Playing Cello in an Orchestra: Tips for Newcomers

Of the many ensembles in which a cello can be found, the orchestra is the most popular.

A typical orchestra will have between 6 and 12 cellos in it, sat on the front of the stage to the right of the conductor.

This exposed role can be daunting, but also incredibly rewarding for those who come to appreciate it.

Here I will give you some tips on how to get into orchestral playing, and some of the advice that helped me settle into it.

Types of Orchestra

The cello has been used in orchestras since the Baroque period, providing much of the low-end of the music.

In initial uses, the cello was often used as part of a Basso Continuo, paired with a Harpsichord to provide small accompaniment to vocal works.

You can still see this in action if you go to a performance of Handel’s Messiah or other Baroque choral works.

Classical period orchestras featured the cello very much in a supporting role, but these orchestras were very heavy on the use of string instruments.

And orchestra that plays Mozart and Haydn will feel like a string orchestra with a few non-string guests!

Later periods brought in the Symphony Orchestra, which developed much larger brass and woodwind sections, as well as a wide assortment of percussion.

These orchestras are capable of playing all classical music up to the present day, including film music!

Here is a list of the various orchestras you may find that you can play in, with their respective specialties:

• Baroque Orchestra – Smaller, usually with easier cello parts, good for playing Handel, Bach
• String Orchestra – Exclusively for string instruments. Will often play Baroque repertoire, but can also play a wide assortment of music arranged for strings
• Classical Orchestra – Still quite small, with mostly a supporting cello role, good for playing Mozart, Haydn, early Beethoven
• Symphony Orchestra – Full-size and with a wide range of repertoire, mostly Romantic period and early 20th century. Cello parts may be difficult, with a much more integrated role
• Film Orchestra – There are increasing numbers of amateur orchestras in existence that specialise in film scores. These are always full of people who are there purely for the enjoyment of playing the music, and can be an uplifting experience for newer orchestral cellists.

Your First Rehearsal

Rehearsing with an orchestra can be chaotic, and at times frustrating, just like individual practice!

Be sure to get there early, so that you can look through your music before you have to play it.

Ascertain who the cello section leader is, and who your desk partner will be; Every cello section has a section leader, and is organised into pairs known as Desks.

The most important equipment you need for an orchestra rehearsal are the following:

• Pencil with Eraser – There will be a lot of notes and edits which you will need to write onto your music in order for the whole cello section to play in unison. Having a sharp pencil is therefore essential!
• Spike Holder – Orchestra rehearsals often take place in school gymnasiums or town halls, both of which potentially have slippery floors. Either way, any cellist who plays on a variety of different surfaces should have a spike holder, which hooks onto the legs of your chair and stops your spike from sliding around.
• Music Stand – This is the thing that everyone assumes their desk partner has, and then nobody brings it! Be sure to always have one with you for every rehearsal and concert.

Between rehearsals, be sure to practice your parts at home.

It is always better to go into rehearsals confident that you can play your part solo.

You can hide mistakes in a large cello section, but if everyone is insecure about their playing then the whole section can lose cohesion.

Because of this, each individual player should prepare as if they could be the only one getting it right!

Your First Concert

Concerts are always a thrill in an orchestra.

By the time you perform, you will have gone through hours of gruelling rehearsals, and will have solved dozens of problems as a section.

You will find the brass and percussion sections will play more vigorously than in rehearsals, which makes it more fun!

Be sure to drink plenty of water before you go on stage, as stage lights can be very hot.

Remember to stand when the conductor comes onto the stage, and face the audience when the orchestra receives applause.

Finally, remember at the end of the concert to return your music, or prepare for angry emails from the orchestra librarian!

Playing in an orchestra is a fantastic exercise in teamwork, problem-solving, self-confidence and discipline.

You will play a lot of music that has great emotional power, and will also come to like a lot of music you wouldn’t expect to.

There are always amateur orchestras looking for players, and you don’t have to look hard to find one.

If you are unsure of your level, there is no harm in asking, or you can always attend a concert of the orchestra you would like to join.

I hope this short guide has answered some of your questions, and I hope everyone who dreams of playing cello in an orchestra does so as soon as possible!