Klarinet Archive - Posting 000392.txt from 1994/10

From: GILLMAN <E5305005@-----.EDU>
Subj: First chairs
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 15:55:00 -0400

I just remembered a story I should have related in replying to Chris' recent
post about getting beat.

A few years ago (two to be exact), at the beginning of the school year, the MSU
band director suggested that if any section wished to fight out who played what
part, we did not need to bother auditioning for parts. The two of us who most
likely would have been playing first clarinet (we only had 6 clarinets who were
in band.) decided that we wanted to play second for a change, so we did. It was
a wonderful experience for all involved. I had never played second before. In
both high school and college (to that point) I moved from third directly to
first. I would encourage all of you who are in either high school or in college
to at some point try plaing all of the clarinet parts. (Although don't try
plaing them all at the same time.) This is especially true if you are studying
or thinking of becoming a music educator. I am sure it will help to have a
better understanding of how composers/arrangers use the differerent clarinets
differently. I realize that I am almost sounding like I am out of college, but
with music ed being a 5 year program at MSU and me being in my fifth year, and
having already student taught once, I sorta feel like I've been around this
place forever.

Luis Handal
Senior, Music Education
Montclair State University (withing 12 miles of scenic NYC)
E5305005@-----.edu