st and 3rd chair player and attempt to "outplay" them every day in the fewest number of individual mistakes.  Once there are no mistakes, attempt to outshine them in the areas of dynamic contrast and intonation.  Don't just go through the motions the director is asking of the whole ensemble.  CHALLENGE YOURSELF to become a better player.

--depending on how your director does challenges, prepare the best you can for them.  Even mentally looking over the music every day, reading through it with your eyes, is better than nothing.

Lastly, don't take one chair up or down as a huge blow to your ego.  There is almost always some subjectiveness with the top chairs on the ensemble because top three players usually play so well anyway.  10 years from now it won't matter whether you were 1st or 3rd chair but if you used your orchestra time to experience your musical talent to its fullest.

Answer 2

Second chair IS NOT BAD. Really. And you're in first violins. I think you should just buddy up with someone and you can practice the music together. Every night if you can. If you don't have the money then compensate with time and effort. Don't feel bad because you are not concert master, Just be grateful you're at the front. So keep your head held up high and don't let the conductor see that you are unhappy with your seat! Never! Try to look as proud as possible and if he/she sees that you are working hard then maybe you'll get back up one chair. Hey, maybe you can even ask the conductor or first chair to help you.