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It's one thing if mankind is hunted to extinction by ChatGPT, but I really do object to being executed by Bing.

(https://secretfanspace.dreamwidth.org/2511.html?thread=3169743#cmt3169743 )

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From: (Anonymous)

Ha, I went to school in a swanky rich people neighborhood. Every student was expected to learn an instrument in fourth grade, and I don't just mean a recorder.

The orchestra composition is wild to me too, because even with our inflated parental budgets we couldn't find anyone to play the harp. We had one tuba player and a guy who had to do double duty on oboe and bassoon even though he was a pianist. No shortage of cellos and basses, though, although a lot of them were violinists who switched over so they could have a place in the orchestra.

From: (Anonymous)

+1 to the orchestra composition not being too crazy. Although multiple bassoons and french horns sounds suspicious. And a harp is similarly sus.

Also, from an American dan who knew a few people who attended conservatory... 7 is a normal/late age to start violin or piano but would be an unusually early age to start a wind instrument. Not sure about cello. I knew a fair number of cellists who started on violin and then switched but I don't have a complete picture because as a not exceptional wind player I avoided the strings whenever possible. Except for the bassists. They were chill.

From: (Anonymous)

Right? I'm sure it varies from school to school, year to year, but my school orchestra (which was terrible) was likely the best in the area (I say this bc we had a coveted contract to play a certain gig every year, not trying to flex xD) and we still needed teachers and ex-teachers to bulk the band out for performances to get anywhere nearrrrr this size and diversity. And we weren't out in the sticks (and most students were well off). The book one is meant to just be a regular rehearsal. You could have a kid playing any one of these instruments, but you wouldn't see them all at the same time, because the kids double up the way you describe. I HAD a friend that brought a harp to rehearsal, once. It was the only time it happened in 7 years, and the band went without her main instrument that rehearsal. And it was a lever harp, not pedal. I don't think I've ever even seen one of those in person. Tbf book doesn't specify.

It's a daft nitpick but I spent a lot of time in the room with that terrible band, so if outsized-orchestra-pedantry must be my compensation, so be it.