 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DrH2O
Date: 2007-05-29 17:04
I'm new - been lurking for a couple of months, and have learned a lot - thank you! My daughter (12) has been playing for about 18 months (including private lessons, wonderful teacher) and loves playing in her school band. She has made good progress (and even inspired me to start playing, but that's another story). Her private teacher is encouraging her to find additional opportunities to play.
The local symphony has a junior youth wind ensemble but in order to qualify, you have to audition and there's the rub. My daughter is very reserved about trying anything "new" and gets quite anxious going to the first day of anything if not doing it with one of her friends. Once there, she is fine and enjoys it, and the friends that she has made through band are some of her best friends. The idea of auditioning for this ensemble is terrifying to her, but the idea of playing in the ensemble is appealing. She has succesfully auditioned for first chair in her 7th grade concert band (they audition for each concert) and found it nerve wracking, but did it. She didn't do the local solo/ensemble festival so this would be her first time auditioning in front of a stranger. Any thoughts on how to help make this a positive experience (or at least less terrifying) for her, or should we let it go for now? The choice is ultimately hers, but right now anxiety over the audition seems to override everything else. I hate to see her make choices based on fear, so I tend see this as a bigger picture issue of helping her learn to overcome her fear so that she doesn't miss out on opportunities that come her way. Then again she is only 12 so whether or not she does this isn't the be all and end all.
And yes, her private teacher is helping her prepare her audition piece - one of the etudes from Selected Studies for Clarinet by Voxman.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts/ideas.
Anne
Anne
Clarinet addict
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2007-05-30 04:13
Hi Anne,
I would tell her to audition for the experience of the audition becuz the more she does it the less anxiety she will have about it.
If she gets into the band, that would be great, but to use the opportunity for the experience of the audition. If she doent get in, theres always next time, and next time she will be less nervous becuz shes already had some experience.
it doent hurt to try. no one is expecting perfection or 1st chair. all she can do is give it a chance and see what happens.
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Author: Katelyn
Date: 2007-05-30 05:17
I'd say go for it. As a senior in high school I really wish I would have started 'exposing' myself to audition/contest settings eariler on. Just make sure your daughter is completely okay with the possibility of not making it. Nerves are fine and natural. Just make sure she's not going to really 'beat herself up about it' if she doesn't make it. That was my big problem all through my first years, and I think it's taken away from my playing ability at the present.
And like janlynn said, it'll definitely get easier to do these as time goes on. Even if she doesn't make it, she become a more confident player with every audition. And it'll definitly pay off in the long run.
But if she decides not to go for it, that's fine. She IS only twelve, after all. 
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-05-30 05:42
Be a good supportive figure and be positive throughout the ordeal of the audition. sure it's nervewracking, but the best part about auditioning is that you actually tried. pass or fail, in my book, that's a winner. and if she doesn't make the audition, icecream is a great way to share some memories about your personal nervous experiences.
icecream. =)
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: katie_netie
Date: 2007-05-30 16:06
Hi.
I would definitely encourage her to audition. Make sure she knows that you're proud of her for putting herself on the line, and not making it in doesn't mean she's not a good player. Musical life is full of disapointments. Most/some of the time they will simply be looking for something else in a player, but it shows great courage to stand up and show what you have to offer.
I'm now a university student for music, but I can still remember my first big audition. I wanted to get in to an arts high school which required an audition. I was so nervous I cried when they called my name, and I cried as soon as I left the room. I got in though, and being at that school has been the best thing that ever happened to me.
I have also had negative experiences with auditions. But have learned from all of them. I used to be such a shy little kid... didn't talk to anyone I didn't know... and now, I audition for things and go out and play my little heart out even though they can shoot me down. I can't believe how much music has changed me.
I think it's wonderful that she's looking for musical opportunities outside of school. Tell her that there are many options, and that this is just one. Playing for a stranger has it's pros and cons. For one, if you embarass yourself, you probably never have to see them again. They don't expect anything from you because they don't know you. Remind her that they won't be judging her... and there are many aspects that go in to their decisions. There might be a hundred clarinets auditioning.. or she could be the only one. You never know.
Tell her good luck from all of us!
Katie
Yamaha Custom SEV, Vandoren M13, Vandoren Optimum Ligature
Buffet E11 Eb Clarinet, Vandoren leather ligature and B44 mouthpiece
Going into second year university for music
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Author: 2E
Date: 2007-05-31 11:36
Everything said above is oh so true! I started out playing in front of people from a young age and as a result am such a more confident person for it. Even now, I make a point of auditioning for groups and entering in competitions that I am absolutely terrified of. Give it a shot! you never know! The experience of doing an audition or a performance for others is a great reward in itself. I would definitely recommend doing this audition, its a great experience especially at a young age to kick you off in the right direction. Good luck!
2E
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-05-31 16:00
The auditioners will certainly ask for scales. Your daughter can get ready by practicing them VERY slowly -- so slow she can think about and prepare to go to the next note before she does it. Get a metronome and set it at 40, one note per beat. She should prepare at least through 3 sharps (key of A) and 3 flats (key of Eb).
At the audition, she should play everything a little slower than she's practiced, making sure her rhythm is steady and counting twice as hard on the rests as on the notes. Judges count off more for unsteady rhythm than anything else. If they want her to play faster, they will ask, and she will have the advantage of having just played through the piece.
She should never stop. Everyone makes mistakes. The good players, and successful auditioners, put it behind them and keep going as if nothing had happened.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: DrH2O
Date: 2007-06-02 14:20
Thank you for your helpful suggestions and supportive comments!
My daughter has decided to go for it! I have shared your suggestions and she feels like she has a whole fan club pulling for her!
Now it's up to her to practice!
Anne
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Author: katie_netie
Date: 2007-06-04 19:23
yes, definitely let us know how it goes!
Katie
Yamaha Custom SEV, Vandoren M13, Vandoren Optimum Ligature
Buffet E11 Eb Clarinet, Vandoren leather ligature and B44 mouthpiece
Going into second year university for music
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2007-06-04 19:42
My student has been terrified about going into her first exam in two weeks, but at this week's lesson she was a lot happier. It's amazing what purposeful practice will do to the confidence level!
Her Mom had helped her prepare a large chart with the scales, major and harmonic minors, that she needs to know for the exam. In the studio I have a big poster of the circle of fifths but it looks like the process of making and then playing from her own chart helped her reinforce those note patterns. Whatever works, right? I think she'll still be spooked by her first exam but not as badly as if she didn't put in the time. We all have to take the plunge but it gets better from there.
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Author: DrH2O
Date: 2007-07-06 18:31
She did it!
She was a bundle of nerves and thought she was going to throw up before we even got out of the car! She said she would never audition again - it's just too much stress! Once inside she saw an older boy from her school who was 1st chair all-state and she was sure that she didn't have a chance. She didn't want to warm up and barely tested her reed, but once she walked into the audition room, her nerves somehow melted away and she did fine.
She came out absolutely beaming - not so much because she thought she had done exceptionally well - but because she went through with it. She squeaked on one of her scales, but didn't stop (the judges praised her for that afterward). She had prepared an etude from Voxman, but they didn't have her play the whole piece - she felt she did well on the parts she was asked to play. The obvious "rush" from facing the challenge successfully stayed with her throughout the evening.
Regardless of the results it was most definitely a positive experience for her! Then of course she had to wait for the results.
She got the results yesterday and she was accepted into the ensemble!
So thank you again to those who offered suggestions on preparation. You all had a part in helping her have the gumption to go for it!
Cheers,
Anne
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2007-07-06 18:59
Wow, congratulations! The first audition is the worst, so it's only uphill from here.
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Author: 2E
Date: 2007-07-07 00:34
hahahaha thats fantastic to hear! your daughter did the right thing, courage isnt not being afraid of something ... its being afraid of something but doing it anyway. she DOES have a fan club of bboarders pulling for her
well done, 2E
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Author: katie_netie
Date: 2007-07-25 18:18
YAY! that is so amazing!
I remember my first audition and that story totally took me back. I'm really happy that there was a positive result and that she felt good after it, even before thinking about the actual results - that show real strength of character.
All her fans here on the bboards are proud!
Katie
Yamaha Custom SEV, Vandoren M13, Vandoren Optimum Ligature
Buffet E11 Eb Clarinet, Vandoren leather ligature and B44 mouthpiece
Going into second year university for music
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