Practicing for Orchestra projects, how to adapt my practice for it to be the most efficient and effective

Abstract

In this work I try to understand how and why practicing for orchestra is different from solo practice, and how I can make it more efficient (less time-consuming), effective (resulting in better quality of playing), and relevant to me, with the challenges and difficulties that I have at this stage of my education. I do that by analysing my preparation and experience during several orchestra projects, finding the aspects that need improvement and trying new methods to make them evolve. One of the main result of this analysis is leading to a more thorough experiment of mental practice and organised preparation. Finally I propose a practicing guide that I hope could be applied to most orchestra projects, while being flexible enough to be made relevant for different musicians with their own challenges and experience, diverses pieces, styles, and type of projects.