Conservatoires and youth orchestras in the UK too often imitable an excessive number of orchestral rehearsals and concerts. These rob students of precious hours of private pracice, writes violin teacher Simon Smith

The development of technical and musical skills for orchestral playing is a crucial part of any young musician’s life. But understanding how not to prioritise this need over other activities is a cause of much friction between students, teachers, parents and institutions. A colleague and principal player in a London orchestra told me about a recent audition for the post of second violin. All four players accepted to trial could, in his opinion, have stood in front of the orchestra and played their concertos in that evening’s concert, the equal of many of the soloists regularly employed. A convincing solo performance is needed to get through even the first door to an orchestral position.