"Advice to Young Players" (Théo Charlier, 1926)

[arpthark]

Taken from 36 études transcendantes for trumpet, 1926:

1. In an orchestra, be attentive and do not speak whilst a piece is being played (except when absolutely necessary).

2. Keep your instrument in perfect playing order and choose mutes which do not distort the sound in any part of the range.

3. Do not practice loudly while the orchestra is warming up; especially avoid going through passages in the work to be played -- this is in bad taste.

4. Do not turn pages noisily, especially when the orchestra is silent.

5. Be in your seat in time and, during rehearsals, go out as little as possible.

6. Pull the slides out gently with the valves lowered so as not to cause the compressed air to pop.

7. Do not blow noisily down the instrument to drain it of moisture. Gentle, more prolonged blowing is much more effective.

8. Tune and adjust your instrument before beginning. When playing in a concert, check whether the temperature of the hall differs from that of the dressing room. Remember that heat pushes up pitch and cold reduces it and tune the instrument sharper or flatter accordingly.

9. If you are going to play an offstage part, remember that the instrument will sound fainter and lower in pitch in the distance. So make a test in advance, to see at what volume and pitch you need to play.

10. Count bars carefully and always be aware of printed cues. Whilst errors can be made in counting bars, cues can always be trusted.

11. Follow the indications of the conductor. Be alert and prepared to adapt to required changes in balance or phrasing. Be prepared to diminish or increase your volume as part of a team.

If you follow these suggestions your work will be well regarded.

[jtm]

Number 3 for sure!

[Three Valves]

I suppose the advice on hygiene and grooming arrived after 1926?

[bloke]

12. Remember the the Executive Director and the Board of Directors view you as "the help", and that their objective is to make certain that the cost of hiring "the help" remains at 1/10th or less of the annual budget.

...so if (as an example) you play in a $1.7M/yr. per service orchestra, don't expect that you and your musical colleagues will be paid out more than $170K (total for all of you put together) for the year...and - most likely - less than 10%.

[hubert]

Thanks, Arpthark, happy times, when parents educated their youngsters to accept instructions like that
Hubert

[Billy M.]

I have broken literally every one of these rules. Thanks for the reminder.