 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-03-27 02:22
Hi,
Lately I have been thinking about giving up clarinet and band in general. Do I have to be in school band to be in like state band/drum corp. and that kinds of thing?
My band teacher is making me play Tenor sax, when I know I have a hard time playing it. I just sit there try to get something out and play the music, but I am just so used to clarinet I can't even remember some fingering. There is this other girl that play baritone and that want to play clarinet so when she wants to I am made to play Tenor, because he assumes that she's been playing longer than me and the thing is she hasn't. I mean I have a better tone and can stay in tune and I even got 5 chairs higher than her. I get so depressed when I think about this and I want to quit, but I like playing. I don't know what to do. He has certain people that if they ask then they can play or do it, but not me. He always has something smart to say back to me and makes me change. I don't think its fair and don't like it. This kind of hurts in away, because I had devoted my life to band and all I get is frustration. How should I handle this or say to him?
deejay
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Author: Simon
Date: 2001-03-27 03:42
deejay,
I assume you are in a school band right ? I am sure that you should be able to find another band in your nighbourhood.
Anyway if clarinet is the instrument you like and enjoy then you shouldn't have to change to another instrument. Your teacher, if he is a good one and it seems that he is not , should discuss and help you if you have a problem. It is his job to do so. Do not for one minute let any one put you off, playing or doing something you love and enjoy.
You should approach him and tel him that the clarinet is the instrument you love and enjoy playing and not the sax. Again if he is a true "teacher" he should listen to your grievence.
Keep at it (that is playing the clarinet) don't give up just because one teacher is giving you hard time.
Best of luck and keep us informed of your outcome.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2001-03-27 04:41
Sometimes if the band a certain voice elswhere in the band, the director will have to find some one to try and fill that part. Its just like playing baseball. Not every one gets to play the position they want as the coach has to make sure all positions are covered for the best defence posible. If the opposing team hits a lot of short "choppers, he has to have his best in the infield. If the opposing team tends to hit long ones to the out field, his outfielders have to be covered with good competent players. Its same in band. One missing voice can ruin a piece your playing if its not covered by a competent player. Right now I'm having to play the tuba parts on my contra in one band as we are without a tuba. Its not nearly as good as a real tuba, but its at least something on the low end (a band without a tuba is like an accordian). As for getting used to the fingering, this just takes a little practice and will come about quicker than you think. Sone you be able to double clarinet and sax. The differance in fingering will happen automaticly without even thinking about it as they feel different as soon as you pick one up. My daughter does this now on flute, sax and clarinet better than I do.
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Author: John
Date: 2001-03-27 04:49
I agree with Willie. Stick with the tenor if you can. It is well worth learning to play and will make you a more valued player in the future...just don't lose your clarinet playing. Sometimes a director may seem a little hard on you but only if they think you have the ability to do better than the average player. That sounds like you???
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-03-27 08:55
Like the others have said, stick it out. It will benefit you in the long run (to be able to play both). I think I would put as much effort into learning the sax as you do in clarinet - I think you'll enjoy it too, once you've decide to be as good as you can be. Hey! Show this guy you're the best no mater what you do. Also, keep up your clarineting on the side with as much practice time as you can squeeze in. The big pay-off will come later. I think that later you will regret not haveing continued.
Afterall, how much time is left this school year. Then there is plenty of time to think about next year. One bite at a time to eat this ELEPHANT, okay? Wish I could play the clarinet as well as you do (or even the sax for that mater).
Hang in there Deejay and be the best!
~ jerry
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Author: J. Exner
Date: 2001-03-27 11:28
In our state, Georgia, there is a rule that in order to try out for the district and state bands, you have to be enrolled in your school's instrumental music program, as long as there is one. I don't know about drum corps.
J. Exner
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-03-27 18:10
well when I first started band I played flute, then he switched me to alto sax and then to tenor and then I made the change to clarinet. The thing that really gets me is they are a piece of music I know how to play and know it really well and I am the only one out of the other clarinet players who can play it right, but we have had it for long than a month and now he switches me.. I just sat there the whole time, because I was lost on the Tenor part.. I forgot how to play somethings, but he's not willing to stop and help... He just tells me to do the best I can. Half the time I couldn't get nothing out and was clueless and he would just ignore me..
deejay
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2001-03-27 20:40
If you are frustrated because you forget how to finger certain notes on the tenor and he won't help, you might get yourself a saxophone fingering chart and work out the fingerings in practice at home. A private instructor would be even more helpul.
In my opinion, students should be allowed to play the instrument that they are interested in, even if that means that the whole band is clarinets, tubas or whatever. Of course, the band director always has the right to try to persuade students to switch instruments, but shouldn't force them to because that may cause them to drop music altogether. Although having a balanced ensemble is nice, it should be secondary to teaching the students to play.
But since your director is unlikely to pay heed to my opinion, I suggest that you try your best at whatever you are playing. Maybe he switches you because he feels you are best able to adjust. And I think it is a good sign that he says to do the best you can - it means he recognizes that you are in a tough situation and doesn't expect you to be able to play as well as you would had you been playing sax all along.
Good luck and don't give up.
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-03-27 21:09
>If you are frustrated because you forget how to finger certain notes on the tenor >and he won't help, you might get yourself a saxophone fingering chart and work >out the fingerings in practice at home. A private instructor would be even more >helpul.
I don't have any time to practice sax or relearn it, I have county band which I play clarinet for and then I have bassoon leasons...
well to tell you the truth, 99.9% of the people why they quit is because he forces them to play what he wants. He forced me and yelled at me in front of the band.. and was mad and I am not kidding.. The jr. high has also tried getting him fired and got people to sign a paper, but he talked his way out of it. 2 years ago he was a really big pervert, but not as bad now. Last year in marching band he left us on the field alone right when we were practicing and went up to the school, because he was mad, because we couldn't get something right and was conffusing us, so one of the parents went in and set him straight. He doesn't like to listen to other people except for his "pets". If it wasn't for my friends in band, I would not be in it. We make it fun for each other and go through the ruff times and stick up for one another when he says something to one of the members. I guess I will try my best and if he doesn't like it well to bad for him, he should of made the mistake of switching me.
deejay
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Author: Simon
Date: 2001-03-27 22:02
Reading the last response from deejay, makes me think that this guy is nuts !!! Should definatelly not be in a teaching position.
Do your best !!!
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Author: Erica
Date: 2001-03-27 22:57
Honestly, I know what you're going through. Last year I was in a similar situation with our band director really sucking big time. If I were you, I'd rally support of the other's in your band that feel the same way, and get your parents involved. Take the issue to your school board, and explain that you don't feel that you can trust him, you're musical needs are not being met, and all the other issues. Tell them whats going on. If you complain enough, and make a big enough deal then they *should* do something. If he's still there next year, I'd transfer schools (if that's possible).
Good luck! And just know that you're not alone, if you feel this way surely others do to, and you can change things.
Erica
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-03-27 23:41
Do you attend Irvine High School in California? This guy sounds just like Bob! (I won't reveal his full name, but if any of you attend, you know who I'm talking about!) He's threatened to quit on several occasions! Doesn't this kind of amateur behavior seem very immature and childish? I think he's grown up since I was in high school 5 years ago.
I wish I had the opportunity to learn the sax, but not on anyone else's terms. I suppose I'm more head-strong. If I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it because I want to. Maybe that's also the way this band director thinks.
I suppose I would just find a good community college ensemble and play with them. I loved high school band, but it's not worth it if your band director is a complete moron with HIS selfishness teaching, instead of helping people develop their musical talents. So, that was my $.02 worth.
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Author: Corey
Date: 2001-03-27 23:53
he shouldn't be able to force you to play tenor, my band instructor is very nice and lets you make the choice if want to double or not
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-03-28 03:13
My band director is a #@4@%, something I don't want to mention online, while he lets me play my clarinet, he might as well stick me on some foreign instrument; he might as well, since he makes it very clear that he doesn't respect me as a clarinetist.
Well here's my story of the corrupt band director:
Ever since got to high school, this girl who is a year ahead of me has always been seated ahead of me although I am a much better player than her and the entire band knows it but they can say anything to him because its not there problem, they figure that is mine and that they should keep out of things. The thing is this is the first year I've had the chance to beat her at Region and allstate auditions and well at region I made 4th and she made like 11th or something. And at All State band, I made 4th and she made alternate 2. But the band director has her sitting first chair, and this other girl sitting second just because she been in the top band at out high school since she was a freshman, while I've had to move up through all ht levels of bands. The band director doesn't even like this chic, the only reason she sits first is because her parents give money to the band and because he has this massive favoritism plan that he goes by, but I think that the director has lost a lot of credibility among his students since he continues to run a corrupt band program that denies students of what they deserve. Isn't that wrong? I mean the only reason I went to audition in the first place was so that I might have the oppertunity to sit a ahead of her in concert band, allstate chairs don't matter that much to me. Well and i wanted to prove to myself and the band director that I could do what I wanted if I really wanted it. But it doesn't matter how high I make the director fails to see that he is dening a lot of people succes because he played too much favoritism.Now I want to quit because I can no longer stand the corrupt politics with which our band director runs things. He doesn't give any credit to the people who deserve it most.
Sara
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Author: Julia Meyer
Date: 2001-03-28 19:35
OK Enough! I sympathize with you Deejay in that you should be given the opportunity to further your clarinet skills. However, STOP COMPLAINING about it! Talk to your band teacher when just the two of you are together, and do so respectfully. Maybe he will change, maybe he will not---but you should at least try. Also, we all have had band directors that we don't like for some reason---sometimes that reason is a good reason, sometimes not. Just think about it---I'm not saying your situation is either way. As far as having less talented/developed players seated in front of you...deal with it. Its going to happen and theres nothing you can do about it. It happens to everybody, and we often become better people because of it.
At any rate, best of luck in your endeavors!
Julia
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-03-28 22:53
>>As far as having less talented/developed players seated in front of you...deal with it.
There is no one infront of me, because I am first chair, first clarinet!!
deejay
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Author: Ryan Simpson
Date: 2001-03-29 00:00
It seems that your band director is an a**hole. Tell him you love clarinet, and that sax is frustrating for you, and you want to switch back to clari. If that doesnt work, try going to a different band director from your school or district, or have one of your parents call him. But, on the other hand, you might want to stick with the sax. If you do, ive heard that oboe has a similar fingering system to the sax, so later on, you could switch to oboe. Knowing how to play different instruments will come in handy if want to be a band director someday.
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Author: Kontragirl
Date: 2001-03-29 00:11
I know how that story goes. My director is forcing me to play contralto. He will not let me play clarinet. No bargains here, he asked me if I would march clarinet, no way! If you want me to play contra, fine, but you have to be willing to put up with the consquences.
If your band director can not see your talent you need to tell him, I will play tenor, or I will play clarinet. I want to play clarinet, but if you want me on tenor, so be it. Then, if he puts you on tenor, he can never ask another favor of you. Remember, as sinister and evil as this sounds, the parents pay him. He works for them, they can get in his face, and there is nothing he can do about it.
By the way, I've been playing tuba music too...it's so much easier than transposing that gosh darn bass clarinet music. I love playing contra and everything, but I was hoping that I could double on clarinet when there was no part for me.
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-03-29 00:29
I would rather play bass or alto clarinet, but he won't let anyone play them. I got over it and told him I will only play for this song and nothing else. I don't see why having a baritone play clarinet and then making me play Tenor sax for, doesn't make any sense, Tenor part are all whole nots and half notes through the whole thing. There is also a very hard clarinet part that I can play, but the girl who is playing clarinet(that got to switch from baritone) can't play it and neither can any of the others, so I am not going to say a thing and if it screws up at the concert then I am going to laugh. He also got mad at me the other day and would not speak to me... its was pretty funny..
deejay
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-03-30 21:56
Don't become too bitter over band. I too had/have a horrible band experience. The last time I enjoyed band was in 7th grade and I'm a senior in high school now! The most important thing I've learned is to just love the music, and always stick up for others who feel the same way. In the end, all my whining, hissy fits, tantrums, etc... haven't changed a thing and it's just now that I'm realizing that life moves on and so should I. You may have some tough years ahead, but someday you'll be in a position where you're appreciated. Good luck and try to have fun!
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-03-31 19:24
deejay::
I have read enough to know that you are one unhappy individual. I have also read enough to question the integrity of individual whom you call your band director. I taught band for 37 years and believe me we are not all like some of the ones of which I have read in this segment. Band directors are frequently under a lot of pressure for performance and ratings, i.e. CONTEST TIME!!! They want a balanced section, all parts covered, terriffic ratings, etc. and frequently the students suffer because some of the directors do not know how to handle the pressure. I would suggest that you go to your instructor privately and tell him your concerns in a very civil way and request that you be placed back on the clarinet. DO NOT THREATEN TO QUIT!! This could lead to other repercussions. If he is unwilling to listen to you and perhaps honor your request then you have another problem. If you have a music supervisor you might approach him (or her) with the problem and ask them to mediate the situation. By all means, don't quit the clarinet. By the way, I used my ability to play the Sax and Clarinet to help pay my way through college playing in the "Big Bands" back in the '50's.
Good Luck,
Bob Curtis
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