You have been in your section for a few years now. The playing feels comfortable, you know the repertoire cycle, and you have a good relationship with your section leader. Then a new player joins, fresh out of school or recently hired, and they are struggling. Their bowings are inconsistent, they are not watching the conductor, and they look overwhelmed. How do you help without coming across as patronizing? Mentoring within an orchestra section is a delicate art, and doing it well is one of the most valuable contributions you can make to your ensemble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The easiest and least threatening way to help a new player is to share practical information they might not know yet. Where does the section usually go for lunch during all-day rehearsals? What are the unwritten rules about when to arrive for warm-up? Which entrance should they use on concert nights? These logistical details reduce a new player’s anxiety and establish you as an approachable resource before any musical advice enters the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remember my first week in a professional orchestra. I was so focused on playing well that I forgot to bring a pencil to the first rehearsal and had to borrow one, which was embarrassing. A veteran player in my section noticed and quietly left an extra pencil on my stand the next day without saying a word. That small gesture told me I had an ally in the section, and it made me far more receptive to musical guidance later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is a huge difference between saying “You need to use more bow in that passage” and asking “How are you approaching the bowing in the Brahms second movement? I have been experimenting with using more bow to get the sound the conductor wants.” The first version positions you as a superior correcting an inferior. The second version positions you as a peer sharing your own process. It invites dialogue rather than compliance, and it preserves the new player’s dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This approach works especially well because new players often know what they need to improve but are afraid to ask for help. By opening the conversation as a collaborative exchange, you give them permission to be vulnerable. “Actually, I am not sure about that bowing. Can you show me what you are doing?” That is the response you want, and you will only get it if you create a safe space for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most powerful form of mentoring in an orchestra section is not verbal at all. It is demonstrating the standard through your own playing and professionalism. Mark your bowings clearly and consistently so the new player sitting behind you can follow. Watch the conductor attentively so they learn that eyes-up playing is the norm. Respond to corrections from the podium with a nod and immediate adjustment. New players absorb these behaviors through observation far more effectively than through instruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During a particularly tricky passage in Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2, I noticed a younger player behind me consistently rushing the sextuplet figures. Rather than turning around and pointing it out, I made sure my own bow movements were extremely visible and rhythmically precise in that passage. By the third rehearsal, they had naturally synced up with my bow without either of us saying a word about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New players are acutely aware of their mistakes and often assume everyone else notices too. What they may not expect is positive feedback from a colleague. After a rehearsal where they nailed a tricky passage, tell them. A simple “That sounded great in the Shostakovich” can boost their confidence enormously. Recognition from a peer carries different weight than feedback from a conductor because it means someone in the section is actually listening and cares about their contribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not every new player wants or needs mentoring, and some will interpret well-intentioned advice as criticism no matter how carefully you frame it. If someone seems resistant to your overtures, respect that boundary. Continue to be friendly and professional, and let your playing speak for itself. Some players need time to settle in before they are ready to receive guidance, and pushing too hard can create resentment rather than growth. The best mentors know that availability is more important than initiative: be ready to help when asked, and let the relationship develop at the other person’s pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Join 31,000+ string players leveling up their orchestral career.<\/p>\nGet the Free Guide<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Ethan Kim is the founder of Orchestra Kingdom<\/a>, helping string players win auditions and move up in their sections. Follow him on Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, and YouTube<\/a> for daily tips.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Guide newer section members with effective mentoring techniques that build confidence and strengthen your entire string section’s performance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-section-leadership"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=161"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":197,"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161\/revisions\/197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.orchestrakingdom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}