Vincent and Clare Wong, 11 and 13 years old respectively, certainly have a clear opinion of what it's like to play with the violin section of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.
"You think you are good, until you sit by them, and then you think you are really, really bad," the two said with cheerful laughter at their home in Atlanta in a Saturday afternoon interview.
The two were part of 14 youth violinists who played with the 18 professionals of the symphony in the "side-by-side" concert Jan. 16 at the Perot Theatre, before 1,400 fellow students.
"Side-by-side" means you are music-stand partners with another violinist, in this case the youth with the adult.
There are, for example, 16 sections of instruments in a classical orchestra. They include about 50 string, brass, wind and percussion players.
And the music being played this day was by Beethoven, Mozart, Strauss and Holst.
"It's big," Vincent and Clare said.
The goal of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra's student outreach concert is to give students a lifelong experience.
Clare and Vincent didn't play all the notes. Even the professionals have to work hard to play all these notes. But the youths sat in the middle of it all, next to a player who would talk to them in rehearsal, give a bit of advice and then go for it with all the beauty and power available to them in a real concert.
And what does it all come down to?
"Playing together in tune. You don't want to stick out," Clare said.
To have this experience, the Wongs had to perform a lot of preliminary activities.
First, their parents had to encourage them, then purchase the musical instruments and take them to practices and performances.
Second, they had to find a private teacher to help them reach a basic level. Then they would try out before the conductor who listens and decides if they are ready to join the group.
"You get two try-outs. A second chance," Vincent said, remembering on their first effort, both he and Clare had to try out a second time. But not since then.
The hardest part of it all, parents and children agree, is practicing at home during the down time. Everyone gets up for the concert. Ivy, Vincent and Clare's mother, is usually the one who asks them daily if they've practiced.
But a violin takes particular attention to get ready. Take it out of its case, clean it, put the shoulder rest on, put rosin on the bow, tune it and then practice.
The special beauty of it all? Playing together. Maybe if one gets good enough there will be some solo performances, such as Clare's, who volunteers to accompany her father each Sunday as he is cantor for St. Catherine's Catholic Church.
But orchestral playing is mainly about playing together.
"It's about seeing that music which looks hard at first and knowing you are supposed to be able to read and play those notes," Vincent said.
"Learn new technique," Clare said.
It's about being willing to drive back and forth to Texarkana every Monday for an hour-and-a-half rehearsal and then wait during rehearsal while some other musicians practice and learn their parts, they said.
But the two will keep playing in the string section of an orchestra, they said. They hope the college they'll attend will have such a musical group. Still, playing the violin is special, and they'll keep after it.
If not, they will have sports-tennis, volleyball and soccer-piano lessons, maintaining high grades, and leadership roles in school and church to attend and have a lot of fun.
And her final opinion?
"It's fun. It's good to be listening to yourself even if other people aren't," Clare said.
Texarkana Youth Orchestra
The 40-member Texarkana Youth Orchestra, directed by Steve Bennett, is a musical opportunity for students ranging from ages 10 to 18.
To become a member, call the office of the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra and Director Bennett will explain the details of the program.
The cost is $125 for the school year, and members will be expected to provide their own instruments, although in many cases the instruments may be used on loan from the students' school district and its musical program. Aspring member will also be expected to be practiced enough to pass the try-out performance.
Practice is an hour and a half on Mondays. The orchestra gives two concerts each year and may participate in a program with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra.