[Trombone-l] Rules for Rehearsal - looking for some help

[Tony Clements]

I have to jump on board here with this rehearsal thing. I am of the "there
are NO good questions at rehearsal" school. ANY information you need, can be
done by the musician (singer) without taking precious rehearsal time. Some
Examples:

Note questions - look at the score during break, or better yet, get (beg,
borrow, steal, buy) your OWN score so you know how your part fits in with
the whole. You COULD listen. If other people are playing a-flat and you are
playing a natural, MOST LIKELY, you have an a-flat also. Play A-flat; if
it's wrong the conductor will (or should) notice. As a tuba player, if there
is a note question, I look at the bass part. 98% of this issue can be
corrected here; 1% by looking at the trombone parts. If that fails, I refer
to my score.

"Are you in two of four?" - Look & listen, if everyone else in the group is
in 4, most likely, you are too. Is the conductor at least TRYING to make a 2
pattern, or a 4 pattern? <I HATE this question.>

"Am I muted there?" - Anyone else muted? Did the conductor even notice?

Bowing issues - Ask the concertmaster at the break. (S)he did the damned
things, don't waste everyone's time with this stuff.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Really, there is NO good question to
ask at rehearsal.

My 2 cents¹ worth.

Tony Clements