I'm going to try my best not to make this sappy. When I was nine my teacher gave us a sheet -- I'm pretty sure -- that was basically a permission slip to join the school orchestra, and pick an instrument. I distinctly remember going to my dad and saying, "Daddy, I think I want to play the violin," and he signed that little sheet and the rest was history. It was a life-binding contract essentially kick-starting the next 10 years of my life and more -- shout out to my dad for saying yes.
I unfortunately quit orchestra once I got to college and it still affects me everyday. Orchestra has been in more than half of my life -- an aspect that a lot of people at college have no idea about, and that makes me sad. It was time for me to move on, to start a new chapter in my life that didn't include hiding with my violin under my chin. But, I'll always be a violinist at heart.
These are some things that I encountered while I was in orchestra that slowly and passionately started to create my orch-dork identity.
1. You can't count how many times you've been called a "band kid," but you remember how angry it makes you.
They aren't even similar. One music ensemble has only string instruments--I'll give you a hint, that's us--and the other ensemble is all instruments you have to use your mouth for. If you're in a "full orchestra" that's with both types, but even then it's called an orchestra. I'm just saying.
2. Your fingerboard constantly looked like it was snowing because of the rosin dust from your bow until your teacher finally told you it was bad for the instrument.
Also, rosin is sticky. No one likes sticky rosin.
3. When you first started to learn what "shifting positions" was and were expected to do it, you thought your life was over because you didn't know what was happening for so long
Wait. I have to shift my hand and keep playing at the same time? That's it. This is where it ends. I quit. I was not prepared.
4. But now you hardly ever play in first position and you secretly feel really bad ass.
Everyone knows it's cooler to play in position anyway. Plus it just sounds better. Don't argue.
5. You know that just because the violins can play notes in 7th position on the E string doesn't mean they should.
I'd like to still be able to hear when I finish playing this, thank you.
6. When it's winter or even remotely cold you dread opening your case and having to tune your instrument.
20 minutes later you finally have it tuned...
7. If you or anyone breaks a string during a concert it's one of the most terrifyingly unexpected moments of your life.
What do we do?! This is not supposed to happen.
8. The first few times you tried to tune your instrument after getting your fine tuners off was excruciating because you'd get so close and then it'd pop way out of tune again.
Who am I kidding? This definitely still happens to me.
9. For violins and violas: If you lost your shoulder rest, you were screwed.
Unless you take lessons from Dylana Jenson (or a different instructor of the same technique) and she taught you how to play without one. Yes, it was a terrifying experience but at last I found the light. I no longer play with one. It's much more convenient so you don't feel helpless when not having one.
10. When you first started playing, watching the older kids do vibrato was one of the most mesmerizing phenomenons you'd ever experienced.
It actually made no sense to me. Like how did they do that? How?
11. Then once you learned you never felt more accomplished in your life.
And now you use it excessively because it adds so much.
12. When anyone who was not a string instrument player tried to touch the horse hairs on your bow because they thought it was "cool looking" and you felt your soul die slowly.
Don't touch them. Just don't. I beg of you. You're not supposed to.
13. If you don't have some form of callus on your fingertips, you're not playing right or enough.
Try. Harder.
Being a violinist is a trait that I will identify as until the day I die. You will never be able to pull these and so many more things out of who I am and what I've experienced. There's just something so amazing about that little hollowed instrument that I can't compare to anything else. If you don't continue past high school, savor every moment. It's the single thing from high school that I actually miss everyday.
Shout out to my high school orchestra. I love and miss you guys with every ounce of my body. Also, Mrs. Meyers for changing my life a little each year and sharing our accomplishments.
