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- Title
Performance reviews for the orchestral musician.
- Authors
Watson, Amanda; Forrest, David
- Abstract
Musicians are appointed to positions in professional symphony orchestras - both rank and file and section principals following a blind audition process. They perform set repertoire works and orchestral excerpts behind a screen. In many higher education programs, musicians focus on learning the orchestral excerpts and instrumental repertoire that they can expect in a blind audition. They practice performing. They seek as much experience as possible for this scenario by performing in competitions and applying for orchestral vacancies - using each audition as a learning opportunity. Once appointed, musicians are expected to maintain the level of musicianship to retain the overall level of orchestral playing. However, musicians in professional orchestras in Australia are generally not involved in regular structured performance reviews. This study explores the introduction of leadership training for section principals in Australian orchestras and the qualitative evaluation of musicians' skills. These two aspects are linked with performance reviews for section principals and rank and file orchestral members in the same way that workers in other industries are required to present for an annual performance review (including the managerial positions in Australian orchestras). An orchestra is an example of an institution with its own culture and levels of leadership, pursuing its operations in the industry marketplace. Musicians employed in orchestras are continually learning and developing their craft. Involvement in performance reviews within the orchestral setting challenges a musician to consider their identity within the orchestra and as an individual musician, together with career aspirations and apprehensions. Each musician needs to articulate their creative knowledge and skills (in both words and music) and refocus their experiential learning and knowledge transfer, appropriate to their current role or a potential career change in or outside music.
- Subjects
MUSICAL performance; ORCHESTRAL musicians; AUDITIONS; EXPERIENTIAL learning; KNOWLEDGE transfer
- Publication
Australian Journal of Music Education, 2014, Issue 1, p94
- ISSN
0004-9484
- Publication type
Article