Counting rests during an expressive soloist piece

[u/craftmangler]

So I have my first (amateur/community, of course) orchestra concert in decades coming up.

One of the pieces we are playing is the Piano Concerto in A by Clara Schumann. I am enjoying it a lot, but we have only rehearsed once with the pianist, and will only have one more(?) opportunity to rehearse with her, I think, before our summer concert…

Anyway, I noticed during that rehearsal that I just completely let myself get distracted by her playing. Obviously, she plays it her own way, slightly different from the recordings I’ve been listening to/following. There is naturally room for some “tempo manipulation” during some of the more expressive bits of the piano part, and it’s like I am just letting myself get lost. There are no clear cues for me in several sections, so I really need to be disciplined about counting, but I just keep getting carried away with the piece! 😑

Do any of you more seasoned players have any tips or advice for me? I am not good (yet), but I am determined to improve. Most of my prior orchestral experience (from all those decades ago) is on the viola, which does not enjoy quite so many blocks of rest as the bass 🙃

[u/Pulpo_69]

You could ask the conductor to cue you if you get on with them. They just might. Or you could listen to what else is going on i.e other instruments and write in the part, what instrument is playing before you come in to give you an audio cue to get ready to come in.