 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: musicnotes92
Date: 2006-05-27 19:43
I'm going to be a sophmore in highschool and I'm moving this summer to a new school in Georgia. My new band director has given me a spot on the field in his honors marching band. Problem is, is that his honors band competes in B.O.A. (Bands of America Regional Competetion) in the Georgia Dome this year. I'm so nervous and I have no idea what to expect. I'm afraid that I'm going to feel so intimidated by all of the upper classmen in my section and in the band. Has anyone ever competed in B.O.A or has gone through what I'm about to go through??
-Keri
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: andyrox
Date: 2006-05-30 00:10
I have competed in BOA regionals in long beach and arizona. Im from Cerritos high school and we were finalists at both. The grand nationals comp. is held in Indiana i suppose. Don't worry about regionals its not a big deal unless u are going to nationals.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2006-05-30 00:29
I've been to BOA regionals twice and it's not all that scary, well... unless you have a solo and had to scream to fill the whole dome in St. Louis like I did. Haha, I even screamed at the wrong time too because they only added it at the last minute and we never got to actually rehearse it. Some people said I was screaming very loud, while others could barely hear it- it just depended on where they were in the dome. I admit, I did get to the stage of almost barfing last year at competition. Overall, BOA is very fun and you will see some amazing bands there. The thing I have to warn you about the most though is that the domes echo everything and that there are "dead spots" in the domes to where you can only hear yourself playing. So, to avoid problems, watch the drum majors religiously. Overall though, just try to have fun!
Oh, you should feel good that you are in your honor marching band, not scared. You're there because you deserved to be in it. Who cares what age everyone else is?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pmgoff78
Date: 2006-05-30 01:19
Being a Graduate of Lassiter High School (2 time National Champions...Gotta love school pride ;o) I'd have to say it isn't all that bad on your nerves.
May I ask, which school are you moving to?
If your Band Director is worth his salt he'll be preparing you all year for big shows. By the time it comes, you'll be fine. I say that because, as I said above, our Director was preparing us for big shows all year.
Have fun!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-05-30 04:31
Hello
I'm a little confused. Are you nervous about the B.O.A. competition or fitting in with your new band???
I wouldn't worry about the competition. No one will be looking at YOU, they (the general audience) will probably only glance at the clarinet section once or twice during your whole performance. Honestly, in my opinion, people will want to watch the brass and percussion as they usually are more audible and pleasing to the eye (Face it, they can do some pretty cool stuff!!!). So competition jitters SHOULD be minimal. Just give 110% all the time and you should be fine.
Fitting in with your section shouldn't be that hard unless you have a jerk who picks on the newbies. In my experience, sections are a really tight nitch group, and they get along VERY well, hanging out after school and partying and such. I have been section leader all 4 years in high school (Clarinet Field Captain *in charge of rehearsing the music* - Freshman year, Clarinet Section Leader - Sophomore and Junior years, Trombone Section Leader - Senior year) and I as well as the other section leaders encouraged unity in our sections (it is called *Band* as in to "Band together* / Unity afterall!!!) and the band as a whole. Just be yourself and have FUN!!! Joke around, but definitely show dedication (because your in the *Honors Band* and thusly they expect you to always be improving and giving your all, ALL THE TIME!!!) and always be willing to help/improve. With that kind of attitude, how could the other kids NOT like you???
Best Of Luck!!!
Clayton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: MelodicArpeggios
Date: 2006-05-31 03:21
I don't know about the marching part of BOA, but I attended the concert festival of BOA less than 3 months ago. I must say, it's an honor. It was an amazing experience. I would say that if you memorize the music completely, and you look and play uniformly with the other members of the band, then you should not have any problems.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2006-05-31 05:57
Keri wrote
I'm so nervous and I have no idea what to expect. I'm afraid that I'm going to feel so intimidated by all of the upper classmen in my section and in the band
Sheesh, in my youth I played in the Schools' marching band and had FUN. There was very little bitching. I think we lacked (thank GOD) the competitiveness of our North American cousins.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2006-06-02 04:21
I marched part of the BOA circuit with the Calgary Stampede Showband last year. I was playing snare drum though, so my experience would have been much different. It is a good time, be prepared for a lot of work (maybe not so much playing work, but marching).
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pmgoff78
Date: 2006-06-02 14:43
Diz,
What you term bitching we call the "pursuit of excellence." Admittedly, some people are too competitive in that pursuit, but where she's moving we intentionaly avoid a competitive nature. That's just how we roll.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
