Performing in a Pit Orchestra

Playing in a pit orchestra in a musical is far different from any other type of performance I have been a part of. While it might seem tough at first, it is very fun and rewarding.

My first experience performing in a pit orchestra was performing the musical Jekyll and Hyde. I absolutely loved the music and I had a great time playing. It also helped that the cast and crew were fantastic and did an amazing job making the show come to life. I think Jekyll and Hyde will always be my favorite musical. It was such a great exposure to the world of pit orchestras.

Music in a musical pit is quite different from regular band music. It is typically the same for brass instruments, but there are not certain books for specific woodwind instruments. Instead, the books are simply labeled Reed 1, Reed 2, Reed 3, and so on. Rather than playing one instrument, the musicians playing the different Reed books are usually asked to play multiple instruments. For example, on the first song the Reed 2 book may be marked as clarinet music, but on the third song it may be marked as oboe music. This means the players will have to switch instruments between tunes. Woodwind musicians hoping to be hired to play in a professional musical have a higher chance of being selected if they are capable of playing more than one instrument.

Playing in a musical pit is also much more exposed than playing in a regular concert band. There are typically only one to two players for each instrument with one player on a part if there is more than one part. In order to sound good everyone must play with lots of confidence and no hesitation. There is no place to hide in a pit orchestra. I find it easiest to think of everything I play as a solo. Playing in a pit orchestra is vastly different from other types of performances, but it is equally fun.