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Re: another chair story

Author: nellsonic
Date: 2018-01-25 10:36

Yet another story, but a happier one.

When I was in 7th grade a new 6th clarinet student from out of state showed up on campus and we became great friends almost immediately. Starting the next year we were in competition for first chair. This went on through high school and even into college briefly. Honor groups and youth orchestras - same thing. In middle school we had a standing appointment with the assistant band director once a week to conduct a challenge.

All this competition only made us closer and better musicians. Now I have a full time lessons studio and he's the band director at a middle school nearby. We have students in common and both love to relate to them how competition can either make you and your relationships stronger - or destroy them.

It all depends on whether you use competition or let it use you.

We are both grateful to have had the other in our life growing up, both for the lifelong friendship and the much greater musical strength we helped each other to develop as an important part of the friendship.

I'm always a little bit sad when one of my students is first chair with no real competition because I know that they may be missing out on a key element of discovering their true potential.

Anders

Post Edited (2018-01-25 10:37)

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