 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-09-03 20:20
OK, I really want to try out for the 2006 Honor Band of America which is set up by Bands of America (BOA). If I send in an entry which is $45, I'll find out if I make it by Octobor 15th. My band director said that she thinks I would make it.
So, my problem is that our District Solos/Ensembles for Band is on the same day that when HBoA is meeting in Indiana. By the time I audition for college, I'll know if I made the Honor Band or not and my District results won't be known yet. So, which would look better on a resume like 10 years from now: a I at districts or making the Honor Band of America?
Also, if I did make it, I could possibly work it out with the Missouri High School Sports and Activities Association to play my clarinet solo in another districts Solo/Ensemble day and then proceed onto State from there. Do you think that would work?
I really want to do both, but I would like to know which would look better in the future. Thanks for your time!
How good would the Honor Band or the District Solos look for college? Which would hold more weight?
Post Edited (2005-09-03 23:48)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-09-03 20:38
Would you even include a high school competition on your resume 10 years from now?
Do what you'd rather do NOW, for the benefits it gives. Think of which one will more impact your CURRENT playing, which should mean much more in the long run than which words a potential employer *might* skim over on your resume.
I don't know which I'd pick, but I think it's lousy to base that decision on what you think might give you a 1% better chance at a job in 10 years. Heck, there's a good chance life will take you elsewhere anyways! My "master plan" has changed about a dozen times in the past 10 years, and I'd hate to have missed out on a great experience because I was trying to posture myself for a hypothetical opportunity that that I wouldn't even WANT to pursue.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2005-09-03 20:41
Nostalgia! Anyway, here's the deal with those festivals. I played in a great number of these when I was in high school, and at the time they meant the world to me. They are fun in high school, and you get to play challenging music written for large wind ensemble that you wouldn't get to play otherwise much past college, and you get to meet tons of like minded people. Sometimes you'll run into them down the road when you're taking auditions. The fact is that in 10 years, if your career as a professional musician has taken a desirable course, i.e. supporting yourself financially, that stuff will not be on your resume. The only resume that I would put those festivals on is one for application to undergraduate school. It shows that you had an interest in music in high school, and that you intend to continue on that path in college. After that's said and done, you had fun, met new people and played challenging music written for large wind ensemble that you probably won't see again, and that's about all. I do think you should apply to do everything you can. It is always possible that one thing will come through, and the other won't, and you won't have to make a decision. If you do have to make the decision, it will not affect your future as a clarinetist very much regardless of what you decide to do. One thing that that you mentioned that will is your college education, and what you make of it.
Good luck!
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-09-03 23:27
Carrie
I was also thinking of trying out for that, but decided not to. However, if I had to choose between either the Honor Band of America or the District Solo/Ensemble competition, I would definitely choose the Honor Band of America. Some colleges would put more weight on being in the Honor band of America than whatever rating you got at a District competition, especially since you've already been through Districts 3 times. Good Luck, and keep us posted as to your final decision!!!
Clayton
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2005-09-03 23:36
any job (assuming performance) that you apply for 10 years from now, or if you apply for a job with any professional group now or later for that matter, isn't gonna give a damn if you played in the BoA festival. It's a matter of how you sound. Period. (Oh, well, and possibly who you know)
Post Edited (2005-09-03 23:36)
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Author: Susan
Date: 2005-09-04 00:36
Honestly, colleges aren't going to care much, either, about either of these things. Whether you're trying to get accepted as a music major or trying to get a department scholarship, your audition is what will matter. Just go ahead and do what you would rather do.
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Author: mkybrain
Date: 2005-09-04 00:42
I would agree with Susan, but I would go with the honor band for the experience, the solo and ensemble really doesn't matter, at all.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-09-04 11:57
Basically nothing you did/do in High School is put on a professional resume.
It just doesn't matter. But it can help you for college!!!
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2005-09-04 14:13
I'm in my final year of college and the only thing from high school I have on my resume now is what high school I went to for the final 2 years - because it was a music high school.
Just do what's going to advance your playing right now, not neccessarily what looks good. Everyone's right; it's not gonna matter how good you looked 'way back then' in high school.
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Author: ginny
Date: 2005-09-04 16:35
My son had the time of his life at state honor band here in California. He reveled in the experience of having the first read through be basically note perfect and actually music. He enjoyed the top level conductors. I don't know if the sponsering organization has attracted players at the level our state honor band did, if they are then it'll be a thrill.
Solo and ensemble is always fun in a semi-nerve racking way, seeing all our music friends from other schools and waiting for the results. However honor band was much more thrilling for him.
As far as your resume, if that choice is not going to be the difference between getting into what ever school you plan or not. Make the choice based on what experience seems either more educational or enjoyable for you personally.
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-09-05 15:06
I think I've decided to go ahead and send in an audition/application to the honor band. If I don't make it, then I'll still do a solo. There's also the chance that I can still do both.
Solos are very stressful for me sometimes and I would rather enjoy playing in a top notch group with an excellent conductor. I would also like to know how I stack up nationally. I know a lot of fantastic players won't audition, but it would still be interesting to see how I rank among the auditionees.
It's funny because Ray E. Cramer is the Honor Band conductor for 2006 and I've already had him for a conductor for All-District Band 2 years ago and All-State Band last year. He's a great director and he always picks very challenging and fun music.
Yeah, I'm actually glad that these don't really matter on college auditions/resumes. Now I can pick what I want and not worry about it. Also, if I don't do a Solos/Ensembles, I can have more time to learn the OU High School Competition music. I'm also going to go ahead and learn a solo for college auditions and such and I'm 95% sure I'll be doing Premiere Rhapsodie by Debussy.
Now I just have to decide what piece to audition with: Scene and Air by Bergsen (the least stressful, I took this as a solo like 2 years ago), Weber's Concertino (more stressful, but has much musical diversity in the piece), Weber's Fantasia from the Clarinet Quintet (not very stressful, but more on the musical side, although it doesn't scream technically hard). Which would you think would be the best of these 3 to submit?
Also, it doesn't specify on the application, but would it be smarter to have a piano accompianament with my tape or to just play it by myself with no piano?
Thanks for all the help!
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Author: clarisax
Date: 2005-09-05 18:32
If possible you should get a pianist to accompany you. This shows your ability to play with accompaniment and it requires more precise timing.
As many people have said, none of this stuff will actually matter on resumes. What will matter is what you learn from these experiences and how you use it in your auditions. I have been concertmaster in the best All-State ensemble, gone to Governor's School of the Arts, and participated in the Clarinet Workshop at Boston Universities Tanglewood Institute and none of those things seemed to influence the judges at my college auditions. It's all about how you sound at your audition and who your past teachers have been, in my oppinion anyway.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2005-09-06 11:53
Carrie,
Your comment "I would also like to know how I stack up nationally. " Do you think this will tell you? Are all the clarinets in the US trying out? If not, what part of the population? Is it representative?
You seem to be introducting an assumption that can lead to a significant sampling error.
HRL
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-09-06 13:10
Try out for the International Clarinet Assn. Student Competition.
That will give you at least a little bit of an idea of how you stack up to some of the very best around.
The McDonalds All American Band used to be a good "gauge" but of course a place like Interlochen is also a wonderful way to get a feel of just how good the other players out there are.
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-09-06 17:07
And I quote myself:
"I would also like to know how I stack up nationally. I know a lot of fantastic players won't audition, but it would still be interesting to see how I rank among the auditionees."
Yeah... I know it won't be everyone in the US and I know lots of really fantastic players won't audition. Maybe I should rephrase this and say that I want to see how I stack up among the auditionees who are submitting auditions from all parts of the U.S. If I do make it, then everyone who does make it will be around my level (better, same, or lower). So yeah... it's just interesting that's all...
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2005-09-07 09:51
I would recommend using a pianist if feasible. I would also recommend the Weber Concertino. That piece shows everything in 10 minutes, it shows your ability to play in several meters, different tempi, dynamic range, rapid articulation in different dynamic ranges, evenness of tone throughout the registers, smoothness of large intervals, good legato playing, pretty much everything that you need to know for initially evaluating a student/auditionee.
Best wishes!
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band
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