Orchestra
Orchestral players are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet. Orchestras face increasing financial problems reduction in recording work. Orchestras require you to know your entire instrument because the repertoire requires it.
Musicians in many orchestras are paid “per service” and the trombone is not always part of the “core” group of players in the orchestra. Musicians cite lack of creative control, inadequate compensation, unacknowledged education and talent and monotony among other frustrations that lead to career malaise.
On the positive side. Orchestra playing teaches teamwork. Playing in an orchestra with high quality, with a conductor who was is dynamic, demanding, knowledgeable and passionate could be the beginning of life-career as a musician. Another positive part of playing in an orchestra is friendship. Playing in a three-piece rock band versus playing in an orchestra–guess which one is louder. Playing in an orchestra, if you make a mistake, other people around you might notice it, but the audience probably won’t.
Playing in an orchestra gives them a way to build accomplishment, and that leads to good self-esteem and being productive and giving back to their community. If you love playing your instrument, a career in a symphony orchestra provides a chance to do that on a daily basis and, on concert nights, have the satisfaction of 2000 people on their feet congratulating you for a job well done.
Different combinations of musicians are given different names, based mostly on personnel, instrumentation, and the style of music played.
An orchestra, traditionally, is made up of the following: strings (violins, violas, cellos, bass), brass (trumpets, trombones, french horns), woodwinds (clarinet, oboe, bassoon, flutes, piccolos), and percussion (snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, misc. percussion instruments). Although there are exceptions, an orchestra plays mostly symphonic music (Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, etc.) and most often performs in a concert setting. Most orchestras are seated the same way with the violins and violas on the conductor’s left, cellos to his right, woodwinds behind the strings, brass in back to the conductor’s right, and percussion, back center. Its quite common that a piano is included to the conductor’s immediate left. A soloist usually takes this position as well. The average size of an orchestra is 75 to 100 players. Smaller groups of 50 or less are often called chamber orchestras.
The word orchestra is sometimes used in a less informal way such as the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. The Boston Pops orchestra is known for playing popular songs of the day.