Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-06-26 00:51
Of the explanations you've given her, I would say #1 is the one that's probably most responsible for the situation. And it's a strong argument, especially in a youth organization where providing the kids a feeling of safety may be important.
I heard #2 as a young player in junior high school and even then thought it was hogwash (and probably so does she). If it were true, the soloist at least would have been a good player (I take from your description that she isn't).
#3 is true enough, but, as you say, is a hard sell.
You don't mention (1) the student's age or (2) whether or not there is an established audition process. Did she audition to get into the group(s)? Are there periodic auditions to correct obvious misplacements?
You might expand #1, if you haven't already, to say that prioritizing seniority for seating placement means sooner or later she will percolate upward if she can be patient. Or, if there is an audition process that she hasn't been there long enough to have gone through, that may be her chance to move up when auditions next happen. Maybe next summer when the ensemble starts up again?
If she's old enough to feel comfortable directly questioning the band director (I'm assuming from your description that she's a teenager), she can always ask him if there's a way to move up in the section because she feels her playing warrants better than last chair placement (she can be more diplomatic but still make the point). That might get under the director's skin, but it might also get a more authentic explanation of her placement that you can give as a bystander. It might also attract the director's attention and make him or her more likely to think of moving her up.
You "got her involved in some summer wind ensembles," but mention only the one ensemble. Is she complaining about all the others as well? Is she receiving the same treatment in seating in the other ensembles? If she's playing in more than the one ensemble and the situation is better (more rewarding from her point of view) in any of the others, then she might consider dropping the one you've described. I guess it depends on whether she thinks (and you think) there's something worthwhile for her to get from the experience.
If she joined these programs after their initial formation for the season, she may find herself getting more recognition next summer if she is involved from the beginning.
What does she do for ensemble playing during the school year?
Karl
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