Observation Assignment 1

Site Location: Rowe Auditorium (Chamber Orchestra)

Pulliam 1


Description of Location: Rowe Auditorium is a very large area consisting of three
sections of about 100 seats each. In the front of the auditorium is a wooden stage that
takes up about a fourth of the room. Behind the stage, is a small room where one would
wait until it is his or her turn to perform. The huge sidewalls consist of panels that help to
improve the acoustics and sounds that are coming from the stage. There is also a machine
in the back of the auditorium that runs the lighting and sound during a performance. Exits
are located at the back and side of the auditorium in case of emergency during an act.
When the chamber orchestra rehearses on this stage we must be set up in a
particular order. On the left of the stage are the first and second violins. There are five
violinists in each section. In the middle of the stage are the viola players, which consist of
three people. On the very right of the stage is one bass player and four cello players. The
back of the stage is comprised of all woodwind and brass players. The first row in the
back includes two clarinetists, one flute player, and one oboist. The second row includes
two French horn players, one trumpet player, and two bassoon players. There is also one
percussion player who stands in the back left corner of the stage. The most important
person is the conductor, who stands front and center on stage.

Figured World: A figured world is a setting where actors and artifacts interact based
on the type of environment it is. It establishes a certain type of behavior that one
should have and also develops its own discourse communities.

Rules and Conventions for Appropriate Behavior: Being in an orchestra, or any type
of music group at that, you should already know what is expected of you. Being focused
and knowing when to play at all times is very important to the chamber orchestra. Since it
is such a smaller group compared to a symphony or a philharmonic, it is a necessity that
you count through the entire piece, because once one person plays a wrong note at the
wrong time, everyone can tell. Another form of appropriate behavior would be
maintaining a good posture during a rehearsal or concert. Not only does it impress the
audience, but it also creates a better tone out of your instrument when playing. Lastly, it
is ALWAYS good to have a pencil handy. You never know when the conductor wants to
change a bowing or a dynamic last minute. You can mark the changes in your score so
you can remember to play it correctly during a performance. An example of inappropriate
behavior in the chamber orchestra would be chewing gum. This is a huge no no. Gum can
be a distraction to the conductor and also the students who are playing around you. Plus,
if you are a woodwind or brass player, the gum can get stuck in your instrument, and it is
a hassle trying to get it out. Finally, any musician should know that you shouldnt talk
while the conductor is talking. You could miss something that is extremely important to
your section of instruments. That is being rude to the conductor.

Actors: Actors are what interact with artifacts in a figured world. They develop certain
behaviors/roles that help to accomplish the purpose of the artifact.

Dr. Govias: As the conductor of the Chamber Orchestra, he is thought of as the
leader of this figured world. He helps to bring each section of instruments in at the
Observation Assignment 1
Site Location: Rowe Auditorium (Chamber Orchestra)
Pulliam 2
time they are supposed to play. He also maintains a steady beat that the orchestra
must follow while playing a piece.
Students: The students each have different roles depending on their instruments,
(ex. usually the bass players or percussionists are who you listen to when trying to
here the beat of a song, the violins usually have the melody, and the cellos and
violas have the harmony, etc.) but they all make the music by playing their
instruments and listening to each other.

Artifacts: Artifacts are what the actor interacts with to fulfill the purpose of it. I t
establishes certain behavior of the actor. I t also helps the actor to grow.

Dr. Govias Baton: The baton is significant because it helps give the flow and
rhythm of a piece of music. The musicians can also look up at it if they get lost in
the piece, and it will show them what beat they are on.
Instruments: The instruments are very important because they are actually what
create the music and make it sound beautiful.
Chairs: The chairs are what the musicians sit in. Many of the musicians in the
Chamber Orchestra need the chair to actually play their instrument, such as a cello
player who must sit when playing. The chair is also useful when dealing with
posture. It keeps the back straight and the feet flat on the floor.
Music Stands: The music stands are what hold the music. Without them, the
musicians would have nowhere to keep the music when trying to play it for a
concert. The music stand also helps to keep the musicians eyes at eye level so
they can see, not only the music, but the conductor also, to see the beat of the
music.
Sheet Music: The sheet music is what the musicians look off of to create the
music.

Discourse Communities: Discourse Communities are made up of groups of people who
share and perform similar actions.

String Players: These students are going to share similar interests since they
play all string instruments. They use their fingers and a bow to make sound.
Brass and Woodwind Players: These students will share similar interests since
they play all brass instruments. They make sound by blowing into their
mouthpiece.
Principal Chairs: These students all share similar interests because they are all
the leaders of their section of instruments. They all sit at the front of their section.
They are the ones who help bring their section in when it is time to play. They all
must be very focused.

Literacy Practices: A literacy practice is a simple action that is common in your figured
world and is a way of interacting.

Observation Assignment 1
Site Location: Rowe Auditorium (Chamber Orchestra)
Pulliam 3
Asking for help from Dr. Govias: Communicating with the conductor is very
common in Chamber Orchestra. If you have a question on how to play something,
he can help you better those skills to play your part of the music.
Marking Changes in Your Score: By marking changes in your score, it helps
the orchestra sound better as a whole. If you do not mark those changes, then you
eventually forget about them, making the orchestra sound worse.

The Observation:

2:55 PM: Everyone is starting to come up on stage with their instruments. Dr. Govias just
came into the auditorium.

3:00 PM: Dr. Govias has his phone out, checking the time. Rehearsal is about to begin,
and he is taking notes of everyone who is not yet up on stage. The principal first violin is
standing up, tuning all the instruments. She first tunes the woodwinds, and then the brass,
and finally, all of the string players.

3:05 PM: Tuning is all finished. The orchestra is starting on their first piece that they will
be playing for tour. It is called The Marquez. The violins and cellos start the piece off by
plucking in a syncopated rhythm, while Govias is waving his baton, giving the down
beats.

3:15 PM: The orchestra has played the piece all the way through. Dr. Govias is now
critiquing the oboe player who is new to the orchestra this semester. He keeps telling her
to play a part of the music by herself and to repeat it over and over again until she gets it
down.

3:22 PM: Govias is finally finished critiquing the oboists playing. She has learned her
part well. The orchestra is starting to play the Marquez all the way through again.

3:30 PM: A viola players string has popped. The orchestra has stopped on the last page
of the Marquez. Another viola player is walking down the steps to her viola case to get
an extra string for the student who popped theirs.

3:37 PM: The new string is finally on. The orchestra is proceeding to the last page of the
Marquez.

3:40 PM: The orchestra has finished the piece. Dr. Govias has nothing to say. He seems
content with piece as a whole. They are moving on to the next piece by Mozart. First and
second violin are starting this piece off.

3:41 PM: The first and second violins did not start together. They must start again.

3:42 PM: The beat of this piece is faster than we have ever played it. This is causing the
cellos and violas to speed up resulting in the whole orchestra getting off beat.

Observation Assignment 1
Site Location: Rowe Auditorium (Chamber Orchestra)
Pulliam 4
3:43 PM: The piece has been stopped. Dr. Govias is giving the orchestra a slower tempo
for the piece. First and second violins are starting the piece off once again.

4:05 PM: The orchestra has gotten through the two-movement piece. It has taken almost
twenty minutes to get through the whole piece. It looks like everyone is tired after
playing this piece. I can tell by their facial expressions. I can tell that the string players
are especially tired since they play through the whole piece and have to move while they
play.

4:07 PM: Dr. Govias is telling the orchestra that since they have already played the
Mozart in many concerts before, that there is no need to practice any more of it. He says
that we are ready for the tour tomorrow.

4:10 PM: Some violin players are having to switch spots because Dr. Govias assigned
them to new chairs. The first violin is back up tuning everyone in the orchestra, getting
them ready for the next piece.

4:20 PM: The orchestra is starting their third piece called the Lully. This one will be extra
hard because the orchestra was told that they would have to have it memorized by today.
Dr. Govias is telling everyone to stand up, move their chairs and music stand out of the
way. He wants the orchestra to play without looking at the music.

4:21 PM: The cellos are starting this piece. They are playing the whole piece and then the
rest of the strings are coming in. After the all the strings have played the piece all the way
through, then the brass and woodwinds will join the strings to play the piece all the way
through one last time. Dr. Govias has a metal staff in his hand and is banging it on the
floor, giving the orchestra the beat. A drum is playing in the background.

4:35 PM: The orchestra has finished playing the piece. Govias is asking the first two
musicians of each section to play the piece together, leaving the last two players of each
section to listen.

4:50 PM: The first two musicians of each section have finished playing the piece. Govias
is now asking the last two players of each section to play the piece together.

5:05 PM: The last two players of each section have finished playing. Govias seems to be
content with this piece, but he is now asking the orchestra to play it again all together.

5:16 PM: The orchestra has finished playing the Lully. Dr. Govias is telling the orchestra
that they have a 20 minute break, and that each member of the orchestra needs to come
and get a chamber orchestra shirt that we will have to wear on tour.

5:25 PM: Everyone has gotten their shirts. There is a group of about five girls running to
go try on the shirts in the bathroom. A group of people are burrowed in the corner of the
auditorium eating their snacks since they didnt have lunch today.

Observation Assignment 1
Site Location: Rowe Auditorium (Chamber Orchestra)
Pulliam 5
5:30 PM: A professor in the music department who is helping the orchestra play for tour
has brought her 1 year old child into the auditorium. Everyone is piled up around her.

5:36 PM: Everyone is back on stage. The Principal Chair is standing up one last time to
tune everyone in the orchestra. Govias is getting out the last piece that the orchestra is
playing for tour. It is by Vivaldi.

5:40 PM: Since the orchestra has also played this piece several times, Govias is telling
them that he only wants to hear them play the first movement of it.

5:41 PM: The orchestra is starting to play the beginning of the first movement of Vivaldi.
It is sounding good. Dr. Govias is not conducting at all. Instead, he is walking out into the
audience, going to the back of the auditorium to listen to the orchestras dynamics and to
see if they are maintaining a steady beat.


5:54 PM: The fist movement is reaching its end. Dr. Govias is walking back down
towards the stage to end the movement.

5:56 PM: The piece has finished. Dr. Govias is thanking all the musicians in the orchestra
and the professor who is helping play with them in the tour. He is telling them that he
thinks the tour is going to fun and that we are going to blow the high schools away. He is
telling everyone that they are free to go.

5:57 PM: Everyone is rushing off stage. They seem tired. This is the longest practice that
the chamber orchestra has ever had in a day. People are packing up their belongings,
putting their instruments in their cases and rushing out the doors to go home or to go eat.