Is there a cost for joining the orchestra?

Yes. There is an annual fee of $30, and a fee for each term.  The fees vary from $100 to $130 per Term, depending on the number of sessions in a given Term.  There are three terms per year, but you are not required to attend every term, you just pick the ones you want to join. The full year schedule can be found on Policies and Info.  You will need to complete the Information Form before becoming a member.

When do you meet?

Monday mornings, in the Mel Lehan Hall at St. James Community Square in Vancouver.  Located at 3214 West 10th Avenue near Broadway and Alma.  We start playing at 10:00, but it’s important to arrive by 9:45, since it takes time to set up your music stand, music, and instrument, and also warm up. We finish at 12:00.

What is a typical session?

The Music Director begins at 10:00 by tuning the musicians, just as you may see at any performance.  This is followed by a warm up playing scales, usually in the key signature of one of the pieces, and sometimes with a focus on a particular time signature, tempo or tricky rhythm from one of our selections.  Then we begin playing through the pieces, often focusing on or repeating a specific passage.  At 10:45 we break for beverages and snacks.  We provide coffee and tea, and one of our members has organized a sign-up system for a few people to bring snacks each week. This break is a half-hour, which affords us time to socialize and get to know our fellow musicians. We drift back to our seats, and at 11:15 we resume playing. We stop at 12:00, and those who can spare the time help put away the chairs before leaving.   We usually devote one session per term for break-out sessions, where the group is divided into small sections and work on their parts with additional instructors brought in for that day. On the last session of each term, we have a “Concert for Ourselves”, where we play each piece in its entirety.  This is followed by a pot-luck lunch.  

What should I bring to practice?

You will need to bring your instrument, a music stand, your sheet music (downloaded and printed out), a digital tuner (if you have one), your name tag (we provide this at your first session), and a mug or water bottle for the break.  

What instrument should I play?

If you would like to learn to play, but haven't settled on a particular instrument, you'll need to make that decision first. Choosing an instrument is a very personal decision, so we can't really help you with that. If you like strings, consider viola or violin; winds: bassoon, oboe, saxophone; brass: trumpet, trombone, french horn; or percussion (drums, bells, triangle, etc). Other instruments include cello, clarinet, flute, saxophone, bass clarinet, tuba, and harp.  You’ll need to obtain (probably rent) an instrument, find an instructor, and take enough lessons such that when you join us you can read your part and play along on at least some of the selections. The music director (or your instructor) can simplify your part if you find it too difficult, and as you progress, your instructor can advise you on mastering your pieces for the orchestra.

Why doesn’t NACHO do public performances?

The founding principle of NACHO was to offer a welcoming, reassuring, stress-free and supportive learning environment for people with a range of musical skill levels.  We play for our own enjoyment, as well as for the pleasure and experience of being part of an orchestra, without the stress of preparing for a public performance.  This is  a unique feature of NACHO, as we are the only orchestra in Vancouver (that we know of) that doesn’t have a performance requirement. There are no auditions in order to join, and no requirement to attend all of the sessions. At the end of each term, we do a “concert for ourselves” where we play through all the pieces, start to finish. We play our best, but there is no pressure to be perfect, and there is no audience judging our performance.

No.  The Music Director selects the pieces, and teaches the musicians the skills for playing as a group. This would include understanding how your music contributes to the full sound of the orchestra, and how to follow the conductor.  Many of our members also take private lessons to develop their playing technique. If you are looking for a teacher, the Music Director can make suggestions, other members can make recommendations, or you can look to some of the music sponsors on our home page.  You could also indicate that you are looking for a teacher on the Information Form, when you submit it. 

As much as you like - the goal of NACHO is to enjoy the sessions, play in an orchestra, talk about music, and have fun.

Obviously, you’ll need an instrument to play. You might already have one, or you can rent one from a music store.  In the case of percussion, a snare drum is basic, but you can also discuss this with one of our percussionists, who may have additional recommendations. If you have an older instrument that hasn’t been used in a while, we recommend that you take it to a music store to have it assessed and adjusted if necessary. Typical orchestra instruments are: viola, violin, cello, string bass, bassoon, oboe, clarinet, flute, tenor and alto saxophones, trumpet, trombone, french horn, percussion, bass clarinet, tuba, and harp.  

You will also need a music stand to bring to sessions (we don’t provide music stands).  So it should be portable and easy to assemble.  There’s a wide selection available, so it’s more about personal preference.  Some members also have a tuner/metronome, or there are free apps for cell phones that work just as well.

Most of our pieces are classical, some are movie themes or arrangements, and occasionally we have orchestral arrangements of other genres (e.g. Gershwin).