Had the gig with the symphony on Saturday. (Shubert Symphony No. 9 and Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition in case anyone actually reads....)
First, the lead-up. The principle trumpet player is a prick. He's a great player, don't get me wrong, but I think he knows that a bit too much. He's the kind of guy who will show his disgust with anyone when they make a mistake, no matter how small, or play a note out of tune, no matter how little off, with things like shaking his head, grunting, talking to himself or the other trumpet player, or even sining the correct part of pitch loud enough for that person to hear. Even at the fucking CONCERT. He can't even put his ego aside to take a compliment. Someone in the orchestra was telling him how good he sounded on the first Promenade in Pictures, and you know what his response was? "Thanks a lot! Yeah, I'm a REAL trumpet player!" What? What's that you say? Do you dare imply that the rest of us are shit and should bow to you or something? Man, way to enforce the cliche stereotype on trumpet players.
Anyway, rant aside. (And yeah, he is good....) I don't know what happened. I've never been that nervous. I really have no idea why, but it go to the point as we got started that it was effecting my breathing, which in turn effected a couple little sections of music. I normally get a little nervous as the music is starting, but it's never been so bad that it effects other things. Usually it's just a bit or anxiety and nerves that goes away for the most part as we get going. But not Saturday. Luckily my friends in the audience didn't notice, but the principle trumpet player sure did! A little head shaking and grunting was definately tossed my way. Prick.
Well, I don't want to sound like it was a bad show. I thought it was great. Besides those 2 notes, it was one of my better shows in a while. And now I know exactly what I want to work on, which is also really good. And the orchestra itself sounded great as well. Really was a great show. I can't wait really to hear the reviews.
Now on to the next set. And, of course, the only BAD thing about the holiday season: The Effing Nutcracker. Oh well, more time to practice what I need to instead of show music.
-E
First, the lead-up. The principle trumpet player is a prick. He's a great player, don't get me wrong, but I think he knows that a bit too much. He's the kind of guy who will show his disgust with anyone when they make a mistake, no matter how small, or play a note out of tune, no matter how little off, with things like shaking his head, grunting, talking to himself or the other trumpet player, or even sining the correct part of pitch loud enough for that person to hear. Even at the fucking CONCERT. He can't even put his ego aside to take a compliment. Someone in the orchestra was telling him how good he sounded on the first Promenade in Pictures, and you know what his response was? "Thanks a lot! Yeah, I'm a REAL trumpet player!" What? What's that you say? Do you dare imply that the rest of us are shit and should bow to you or something? Man, way to enforce the cliche stereotype on trumpet players.
Anyway, rant aside. (And yeah, he is good....) I don't know what happened. I've never been that nervous. I really have no idea why, but it go to the point as we got started that it was effecting my breathing, which in turn effected a couple little sections of music. I normally get a little nervous as the music is starting, but it's never been so bad that it effects other things. Usually it's just a bit or anxiety and nerves that goes away for the most part as we get going. But not Saturday. Luckily my friends in the audience didn't notice, but the principle trumpet player sure did! A little head shaking and grunting was definately tossed my way. Prick.
Well, I don't want to sound like it was a bad show. I thought it was great. Besides those 2 notes, it was one of my better shows in a while. And now I know exactly what I want to work on, which is also really good. And the orchestra itself sounded great as well. Really was a great show. I can't wait really to hear the reviews.
Now on to the next set. And, of course, the only BAD thing about the holiday season: The Effing Nutcracker. Oh well, more time to practice what I need to instead of show music.
-E