Klarinet Archive - Posting 000897.txt from 2001/05

From: SDSCHWAEG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Third Clarinet
Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 13:30:24 -0400

In a message dated 5/30/01 12:13:11 PM Central Daylight Time,
DGross1226@-----.com writes:

<< Perhaps we would not have the
unnecessary competition and hard feelings in many high school bands if the
prima dona clarinet players who "challenge and win" fully understood the
harmonic importance of ALL the members of the section. >>

Oops. I accidentally sent something I wasn't finished with yet - let's try
again.

I agree with what Don is saying. When I was in high school, the director
experimented with what he called "vertical seating" - that is, we were not
seated in a strict hierarchy according to audition results. Strong players
were assigned to 2nd and 3rd clarinet in order to better balance the section.
While the students seemed to understand what was going on, for the most
part, the parents did not.
I have also run into parents who got upset when their kid was assigned
Reed IV in the pit orchestra for the musical, not understanding the way those
books are divided and named. They also don't necessarily understand that the
2nd clarinetist in an orchestra is not necessarily a weaker player - they
have a job that is different from the principal player's, but is as important.
My favorite way of doing things is to rotate parts for every piece, but
that is often not feasible outside of a college level wind ensemble.
I don't know that the emphasis on competition will ever completely go
away.
Sue Schwaegler

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