 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: blunderburtonpie
Date: 2004-11-30 23:10
i'm a high-school freshman...great...and i have county and district try-outs coming up and everyone expects so much of me it aint funny...i dont understand it personally but for some reason they expect more out of me than they do the senior in our section (it's the band director's fault he introduced me as "a threat to all upperclassmen") BUT I DONT KNOW WHY...i'm really worried that i wont be able to live up to what they expect of me, or even what i expect of myself...i mean i know i'm good and so do they, but i dont know how good i have to be...any suggestions?
~Stressed Out Horn But Soon to be Clarinet Player~
blunderburtonpie@aol.com
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-11-30 23:33
You don't have to audition. If it bothers you so much, just sit it out. You can always do it next time. The things that really are important, though, are your expectations of yourself.
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Author: blunderburtonpie
Date: 2004-11-30 23:58
at the school that i go to, though, it is required that we audition, and so much is expected of me i dont know if i can live up to it, everyone else thinks i can though, i'm so confused...
blunderburtonpie@aol.com
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-12-01 00:09
And if something goes wrong ... so what? The world won't stop spinning, life will go on, and you'll do just fine no matter what.
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-12-01 01:27
In my humble experience, band directors usually play up lowerclassmen competition in sections for 2 reasons. First, if the section is somewhat weak (a good possibility for high school French Horn section?), a new player that the band director can't stop talking about will keep the more experienced players practicing and on their toes - no way they're going to be beat by some lowly frosh. Second, it'll inspire you as well. If he keeps telling you that you're a threat to the other section players, you'll feel that you are, and that if you only keep working hard, you can displace them, it'll be a goal to shoot for.
I don't mean to imply that you're a weak player, I of course have no clue as to how well you play, but I've seen several directors do this, and regardless of how skilled the younger member was, it was always done for those reasons (as they work regardless of skill on either side, so long as people care about chair order).
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-12-01 02:21
Quote:
i mean i know i'm good and so do they, but i dont know how good i have to be...any suggestions? How good do you have to be? Just try to be at your best. That's all anyone can expect of you.
And Mark has a great point. It's not the end of the world. PARTICULARLY as a freshman as you'll have three more tries if you want.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Musiccla
Date: 2004-12-01 02:27
Go in there and kick their butts. But if you don't, then don't sweat it. The Band Director is looking at you as his next year star player and is priming you for it (sounds like that to me at least).
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-12-01 02:48
In the bigger picture, with many years of clarinet playing ahead of you, making all-district, all-county, all-state, all-galaxy, is basically meaningless.
It has absolutely no bearing on either your future playing or future musical employment (if you considering that as a profession).
Play the clarinet for your own enjoyment and to convey your love of music. If there is too much stress, you need to question why you are doing it...GBK
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-12-01 06:04
Just enjoy the audition. The best (comparatively) audition I gave was one where I would really have liked to get into the ensemble, but didn't think I had much of a chance. I just played how I liked, and ended up getting the part. Don't stress it; all-whatevers, as GBK says, aren't a huge deal in the big picture, and the last thing you need is to start beating yourself up at such an early age.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-12-01 14:20
Band directors have all heard lots and lots of players. They can spot talent a mile away.
If the director singles you out, it's because (s)he recognizes that you're on the way up. It's a compliment to you, even though it's a little embarrassing and puts you on the spot.
Enjoy it. There's nothing you can do to stop it, and it shows that people will give you opportunities to show how well you can do.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-12-01 19:56
In that it won't do anything for your actual stature as a player, GBK is right... but in terms of what it can do for your confidence, it's great.
Like you, I was a whiz-kid underclassman in my day (but only in small-pond South Texas, mind you) and had some expectations to live up to. When tryout time came around freshman year, I chickened out. Sophomore year I nearly did the same but gutted it out and did a lot better than I expected. That was kind of a turning point where I realized, gosh, maybe I really can play this thing pretty well. From then on, I played with a lot more confidence.
So, yeah, in 10 or 20 years, nobody's gonna care how you did at district or region or state -- except you. But you'll be missing out if you don't do it.
________________
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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