 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 2000-03-03 19:26
Hey!
Well I was demoted to 2nd chair. And although this sounds like I'm conceited, I know I'm better. So I am just going to work harder, practice, not complain, and just hopefully, I will stand out and be moved up. Is this not a good philosophical approach?
The Freshman,
Nicole Y.
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 2000-03-03 20:30
Wow! You all will never know how great it is to feel that someone *even if you can't see them* is supporting you. The only people here who do that is my boyfriend, my friend the drummer, and a flute. Sad when my band director won't support me but I know that this experience is good for me. I'll be stronger.
The Freshman,
Nicole Y.
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Author: Nikki
Date: 2000-03-03 22:04
Hey! I have the same story and am second chair too. I know I am better- I have never even seen the first chair person bring thier clarinet home! As long as you know what you are capable of you'll do fine! Just hang in there with me!! Nikki
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-03-03 23:02
Nicole,
Yessssss!
Your attitude is fine. I'd like to sign on to your list of supporters, those of us who come right after A FLUTE!??
(chuckle)
Well, anyway, with your determination you might even out-do yourself.
Hang in.
>ron b.<
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Author: Ginger Martin
Date: 2000-03-03 23:16
Dear Nicole,
Perhaps the director of your band needed a strong and competant player on each part. I remember one band director I had put his strongest 3 players on 1st, 2nd and 3rd then divvied up the others. This meant all 3 parts were well balanced.
(Maybe you weren't demoted!)
Ginger
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 2000-03-03 23:30
We don't usually play. Chairs are both symbolic and a matter of pride. Since we don't usually play, it just shows where we have been. And then for me, it's also a pride thing. But I deserved this, I wasn't trying or playing. Actually I think it's a good thing, it will help me become a stronger player. A little competition never hurt anyone *well...'cept when it turns nasty...but that won't happen*.
The Freshman,
Nicole Y.
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-03-04 03:10
When I was second chair in my high school band my senior year of high school, I demanded an audition in March right after all my college auditions. I was so egotistical and knew I was so much better than the freshman that I felt that this was the only way to solve the problem. I only made things worse! I questioned my band director's expertise and wound up being ranked fifth when I should have been ranked first.
The moral of the story: Don't worry be happy! 
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2000-03-04 04:13
Nicole -
Hang in there ! I'm behind you Your band director won't even support you ? omgosh. I wouldn't be able to do that.. With out my director i wouldn't be 1/2 the person I am. and I mean that.
Yes; A little competition will neva hurt anyonee !! It's actually fun - don't aruge the seating or etc .. it will just make things worse ! lol.....
Keep doing what your doing and you will be fine
Laur
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Author: James
Date: 2000-03-04 04:32
I am a clarinetist and high school band director in Texas and I have seen really good players let their attitudes mess them up. Poor attitude really messed up my FORMER first chair flute player and she is now not in band (her choice). She also lost a tremendous amount of respect from her peers because of her attitude and her choice. (She thought the band would fall apart without her- it didn't) You have a wonderful attitude about this. In the long run, your great attitude, your hard work, and your talent will be noticed and will make you stand out in a very positive way. Concgratulations- you are a mature thinker. You have my respect. (Want to come to Texas and be in my band? LOL)
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Author: Cholé
Date: 2000-03-04 19:59
Enjoy a brief lapse from the pressure of being in the spotlight, and you may find the new first is so nervous about solos etc. that they bodge them for a while which will make people like your unsupporrtive band-director realise your talents. It can be fun to play a bottom part because you get to work on stuff like the chalameau that on first aren't usual! Just enjoy it and be the best you can be!
Chloe
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Author: TwrlGrl
Date: 2000-03-04 20:07
Nikki wrote:
-------------------------------
Hey! I have the same story and am second chair too. I know I am better- I have never even seen the first chair person bring thier clarinet home!
I have a story like that. Right now, I am 3rd chair in my band, but I am 2nd in the Region. The 2nd chair didn't ry-out for the band and 1st chair is 7th in the region and they talk a lot while our band director is instructing another section.
TwrlGrl
O=====O
P.S. Good luck !!
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Author: Kristen
Date: 2000-03-05 03:46
I can realy relate. Last year I was first chair and things got so competitave in the clarinet section, people would start crying after every challenge. This year, however, there are three of us that switch 1st, 2nd and 3rd chair. I don't take it as seriously, and believe me I'm happier at 2nd now than when I had all the pressure to keep up at 1st. I also try to branch off, like volunteering to lay the Bass and participating Solo E. I thinh James had a good commment, too. I once saw a really good High-School percuss. drop her instrument on the spot (we were practicing marching), chew out our band teachers after they asked her to play louder, in front of 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders from 3 schools. Talk about bad attitude!!! Good Luck!
BEHIND YOU ALL THE WAY!,
Kristen
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2000-03-05 06:18
Hey -
Just lettin everyone know - Usually the 2nd and 3rd parts are a lot harder then the 1st parts. Last year, a day before the concert my director asked me to switch to second on account the balance of the 2 sections were off, and it was sooo incredibly harder then 1st.. but after learning and playing it, it brought me to become a more self confident and assured players. It made me more confident with soloing and put a new perspective on things.. It does sound like your on the right track attitude wise. I don't necessiary have a bad attidude, but I get frustrated a lot. And that is not good.. Keep playingg..
me.
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Author: chogue
Date: 2000-03-05 19:28
Learning to accept a "demotion" with grace is an important lesson that will serve anyone throughout life. I've sat second-chair to someone I played better than and I've been paid less than a couple of less competent co-workers. But people offered a great support throughout these situations. I've discovered that my personal best is what really counts.
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Author: Meredith H
Date: 2000-03-05 21:10
If all parts are equally important there is no such thing as being "demoted". We played a few pieces in band this week where the second and third parts were missing and it was REALLY noticeable. I am probably the strongest player in my section and I happily play the second part, no damage to my ego but I guess a bit of age and experience may have something to do with that.
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Author: Meri
Date: 2000-03-06 17:24
Playing second and third parts can be fun; besides, it's a good break from altissimo playing. And in a good number of pieces, the second and third parts are often much harder than the first. Lots of conductors, after all, need strong players on second and third parts: when our community band conductor put me on third clarinet, after hearing the effect, remarked: "It's so nice to hear the third clarinet part!"
Also, if you are the only good player on a second or third part, you may just be setting a good example for the others on the part: they may aspire to your level of quality.
Here's a musical quote to think about; I think it was Yehundi Menuhin who said it, but I am not sure: "Sometimes the player who does not want solos is more highly valued."
So take playing second or third graciously no matter what level of player you are.
Meri
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-03-08 01:20
In college, competition is different. For one thing, there really isn't competition to say the least. The only auditions we have are in the beginning of the year. The director puts us in seating order for the rest of the year and re-auditions us in the middle of the year if need be.
A flautist, I believe a senior, didn't even audition and because of this is now sitting last chair. The people sitting in front of her are all younger than her. She's not too upset over which chair she is sitting, since she didn't audition. She obviously didn't care which chair she sat in, thus choosing not to audition.
The first and second chair clarinets could be switched with the same result. One's a senior, and the other a freshman. They are fabulous musicians and one wouldn't think to say, "I'm better than she is!" They both contribute equally to the ensembles they play in and without their musicianship and skills a big component of the section would be missing. All the parts are needed in the band.
When we have sectionals, everybody in the section suggests equally how to make the pieces sound better. For example, if somebody is playing a rhythm wrong, then we will go over it and correct it.
I do admit that college is a step-up in professionalism compared to high school, but band is band. In college, my band plays music ranging from grade 3-6. Last year, we played kinda easy music. If your band director thinks that he has a young group, then he might be training you for something better for the near future, like my band director did. He'd have us play a grade 4 piece of music.
We play the music easily, but still learn a great deal about it. The easiest music you play can be the hardest because of dynamics and control that your band director asks for.
Don't worry about seating because you don't need to be "better" than someone to succeed in band. Actually, the person you need to "better" than is YOURSELF. If I don't feel I am playing something as I well as I could, I am so miserable. But, when I play that passage well, I have a surge of self-esteem. Don't go by who's better than who. Go by why you play music and play it because you want to.
Great attitude, and good luck in the future!
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