Author: Matt74
Date: 2016-08-30 19:29
From the time I started playing, through my second year of college as a music major, I always played first parts in concert band. Last year in a community band I played 3rd, and some 2nds. The 2nds and 3rds were a lot harder. You were always crossing the break, using the pinky keys in odd combinations, and always playing throat tones. Intonation is sketchy. Because the parts were harmony parts, you were usually playing note combinations that were not straight arpeggios or scales. There are also frequent long rests, and it's often hard to match what is written on the page with what you are hearing in the group, so getting lost is easy. My director was "Mr. Rubato", and not great with cues, so that didn't make things any easier. The other thirds were following me, so if I got lost, we were all lost.
At some point in the distant past it occurred to me that the 3rd part was just as important as the 1st, and that in a school or youth band, it didn't make any sense to have all your best players on first part. In fact from a pedagogical standpoint, it seemed like all players should rotate through all parts (insofar as this is possible). There is a real art to playing harmony roles.
(I'd like to point out here that in some bands the trumpets seem to be playing random parts every rehearsal. "Who's on first?" "Who's on Cornet?" "We don't have a second." "I thought you were on third.")
It's the same as playing a solo... When you are playing a lot of eighth notes you sound great, but it's much harder to play convincing half and whole notes.
What do you guys think? I'm talking youth bands, not professional musicians. I'm not arguing against formal chair placement or auditions, just saying that it seems preferable to mix up who plays what part a bit. The way it's usually done gives the impression that the first parts are harder, the 3rd parts are easy, and that only the first part is important. It also gives the impression that if you are playing third, you are no good, or don't really matter, which isn't true.
- Matthew Simington
Post Edited (2016-08-30 19:42)
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