eRe Caer oy Deon ad |OW TO QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY MARK YOUR MUSIC WITHOUT MAKING YOUR STANDPARTNER HATE YOU. Yes, sometimes standpartners get frustrated if you scribble all over the part, but this little document is not intended to help you win friends, or influence people. Instead, I hope that learning these symbols and abbreviations can help you improve marking your part in orchestra for the following three reasons 1) Speed A simple symbol can mean as much as an elaborate message, and it’s quicker to write and to read. If you have a limited rehearsal time for a piece, and there's only time to run thru it once, you need to be able to make a note quickly and get back to playing 2) To be Professional: If making a quick slash, or squiggle can prevent you from making a mistake, or playing in a hole..then it's worth doing. 3) To be Courteous: Primarily to your standpartner, who has to read off the same part, so you need to keep things legible. Secondly to the conductor, who will not enjoy repeating instructions if you forget what he says. And also to the librariar who is going to erase your markings if it’s a rental part Thope this little resource helps you get the most enjoyment out of your orchestral experience. Be well and practice well, Michael O’Gieblyn Mal Of a7) Ths Roneolcusko Cresta temccrayces for oy Deon ad Perera ry Markings Related to: Rhythm and Tempo Name Symbol/Abbreviation When to Use/ What it means Rubato ‘When tempo is not steady-conductor is taking time or following a soloist. Eyeglasses Look up! Something important is happening Ritardando Tempo is slowing down. Stringendo ~s Tempo is speeding up. Beat patterns in changing meters or compound meters Seale ZA/a “I'm ‘In 2’ for 1 measure, then ‘in 3’ for one measure, then ‘in 1” “Pm in 2 + 2 +3, then 3 + 2 +3” Markings Related to: Dynamics Crescendo ~ Dynamic is gradually increasing Decrescendo —. Dynamic is gradually decreasing Hairpins = Short crescendo followed by short decrescendo Subito | f 5 Dynamic suddenly changes dynamics eo When your section has an important line that you Soli passages Actes | can bring out EESRAEH | When you are asked to “play more” eS y play Mutes On \\ When the printed instructions for moving your mute Mutes Off are not in a logical place. ST eRSCOUT Ree‘or Orchestral Musicians oy Deon ad Markings Related to: Clarifications/Personal Reminders Cri Fingerings: he» 7 | Outside player: Above the line = | Inside player: Below the line Cuts: When there is a cut from one measure to another. Tacet or Solo: When the printed music is not to be played (but, measures are still counted) Interval Distances Half step Whole step Personal Cues Note entrances of instruments to help count rests. Page Turn Reminders ~"Volti Subito” (Turn Quickly) -There are rests after the page turn, so no rush. -There is silence during this page turn, so wait. -Reminds you how many bars of rest there were before the page turn. Problem Area Put an “x” in the margin to help you find the line Reminders un PSLSED later, to practice more, or correct something that = was confusing. Divisi Reminders Reminds you if the parts are divided by stand or by person, and which line you are to play. Bow “Save your bow" ->"Save” Distribution Repeats Use to highlight where the repeat is. Reminders I Use to remind you if you are taking the repeat.eee STCLy oy Deon ad Markings Related to: Special Musical Requests Name Breath Mark Caesura Symbol/Abbreviation »y ) When to Use/ What it means There is a slight gap in-between two notes. “Train Tracks” (Do not cross) There is a hard stop before going on, Specific String Passage or note is to be played on the G-String Marking oe Passage or note is to be played on the D-String Ve (on violin) gva-- Octave higher eee Octave lower octave 8vb-- | eco Play in the printed octave “Over the Fingerboard” Where on the Sul tasto string to play: Nat. “Natural” (normal: between bridge and fingerboard) fo vit. Ponticello: played very close to bridge Where in the bow to play: Bow Stroke Clarification Teog J W.B ON Play near the tip Play near the frog Use the "Whole Bow" Any stroke that is on the string (martelé, marcato) Any stroke that is off the string (spiccato, sautillé) Note Lengths oAk rrr Note is long: (tenuto, sostenuto) Note is short: (staccato, marcato) Note is long, but there is separation between notes. Bows Down Bows during Put your bow in your lap extended pizzicato Pick up your bow Glissando You are to slide or gliss between these notes. Vibrato “Non Vibrato” To be played without vibrato