{"id":6873,"date":"2011-09-06T10:44:45","date_gmt":"2011-09-06T17:44:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/?p=6873"},"modified":"2013-02-07T20:54:27","modified_gmt":"2013-02-08T04:54:27","slug":"what-makes-a-good-concertmaster-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2011\/09\/06\/what-makes-a-good-concertmaster-2\/","title":{"rendered":"what makes a good concertmaster"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_6874\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6874\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6874 \" title=\"KennethWoodsChrisStock\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/KennethWoodsChrisStock.jpg?resize=400%2C170\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"170\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6874\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kenneth Woods - Photo: Chris Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Kenneth Woods, a highly-respected conductor and instrumentalist, is also a high-respected blogger, and he has written a series of posts concerning what it takes to be an effective concertmaster. Since we here at the Oregon Symphony are embarking upon our own search for a lead violin, it&#8217;s a timely subject. Here are some of my favorite snippets from the first installment (emphasis are Woods&#8217;):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ultimately, you want to <strong><em>set the tone for the orchestra<\/em><\/strong>&#8211; do you want the orchestra to be a virtuosic, flexible and efficient group? If so, it is up to you to say \u201c<strong><em>anything that can be done, we can do.\u201d You say this most clearly through your own preparation.<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>&#8230; your first job is to <strong><em>set the tone<\/em><\/strong> for the entire orchestra. What are your expectations of how the orchestra functions in rehearsal? I work with one leader who is very quick to point out to his colleagues, politely, anytime I have to repeat something we\u2019ve stopped for before. As a result, I rarely have to repeat things to that orchestra. How much disruption of rehearsal will you tolerate for marking bowings? How much talking and murmuring\u00a0 will you accept? What is your feeling about people asking questions out of turn?<\/li>\n<li><strong><em>If there is a problem, make sure it is being worked on, but in the meantime, make sure you are setting an example for the whole orchestra that the rehearsal still matters, even if the conditions are difficult<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>As you approach the first rehearsal (which, again, is your most important performance), you should be challenging your own assumptions about the repertoire, broadening your horizons and preparing yourself technically to be able to play the piece in the broadest possible range of styles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Read all of Part I <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/the-young-concertmasters-guide-to-the-orchestra-part-i\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/young-concertmasters-guide-to-the-orchestra-part-ii\">Part II<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/widget3.linkwithin.com\/redirect?url=http%3A\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/2010\/06\/21\/young-concertmasters-guide-to-the-orchestra-part-iii-it-gets-complicated\/&amp;vars=%5B%22http%3A\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/%3Fs%3Dconcertmaster%22%2C%20664659%2C%204%2C%20%22http%3A\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/2010\/06\/21\/young-concertmasters-guide-to-the-orchestra-part-ii\/%22%2C%20104727265%2C%202%2C%20104727257%5D&amp;ts=1315414106509\">Part III<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/widget3.linkwithin.com\/redirect?url=http%3A\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/2010\/06\/21\/young-concertmasters-guide-to-the-orchestra-part-iv-final-thoughts-and-my-top-11-tips\/&amp;vars=%5B%22http%3A\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/%3Fs%3Dconcertmaster%22%2C%20664659%2C%204%2C%20%22http%3A\/\/kennethwoods.net\/blog1\/2010\/06\/21\/young-concertmasters-guide-to-the-orchestra-part-ii\/%22%2C%20104727265%2C%201%2C%20104727247%5D&amp;ts=1315414124870\">Part IV<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kenneth Woods, a highly-respected conductor and instrumentalist, is also a high-respected blogger, and he has written a series of posts concerning what it takes to be an effective concertmaster. Since we here at the Oregon Symphony are embarking upon our own search for a lead violin, it&#8217;s a timely subject. Here are some of my [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":303,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[2798,432,2795,2797,2796],"class_list":["post-6873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-orchestra-world","tag-a-view-from-the-podium","tag-concertmaster","tag-job-requirements","tag-kenneth-woods","tag-what-makes-a-good-concertmaster"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pa8kC-1MR","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":226,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2007\/02\/27\/a-glimpse-behind-the-veil-at-cleveland-orchestra\/","url_meta":{"origin":6873,"position":0},"title":"a glimpse behind the veil at Cleveland Orchestra","author":"Charles Noble","date":"February 27, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Ellen DePasquale From today's Cleveland Plain Dealer: Ellen dePasquale, one of the Cleveland Orchestra's most high-profile musicians, has resigned as associate concertmaster, even as the orchestra is preparing to hold an audition that will displace her as second-in-line after concertmaster William Preucil. Some of you may be wondering \"what's the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;the orchestra world&quot;","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"ellen depasquale","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/02\/depasqualethumb.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5584,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2010\/11\/17\/what-makes-a-good-concertmaster\/","url_meta":{"origin":6873,"position":1},"title":"what makes a good concertmaster","author":"Charles Noble","date":"November 17, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"The Dallas Symphony's blog has posted an interview with one of their guest concertmasters, Alex Kerr (formerly concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra), and he had this to say about the qualities desired in a concertmaster: The Dallas Symphony is currently searching for a permanent concertmaster.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;the orchestra world&quot;","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/11\/alexander_kerr.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6565,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2011\/06\/01\/concertmaster-jun-iwasaki-leaving-oregon-for-nashville-post\/","url_meta":{"origin":6873,"position":2},"title":"concertmaster jun iwasaki leaving oregon for nashville post","author":"Charles Noble","date":"June 1, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon Symphony concertmaster of four years Jun Iwasaki is leaving for a new post with the Nashville Symphony beginning with the 2011-2012 season. From the Nashville Symphony press release: Nashville Symphony has appointed Jun Iwasaki as the orchestra\u2019s new concertmaster. Currently concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony in Portland, he will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;the orchestra world&quot;","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Iwasaki2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":13227,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2014\/02\/16\/wonderful-strauss\/","url_meta":{"origin":6873,"position":3},"title":"wonderful strauss","author":"Charles Noble","date":"February 16, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Want to hear something great? Take a listen to the newly appointed 1st Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, Noah Bendix-Balgley, currently concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony. Newspaper article.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;the orchestra world&quot;","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":712,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2008\/01\/28\/inside-a-music-director-search\/","url_meta":{"origin":6873,"position":4},"title":"inside a music director search","author":"Charles Noble","date":"January 28, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Frank Almond, concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony (and partial concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony), writes a very interesting entry in his blog about the recent search process that ended up with the surprise hiring of Edo de Waart as their next music director.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;conducting&quot;","block_context":{"text":"conducting","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/conducting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"frank6.jpg","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/01\/frank6.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":623,"url":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/2007\/12\/29\/bizarre-music-news-of-2007\/","url_meta":{"origin":6873,"position":5},"title":"bizarre music news of 2007","author":"Charles Noble","date":"December 29, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"The Seattle Times' classical music critic Melinda Bargreen reports on the bizarre classical music news that occurred around the world in 2007. Unfortunately (and am I sensing a pattern here?) she neglected to mention a couple items from her own backyard: The Seattle Symphony is being sued by a member\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;the orchestra world&quot;","block_context":{"text":"the orchestra world","link":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/category\/music\/the-orchestra-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/303"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6873"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6873\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nobleviola.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}