 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: J-MB
Date: 2017-11-05 00:09
Hi all! I was recently granted the honor of playing principal chair in a district band, and i was wondering if any of you guys had any tips on how to be a better section leader?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-11-05 01:03
Play your part, learn the solos, and leave the other leadership issues to the conductor. In other words, lead by example, not by trying to assert yourself in any way with the other students in the section.
Karl
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2017-11-05 06:19
Play principal in a couple of community groups that are fun but nothing to write home about. I try to do what Karl suggested; can't say it better than he did. One other thing that seems to help is to try to be focussed and into the music yourself, and move a little with it. This helps people come in together and get on the same page with expression, as long as you're genuine, natural, and not ostentatious about it. I subscribe to the Berlin webcasts, and they all do that a lot. Some folks here try to stay pretty still, but I think moving with the music helps make the section more comfortable and expressive.
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Author: zhangray4
Date: 2017-11-05 07:58
Congrats at earning the principal spot! Do not try to show off your skills just because you are first. When warming up, don't start playing the last page of Copland or Debussy  Play like you would normally do. Being the principal player means you need to take more responsibility in your OWN playing, so be extra prepared. Do not tell others what to do and mind about other clarinetist's businesses. Leave that up to the conductor.
-- Ray Zhang
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-11-05 09:04
Hey Justin - Know your parts really well. Mainly the solo parts and the hard rhythms. If you are having trouble with any of the parts get help from your teacher or the conductor as soon as you can.
Good advice from the others. Work on your sound daily. Long tones as you warm up for 10 to 15 minutes. Strive to have the best sound and the best rhythm always. This is part of what the leading position is all about.
When issued new music, make sure you try to master it right away, within a week or so. This extra effort drives fellow players to practice more and the whole section will follow your footsteps. This is what makes a great section leader. So try hard not to learn your parts at rehearsals.
Here is the scary part. Knowing your part as soon and as possible is a must. The conductor may ask you to play the part ALONE to help the section get the feel of the piece. So it can backfire if you are not prepared. So a leader is knowing the music really well, mainly the hardest passages such as something like 32nd notes or a mess of notes with 5 sharps or flats.
But don't worry Justin. The conductor picked you for a reason. You are good. Prove to everyone that the conductor was RIGHT. Way to go. This is an honor. I'm sure you deserve this.
If you ever need an opinion on something, or a bit of help, send me a recording to my email. I'd be glad to offer advice. I know the others would too. Karl is a talented pro too. Ray is well on his way to becoming an outstanding skilled elite college student and in a few years he will be a gifted pro.
Sadly, I do not know the other people yet, but I'm sure they can offer advice as well. We are all here to help you make this position a blast for you. We will be here for you anytime.
This position can also lead to other things such as playing in trio's, quintets, quartets, sextets, with the other first chair players! So you have this change of maybe playing other types of really fun music. The conductor may want to do this with you and the others. This too is a lot of fun, in fact I play a lot of this kind of music. Playing with oboes, flutes, bassoons, who knows!
Don't be a stranger here. We are all friends wanting to help each other, from developing practice habits to something finding the right teachers, to auditioning to colleges and even taking orchestra and band auditions. Keeping horns in good condition, finding repair people in your areas. You name you will find the answers.
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Author: zhangray4
Date: 2017-11-05 10:13
Quote:
Ray is well on his way to becoming an outstanding skilled elite college student and in a few years he will be a gifted pro.
Bob, I will remember those words for my entire life; I really do appreciate it. But at 17, I am only an amateur high school clarinetist who still needs much to work on in order to become a pro. Hard work and experience. The latter is what I lack currently, and I am always excited to learn more information from you from your posts on the BBoard. Thank you for the kind words. It will motivate to push myself even more!
Bob is right. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Most of us on the BBoard will be more than happy to answer your questions, and that's how it should be. The BBoard should be a free place to resolve issues, ask for opinions, and discuss interesting topics; it shouldn't be a place of hatred and rivalry with meaningless debates on individual opinions. I discovered this BBoard sometime this summer, and since August, the homepage of the BBoard has been set as my browser's homepage.
Bob also gave incredibly good advice as always, covering nearly every aspect of clarinet playing, including tips for a good tone. But he did not mention about his history with reeds and mouthpiece-making. If you have any questions regarding reeds, mouthpieces, and the clarinet sound in general, Bob is the man to ask, as he is now the creator of some excellent mouthpieces.
-- Ray Zhang
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Author: J-MB
Date: 2017-11-06 00:26
wow! thank you all for the wonderful advice, i appreciate it so much. i definitely will ask more questions if i have any.
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