cid said
I think that if there was a group that jist sort of got together around here, I might consider. I am in a drought as far as bowed string instruments goes. Reading the comments has made me think about conquering playing in front of people, but maybe if we are just “jamming?” and having fun and helping each other it might be different.

  

Many fiddle groups are like that.

If you're thinking more classical, or looking to play viola or cello, maybe you can find a non-performing community orchestra in your area? In the Bay Area, there's an orchestra called TACO (Terrible Adult Chamber Orchestra) that meets once a month just to play music together for fun, without ever performing, and welcomes everyone from beginners to professionals. I heard about a similar group forming in Los Angeles.

I've been playing in orchestras for more than 18 years now, have been a regular member of six orchestras and subbed in nine others, and currently play in more than one group at different levels, so I'm not sure what kind of response is most helpful. I think I'm going to describe my first group (and some general advice) in one post, and my current groups (and what I'm getting out of each) in a separate post.

My first group was my college orchestra. I went to a small science and technology school with no music department, so the orchestra was a college/community orchestra that was serious (playing all professional repertoire and all classical-format concerts) but accepted a lot of less accomplished players. I joined as a violinist for the last quarter of my freshman year, when I had been playing violin for about a year and a half. I was a lower-intermediate player (Suzuki Book 4) at the time, with some technical deficiencies because I was completely self-taught. After two concerts on violin, I switched to viola, only switching back to violin for my last year in this orchestra because of a surplus of violists that year. The orchestra rehearsed weekly and performed four times a year: three concerts during the academic year and one concert in the summer. During the academic year, it was about 70 people including about 50 string players (about half were students), and in the summer it was typically about 40 people including about 25 string players (mostly community members with whatever students were in the area for the summer).

At first I didn't actually play much. I sat in the back and faked as much as 75% of the time in my first concert. But I got lots of mini-lessons from excellent musicians and improved a lot, not only in individual technique but in my ability to listen for how all the parts fit together. By the time I graduated, I was playing the majority of the time. The key here was not being embarrassed by my lack of ability. People do tend to be helpful in most places. You'll find that people in community orchestras (including college/community orchestras) are usually not competitive at all and really want everyone to contribute as much as they can. Occasionally there is an orchestra with a few inflated egos in it (and I've played in a couple of them over the years), but it's not the norm at all.

It was also a great social outlet. At least half of the friends I've kept in touch with from college are from the orchestra.

General advice in picking an orchestra: try to get some sense of what kind of music they play and what their motivation is. I recommend attending a concert before you join the orchestra, and if you have the chance, chat with the conductor and some of the musicians. It may even be helpful to ask to sit in on a rehearsal, so you can to see how they operate. You progress more in an orchestra that really digs into the pieces and works on trouble spots, rather than one that just runs through the music over and over.

MoonShadows said
I checked out the TACO site. Got me to thinking....Perhaps I am not the only adult beginning fiddler in my area who would like to play with other adult beginning fiddlers and those who don't have others to play with. Just have to think how I would go about finding others to start an informal group. Ads, Facebook, etc. Have to give this some thought...maybe I could start something myself!

  

Definitely worth thinking about. A lot of amateur groups start spontaneously. The chamber music program I mentioned in my last post started because a few local amateur musicians had the idea of organizing something, talked to other amateur musicians, and got enough other people interested to make it a thing. And you may have noticed that TACO started out in someone's living room.

starise said
Andrew, I know you are likely aware of this, so just to reiterate and compare different areas. Sacramento seems to be a really hopping place musically compared to my local area and I suspect many other local areas. Doesn't hurt to look and see what is in one's area. 

I know it's a little bit of a self esteem thing for me in feeling I need to "be ready" before I go out and play in a group. I guess I've heard some pretty bad playing in some of those groups too and I want to at least be able to carry the melody in tune, plus I feel pretty useless just sitting there when I don't know a tune. I'm referring to the mostly folk music groups and not the orchestra groups which operate on a different plan. In the folk groups they generally take turns and when your turn comes around they would like you to to present a tune. That can really put a beginner on the spot.....I know those are sort of negative comments so I want to offset that with a few positive comments. Yes, a beginner can go to those and so long as they are respectful, willing to learn and don't get in the way they are accepted. Some players go to those groups and listen for a long time before they play. Others go and attempt to fit in. That's what I generally do. I've noticed that in my area the people are very generous and willing to help you make music with the group....yes you get the occasional hot dog or perfectionist who can make it miserable, but as a general rule that isn't the case and if you end up in one of those groups with a bad apple there's probably another group around. Classical music groups specifically for beginner adults don't exist in my local area. The orchestra groups that do exist are a distance away and are fairly demanding on who they accept. Big difference from Sacramento for sure.

TBH I can carry a decent handful of tunes at those groups. I'm nowhere near as advanced as a few of the other local players, including my teacher. Perhaps I should "just do it".

My plan was to do what Moonshadows is maybe contemplating, start another local group. Only because I think we need more groups here for people who want to get started...remodeling my house, but after that I can see myself inviting people over to play. The only caveat is I need to solidify more tunes and see how I would go about it. It pays to have a few experienced players , even in a "beginner" group. I think you need that to progress. Not just decent players, but players who are patient and possibly even willing to teach. JMOP. For some odd reason it seem that every local group around me hits right on another date I need and/or is two hours away.

That's no small feat, 4 hours driving time add three hours playing time....that's mostly going to be a weekend for me if it's even possible.

  

I do realize I'm a bit spoiled living in a fairly large city, and in California, which as an entire state seems to have a higher density of community orchestras than anywhere else in the US. The choices are unfortunately more limited when you're in a place with fewer people or fewer string players. But I do believe in making the most of what you can find, and it sounds like confidence is as much an issue for you as anything else. Just keep in mind that everyone was a beginner at one point. The experienced players in the group probably still remember what their first session was like.

If you're going to start a group, I think it's productive to go to a few other sessions (doesn't have to be on a regular basis) and meet people. You might even find that there are some experienced players who have the same problem as you -- they might be from your area and making the same drive because there isn't anything closer. And that would take a lot of pressure off you.

By the way, I don't think there's all that much difference between folk and classical groups at the amateur level, in terms of how people act. "I've noticed that in my area the people are very generous and willing to help you make music with the group....yes you get the occasional hot dog or perfectionist who can make it miserable, but as a general rule that isn't the case and if you end up in one of those groups with a bad apple there's probably another group around." -- that also describes the amateur orchestras I've played in.