 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kontragirl
Date: 2000-12-20 22:12
Sigh...I'm not sure what to do. Last night was the Christmas Concert. Let's just say it wasn't good. My teacher had this wonderful idea to use all of the bands for one mass number. We were short two chairs, so I had to sit on the ground. Do you know how hard it is to play contra sitting? The conductor was fully aware of what was going on. I've been having lots of problems with my conductor resently, but I can't quit band because then I have to give back the contra, and I'm waiting for my results on honor bands I tryed out for. I'm out of ideas and it's winter break, so I can't exactly yell at him because he's not there. Sorry to whine, but I don't know where to turn and I'm really upset. My only hope is that one of you knows where I'm coming from. This is really discouraging.
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Author: Benny
Date: 2000-12-20 23:11
I know exactly what you mean, about having problems with your director and all. I have the exact same problem. I am the best clarinetist in the band, but that stupid idiot lets this suck up (I call him Hoover, like the vacuum) who is no good sit first chair and automatically gets the solos. For some reason, he hates ME (of all people!) because I think he is intimidated by me. He also keeps me uninformed, and often didn't bother to tell me about the ensemble concerts (because I could rarely make it to this class because it was during my lunch) so I ended up missing them and then he yelled at me and I yelled back... it's a long story. He isn't a very good director because he doesn't try, he quits. I am seriously considering dropping band, because I play in the stage band and a local orchestra. I don't think any more parent "conferences" will help. I really don't know what to do, I just hope we move soon. Good luck with your director, sorry if I rambled!
Benny
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Author: Liesel
Date: 2000-12-21 01:05
When I was in middle school, we had a band director who took the band way too seriously and completely took the fun out of it. Eventually I got this really mean and harsh attitude towards her, making jokes and smart comments at practically everything she said, arguing constantly, and really just being the biggest pain to her. She got sick of me and moved my chair down which just made me be a bigger jerk to her. I started hating band so much that I almost quit. Luckily the chorus teacher told me to stick with it, because he knew how much I used to like music. Well now I'm a junior in high school and I'm going to be a music teacher when I grow up. If she could see me now she probably would fall over. As for what happened to her, she went back to college to get another degree or something. Well there's a nice little story for you lol....
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Author: William
Date: 2000-12-21 01:10
Speaking as a recently retired band director, I would have made certain that there were enough chairs for everyone when I planned the concert set-up. At least, I would have found chairs for those students left standing, even if it took a couple of extra minutes--no big deal. The band set-up would look more professional with everyone seated properly and it is true that in most audiences ears (especially parents), the band that looks the best, sounds the best. As for the self-proclained best clarinet in band, try to be more supportive of your fellow student musicians. In the real adult world, wheither it is right or wrong, success and promotions depend more upon how well you fit into the team, how well you are respected and liked, rather than how good you are or how much you know. So, try to be nicer to everyone--if you are as good as you say you are, your efforts will be more readally recognized and rewarded with more leadership kinds of roles--maybe even FIRST CHAIR, if that is all you care about--go for it. KG, like the old song says, "make the best of a bad situation" and hang in there. Not playing the game is the most certain way to lose. Benny, good luck. Good clarineting, Merry Christmas and Happy NY!!!
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Author: Fred
Date: 2000-12-21 01:55
True enough, William. I'm certainly not saying that a director can't be a jerk, but all the players must learn to play as a team. Many a star athlete has been traded from a team - not because he wan't the best - but because he couldn't fit in. Playing in an adult group, we trade first parts and solos freely back and forth. Nobody in the audience is going to know (or certainly not remember) who played what anyway. Life is too short to sweat the small stuff.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-12-21 02:08
Benny,
As everyone has been saying - team comes first in a group setting. When we interview people for our company, one of the primary things we do is see if they fit into our social setting. In my line of work, anyone who calls themselves a guru - isn't. Being the "guru" in computer engineering just happens - people respect you and ask you questions more often than you ask them - but the exchange never stops.
It's the same principle in band. If you just work hard, sound good, and study your music (history, appreciation, theory, and the rest), good things will happen.
Kontragirl - the director was totally unprepared and unprofessional in not having a chair for you - but hopefully it's just a one-time occurance.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-12-21 05:41
When my chair broke during concert, I finnished by playing the contra in the kneeling position, alternating between the knees as the stage was kinda hard. Gotta loose weight.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2000-12-21 14:29
Yelling at people and arguing with them usually has the opposite of the desired effect. This is true whether the other person is your teacher, a fellow student, your parent or even (must I admit it?) your child. If you have problems with a teacher (or any of the above), it is usually more productive to discuss it calmly and rationally, making sure you listen to their point of view. And do it privately outside of class.
If you must express your feelings, phrase it as "I feel (angry, frustrated, etc.) when such and such happens," rather than "You make me so (angry, frustrated, etc.) when you do such and such." In other words, they are your feelings and someone else doesn't MAKE you feel anything, so take responsibility for them. I guarantee people are more likely to listen to you if you phrase it the first way rather than the second.
Then you can politely ask the person to do something differently if you have a solution in mind. Or, better yet, ask what you individually or both of you together can do to alleviate the situation.
(Example: "I feel greatly disappointed when I miss an ensemble concert. What could I do to make sure I know when they are? Would you mind keeping me informed of the schedule?" Here, the director doesn't feel you are blaming him, sees you taking responsibility and sees that you need and want his help. In his mind, he must now like you because he is helping you. And you have your dignity because there is no sucking up involved.)
Then listen and be willing to take "no" for an answer. Discuss, don't argue. You may be surprised how much more your teachers or parents will respect you and work with you when you approach things in a mature manner. (I know - I am a parent of a high schooler. If my daughter argues with me, I'll stick with my answer of "no." If, instead, she discusses a problem, we may come up with a mutual solution.)
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-12-21 17:01
Kontragirl -
It's really awful when someone you depend on falls down on the job. When you didn't have a chair for the concert, you were right to be mad.
The concert was a situation where, even with the best will in the world, the director couldn't do anything. I'm sure he felt terrible, just as you would if you had been in his shoes.
For you, the next step is to find a way to get the job done, even when it's someone else's fault and you're pissed. I would have gotten the contra case and maybe piled a couple of other cases on top of it, put the floor peg on top and played standing up, particularly since it was for only one number.
When you're the best player in the group, it doesn't help to get mad at the people who don't play as well, or even at the director who makes a mistake. The only way to make things better is to help the people who aren't as good as you are -- who don't have your talent or discipline.
It's unfair. You busted your butt, and other people didn't. Well -- get used to it. The better you play, the more this happens.
Your job changes as you get better. As of right now, part of it is helping everyone else sound good, and even helping the band director out when he goofs You have to make that one of your goals, and let yourself feel good when you succeed. If you can't do that, you'll just end up mad all the time. Believe me, I know this from personal experience.
You have what it takes. You're smart and talented. It sticks out all over you and shows every time you put a message up. You just have to expand -- shift gears. I wouldn't say this to you if I didn't know you could do it. You're already a star. Shine your light out on everyone.
Best regards, and happy holidays.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Pam
Date: 2000-12-21 18:32
There is some right on advice here Kontragirl. I totally agree with Don P. about the way to air your feelings later with your director. Just keep an open mind. You could learn that there were other factors here as well that your director had little control over. Your feelings are valid, but use this as a stepping stone rather than a stumbling block.
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Author: Fred McKenzie
Date: 2000-12-21 20:55
KG-
I recommend you pay special attention to William's and Don's advice. There is a lot of wisdom behind their words.
My own experience has been somewhat like yours. However, there came a time when I realized that my feelings followed me through life, and didn't go away when I left bad situations at home, in High School, in the Army, in College and at work.
Rather than feeling persecuted when it rains on your parade, think of it as one of life's adventures. A positive attitude will make life much more enjoyable.
Fred
<A HREF="http://www.dreamnetstudios.com/music/mmb/index.htm">MMB</A>
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Author: Andy
Date: 2000-12-21 22:49
I was doing a concert last year with an orchestra and sitting up on our rises my chair crossed two rises so two legs were on one and two legs on the other, no great problem really. That was until near the end of the symphony when the organ entered (Saint-saens Organ syphony) and the floor moved. With the floor moving the rises moved apart and about three lines from the end this bass clarinet player ended up on his ass, due to someone forgetting to do some simple things like making sure the rises were secure! Luckily the bass clarinet and I were not hurt but it just shows again that sometimes it is best to check every last detail yourself, in my case tying the rises together when playing such a powerful work, and is KG case, checking for yourself. I know is seems like just another thing to worry about, but it will be worth it if that kind of thing never happens again.
(By the way the look on the conductors face when he lost the bass clarinet section, followed by the clarinets to see if I was OK, was priceless!)
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Author: Tracey
Date: 2000-12-22 03:12
Has anyone ever had the problem with seniority? I mean, when band directors move up older students, such as juniors and seniors to their top bands even if freshmen are beating them? Our band directors do this constantly. They move the seniors or juniors to the higher chairs, even if they don't really deserve it. I mean, you can say, sure they did really well on their playing tests, but they have to take into account how talented or dependable a player is, not just on some 5 minute playing test. I don't think it's fair that a freshman who was first chair in state select band, first place in solo and ensemble competition, and first chair in the top local youth orchestra should have to sit behind me in 2nd chair just because I'm a junior. It's not because they're poor band teachers, but doesn't it sound like they have their priorities misplaced?
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-12-22 05:25
Let all members sit down without instruments and let play candidates at the back
of them. Let them raise hands if the player deserve the position. Let them address why they selected or did not select him/her. Then again let them raise hands. The candidates should not speak anything since it affects judgments of peers. This is the way a Japanese high school band (last year's all state champion). This seems a good idea.
By the way, is it band director's responsibility to worry about available number of chairs? He/she does not sit in a chair provably. We made it a rule to select some of our members to worry about these things. Change them periodically.
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2000-12-22 17:17
Seniority can be a sticky issue. Here are two factors in its favor:
1 - A first-chair player often functions as section leader both in concert and marching situations. This requires some experience and maturity. A player other than the first chair could be section leader, but his/her authority would be diminished by this disparity.
2 - There can also be an inherent unfairness where a student works hard coming through the ranks, only to lose a hard-earned position to a brand-new member. If the difference in abilities is not stark, some band directors might choose to let the senior student have that position. At a school where I teach privately, an outstanding young flute player has refrained from challenging the first-chair senior out of respect for her service and the knowledge that the position is easily hers next year.
3 - I can testify that All-District or All-County test results don't always determine that one player is better than another. In my locality, this year's results were sharply biased along the time of day the audition occurred. You can only compare two players by testing them directly and thoroughly.
4 - Talented young players can sometimes have prickly attitudes, and this is not a desirable feature in a first-chair player or section leader. Is a 'suck up' really a brown-noser or is it just someone who has a better attitude than the beholder? Is someone to back-talks (or who talks behind the back of) their band director really desirable in a leadership position of any kind?
These are things to ponder. Besides, the other sections of the band need good players, too. I routinely play 3rd clarinet in community bands where actual ability might rank me first or second chair. This actually works well for me, since my professional obligations sometimes conflict with the band's schedule, I often get the pleasure of sharing a stand with a likeminded pro, and it puts me right next to other players who are in need of encouragement. Sometimes, these factors are more important.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-12-22 19:59
Allen Cole wrote:
>
> [playing other than 1st] puts me right next to other players who are in need of encouragement.
Thank you, Allen, for those words. Who of us hasn't done better by playing with someone who is considerably better than we are? If they are considerate then we get the best of two worlds - we get excellent one-on-one coaching, and we get to hear what a pro or semi-pro can do with the other melody or harmony lines that occur in our music. Simple scales can even sound beautiful when played by someone who uses them for other than just technical facility.
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Author: cass
Date: 2000-12-29 21:31
The lack of a chair for the contra player really bothers me. That is a huge instrument. Playing it standing up works okay if you have a secure stand for it, to put it at just the right height, but I don't know if piling up instrument cases and so forth is something I would want to try at a concert, where people are in unfamiliar surroundings and might bump you. The instrument isn't secure that way. It could slide while you're playing it. An instrument the size of a contra can get majorly messed up if it falls. I think Kontragirl did the right thing by playing it as well as possible while sitting on the floor, since at least that way there's less distance to fall if the worst happens. My guess is maybe the director didn't do the sensible thing and put one of the 3rd clarinets on the floor because that would mess up the look of the clarinet section too much. The director probably didn't have anything to do with whoever provided the seats. That was probably the custodian's goof-up. So the conductor made a bad choice at the last minute without much time to think things over. Sounds like there are other issues with that conductor, though.
It might not be a bad idea for people with the big, awkward instruments to carry a portable drummer's throne to gigs. This is a padded stool that's adjustable, with legs that come off and fold up. You can carry one in a book bag or something that size. Even though they usually give you a chair at least -!-, with a big horn, if the chair is the wrong height, you're in trouble. If you've got the drummer's throne, then you know at least you'll have something to sit on that will let you reach the mouthpiece and the keys.
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