Klarinet Archive - Posting 000388.txt from 1994/10

From: GILLMAN <E5305005@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Bad day...
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 15:08:00 -0400

>God... I've always been first chair in my band... Woe Woe Woe. (I have
>to settle for 2nd)... Anyone else experience this? I know I can beat
>her, its just my respect has gone down now.
>
>Regards.

Chris,
I to had was first chair for a long time, until my senior year in high
school when I was challenged. I beat her by a fair margin on every piece we
played except for the last one, where she crushed me. This is life. Who's
respect for you has gone down? Yours or everybody else's? There is no shame in
not being "The best". As musicians and people, we must strive to be the best we
can be. You are the only person you need to impress. There will always be
somebody better than you. At any time there can only be one "best" in the
world. Life will go on. Don't practice simply in order to beat somebody,
practice to be your best. Success is when we can look back at our
accomplishments and truly feel that we have done our absolute best. This is the
spirit behind healthy competition. When the goal is to beat others rather than
improve yourself, it turns from a labor of love to simply labor. (The
preceding, of course, has all been IMHO)

Luis Handal
Senior, Music Education
Montclair State University (In scenic northern New Jersey ;^))
E5305005@-----.edu