Orchestral Excerpt Labs

Overview

The Orchestral Excerpt Labs are the backbone of technical preparation inside The Global Conservatory’s Orchestral Training Division. These weekly labs are instrument-family specific, repertoire-intensive, and led by current and former principal players from the world’s leading orchestras.

This is where the real work happens. Every excerpt is broken down with surgical precision: bowings, breaths, articulation, phrasing, rhythm, and internal pulse. You don’t just “know” the excerpt — you understand it from inside the section and from behind the audition panel.

Details

What Makes It Unique

  • Weekly labs organized by instrument family:
    Strings | Winds | Brass | Percussion
  • Each session focuses on a core audition excerpt or rotation of standard rep
  • Run by real orchestra principals who have sat on audition committees
  • Labs are recorded and made available for on-demand viewing
  • All materials are curated and aligned with current audition standards worldwide
  • Emphasis on style, blend, timing, and excerpt hierarchy — not just the notes

Format & Structure

  • Live Weekly Sessions (60–90 min each)
  • Rotating Repertoire: Standard audition excerpts are rotated through the calendar (updated monthly)
  • Interactive Teaching: Students may be asked to play live, followed by direct feedback

Format & Structure

  • Breakout by Instrument Family:

-Brass Labs: Mahler 5, Tchaik 4, Petrouchk

-Strings Labs: Mozart 39, Don Juan, Brahms 4

-Winds Labs: Daphnis, Mendelssohn Scherzo, Rossini

-Percussion Labs: Snare, tambourine, triangle, cymbals, excerpts + etudes

  • Recorded Access: All sessions available on-demand in your student portal

Integration with the Division

  • Mock Auditions: Students often use the lab material as their audition repertoire for that week
  • 1-on-1 Coaching: Schedule sessions to dive deeper into lab excerpts with a faculty member
  • Audition Video Review: Compare your progress across weeks using the Excerpt Lab footage
  • Mindset & Psychology: Labs focus on technical security, allowing you to fully engage with mental performance strategies in parallel