 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: n_hanson12
Date: 2003-11-10 12:04
I just started playing in a community orchestra. My first rehearsal was last night. It is a very small group, and just about everyone knows everyone else. I am coming in from out of town, but I do know four people; 2 flutes, a french horn, and a fellow clarinet. They had already been rehearsing for two weeks before I started to come. There are about six other clarinets besides me; two adults and 4 other teenagers. I am sixteen and the other students looked to be about my age as well. Anyway, when I got there, the one clarinetist that I know began to tell everyone else how good I was and on and on. When it was just about time to get started, I still didn't know where I should be sitting, what to play, etc. One of the adults said that they had room on the first parts for one of us so that we wouldn't be crowded on 2nd and 3rd. I told them that I didn't want anyone to move because of me, but the girl I know said, oh we don't want to play it anyway, so please take it. So I ended up on first part, first rehearsal, when no one save that one girl had ever heard me play. I did fine, but what I wonder is if this is the usually way to do things or not. I don't have experience with it, but I had assumed that I would be sitting lower until I at least proved myself worthy. Anyway, I guess it's a long story for something simple, but I just wanted to put it out there.
~Nicki
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Author: msroboto
Date: 2003-11-10 12:19
I think each group is different. I have been in groups where the seconds wanted to play second and the thirds wanted to play third, not the same group by the way. Each had different reasons.
The seconds had played together for years and knew each other real well they could blend very well and could cover each other well.
In the other group the thirds just are a bit insecure. They could go higher but choose not too.
I'm not sure if this helps you.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-11-10 13:28
You'll get 100 different seating customs for 100 different community groups. My local wind symphony is like your orchestra. I joined up for the first time last season and was immediately pointed to first chair, second part (third chair overall). Teachers, band directors, high-caliber college music students, people who'd been in the group for years, and even a local clarinet professor were sitting behind me and didn't seem to care a whit that some new buck amateur helped himself to a lofty chair. I guess there are lots of good players who really don't mind sitting in the rear of the section. But it made me a bit nervous to be a new guy in this fairly prestigious group and take such a position (quite a few "one stand only" solos were scattered about the parts last season).
Our first rehearsal of the new season is tomorrow night. Wonder where I'll sit this time.t
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2003-11-10 13:35
I was in somwhat a similar situation when I joined a community band two months ago. The group has been together for around 3 years. I had thought about joining but it seemed they had clarinets out the wazoo and it wasn't until a trombonist I know specifically asked me to come down that I did.
My first night they offered me a first clarient slot I declined since I'm a rotten sight reader so I settled on second. The bands music list is over 200 pieces and you never know what you are going to play until you get there, whch for me is the worst possible situation.
If your band is anything like the one I'm in, players come and go as schedules allow which means that a certain number of players need to be flexible on what part they are playing. If the band has 8 clarinetists you may have 3 who are comfortable, willing and able to play first. If one moves out of second to play first, then somene else needs to be able to take second and so on. I think this is why you see the situation where you walk through the door and get offered a first or second chair part out of the gate.
I've been playing 2nd all along but some of my fellow second chairs move rather often into the 1st chair slot as needed. After I get my large ensemble skills back and get better a sight reading, I may be doing the same thing or they may throw my back to third...g who knows.
Just enjoy yourself and have fun.
Best
RW
Best
Rick
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-11-10 13:43
Yes, I suppose each group has its own unwritten rules. Some have auditions....
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-11-11 02:53
In my church orchestra we have a rather small clarinet section right now with no oboist at all. So lead clarinet often covers oboe parts and when no oboe parts then 1st clarinet. Everyone else shifts parts accordingly based on how many are there and what needs covered.
We have some people who are very comfortable playing second and third parts because they know that those parts are generally easier to play and stay away from the higher range of the clarinet. There is one person that you can hardly tear her away from those third parts even when we need more coverage on second because third is her "comfort zone."
I personally consider the 3rd parts nearly useless if you have violas because it almost aways doubles what they are playing. (Especially if our own section is short-handed)
Sight reading, flexibility and good expression and confidence are good things to have.
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Author: n_hanson12
Date: 2003-11-11 16:50
It makes sense that every group would be different, I mean it's a mix of all sorts of different kinds of people. It seemed to me that the clarinets were pretty much in charge of the clarinets and the director didn't seem to care about parts and all that so long as she could hear everything. I suppose one just has to be flexible when doing this sort of thing. I'm starting a new one tonight, and I don't have any idea how many or what sort of players there are, so I'll just have to wait and see how it works out.
~Nicki
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-11-11 17:09
As I've said before, playing clarinet in many community bands can be a lot like going to church -- you have to get there early to get a seat in the back.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: n_hanson12
Date: 2003-11-12 23:02
Yeah, the one yesterday went a lot the same way. There were 2 adults and they gave me first part, saying that it would be "good for me". Heck, they're probably right..
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