 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2012-09-01 23:43
Two weeks ago I auditioned for a spot in one of my university's large ensembles. As I'm new to college (just graduated high school in June) I wasn't expecting a great chair. Quite honestly I would of been happy with last, so long as I'd made it into a group. A day after I auditioned I got an email including a list of the different ensemble's placements. I was shocked to see that I had been placed principal in both the Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra. That said, I've been to a few group practices now and it's become quite clear that most of the other clarinets are significantly better than me. I'm having a hard time with some of the more difficult sections, and I'm beginning to wonder if I should approach the director after class sometime and ask for a seating change. What would you do if you were in my situtation? Just pretend that I haven't noticed anything and keep practicing my parts, or should I give the seat to someone more experienced?
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2012-09-02 00:24
When the concert comes, will you be prepared to perform the music?
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-09-02 00:33
You got not one but two positions based on your playing. Hold them at least through the first concert to give yourself and the conductor a chance to evaluate how you're doing.
Ken Shaw
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Author: bethmhil
Date: 2012-09-02 02:34
As Ken so rightly said: Give yourself a chance! Clearly, you played well enough that the judges were confident with your placement. Backing out now will not only make you look really bad, but could also ruin your chances of landing the principal spot in the future. In placement auditions, politics often have to come into play.
I highly suggest seeking advice from older players who have been principal players or understand how the process works. Seeking their advice will not only help you, but will show them that you are humble and respect them.
I was in a similar predicament my freshman year. I actually ended up talking to my director, and he just smiled and told me to deal with it. It was scary for the first week or two, and then I learned to love it.
BMH
Illinois State University, BME and BM Performance
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2012-09-02 15:58
I wanted to respond, but wasn't sure what to say until I read the other comments, especially Beth's.
You now have a great opportunity, an opportunity few are given. Do everything humanly possible to take advantage of it. Follow Beth's advice and seek advice from older players who have been principal players.
Your situation brings to mind a related topic, one that I don't recall seeing discussed. Why is it that there are sometimes freshmen who come in and get higher chair assignments than sophomores, juniors, and sometimes even seniors who are music majors? One would expect that the older students would be so much further along due to their study with college faculty, longer practice sessions, constant exposure to music, juries, etc. For some reason, it doesn't always work out that way. And, although it's difficult to say this (especially to someone who is just starting college), sometimes years of advanced private lessons don't really make much difference. I know someone who didn't study music in college who is an amazing player. I once heard a high school senior play the Stravinsky Three Pieces; if I hadn't known who was playing, I would have assumed he was a professional!
Here's what can really be embarrassing: a music major being outranked in a university band by students who aren't music majors. Yes, it happened to me
and to some others I knew, although not frequently. The best thing, I discovered, was to keep working hard and not take it personally.
Were those who heard you play clarinet players? Sometimes, players of other instruments evaluate clarinet players differently than other clarinet players do (this also works for other instruments). The people who heard you play must have heard something they really liked. There must be something in your playing that is wonderful, fresh, and/or original. As you go through college and improve your skills, don't ever lose these qualities. Let us know in a month or two how things are going. We're all pulling for you!
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-09-02 17:28
Prove to yourself and to everyone else that you deserve it, work hard, it can only do good. If at some time one of the directors or your teacher asks you if you feel it's too much resposibilty or pressure you can be honest with them at that time if you feel one way or the other.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2012-09-03 05:59
Thanks for all of the responses. When I auditioned, there were 3 'judges' present. The university's clarinet instructor, orchestra director, and wind symphony director. Although I'm rather puzzled by what characteristic they heard and liked so much, I guess I'll have to trust their opinions. =p So far all we've really done as ensembles is sightread various pieces. I'm shocked that all of the other clarinets manage to resemble the piece we're playing, whereas I stare at the music and and hope to hit the occasional right note. I realize that sightreading is not the only skill a musician needs, but after a week or two of fumbling through various parts, it's really hard to see why I was placed above everyone else. Perhaps I was picked because of tone or some other quality, but for now all I can really do is hope I don't embarass myself too badly before I get my parts down.
clarinetguy wrote:
> Here's what can really be embarrassing: a music major being outranked in a >university band by students who aren't music majors.
As of now, I don't plan on majoring in music. That's a part of whats so confusing.
Tobin wrote:
>When the concert comes, will you be prepared to perform the music?
I certainly hope so! But I'm fairly confident that some of the other clarinet players would be more prepared. It doesn't help that I don't perform well under pressure. I usually play bass clarinet because I do not like how exposed many of the clarinet parts tend to be. I was also first chair clarinet in my high school band last year, and no matter how much I practiced, whenever I performed for something important, I'd always mess up. Tons of squeaks. Pitchy high notes. A horrible, shaking-induced vibrato that refused to go away. That sort of thing. I'm much happier with last chair than I am first, to be perfectly honest. I play clarinet because I enjoy it, I realize I'm not the greatest out there and that's perfectly fine with me. I'm just totally uncomfortable with first chair at any level.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2012-09-03 13:10
Everyone else has essentially provided the advice that my question leads to.
The judges placed you where you are because, on the day, you played better than the others. Your placement there is not a gambit or a tool to needle the others to work more! You were deemed the best for not one but two ensembles!! Now work to be the best.
Quote:
I was also first chair clarinet in my high school band last year, and no matter how much I practiced, whenever I performed for something important, I'd always mess up. Tons of squeaks. Pitchy high notes. A horrible, shaking-induced vibrato that refused to go away.
Then go to your clarinet professor RIGHT NOW and discuss this with them, first thing at your next lesson. Your performances need not always be filled the negative anxiety, but you have to recognize it as a legitimate issue and work towards it's resolution.
Congratulations and good luck!
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2012-09-03 15:30
Two observations:
1. If the other clarinetists are upperclassmen, are you certain they are also sightreading the music? They may have read the music in previous years.
2. You get nervous playing important parts on 1st clarinet. What happens when you play solo passages on bass clarinet?
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Author: ww.player
Date: 2012-09-03 16:58
Sight reading is a separate skill that comes with practice and experience. Just because most or all of the other players are better sight readers does not mean at all that they are better clarinet players. If the audition committee had just wanted the best sight reader, that's all that would have been on the audition (and I've done some of those). Obviously, they were looking for something else. Just learn the lesson that you need to work on your sight reading and practice it every day along with everything else.
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Author: MrJozzerBeast
Date: 2012-09-03 17:09
Everyone on this board seems to want to make everything as complicated as possible! Your making too big a deal of it.
Enjoy playing 1st clarinet, and instead of being nervous about the prospect, try to feel happy. Just think:'Im the first clarinettist'
I know it sounds ridiculous, but many of my teachers have given me the same advice when I have a major part in something. Don't think about it too much, just enough to make you feel slightly proud, then get down to work and focus on the music, then when the time of the concert comes, you'll be confident.
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2012-09-03 17:21
I wish I could provide a different example for this but the assumption that music majors or upper classman will automatically be better was an annoyance I dealt with all through college.
I routinely won college placement auditions when I wasn't a music major. Furthermore I was principal at Idyllwild right out of high school with many USC students sitting below me. I had first rate teachers in Chicago and had the experience of playing with some of the most talented young players in the nation via the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
There are plenty of gifted and well trained musicians out there who don't go into music but still want to play. There are also a lot of people out there who go into music who aren't necessarily very good.
Professional and Music Major just mean that is what they do to make money or what they studied in college. It speaks very little to how they can actually perform. The proof is in the pudding.
James Garcia
Bass Clarinet/Clarinet III, Des Moines Symphony Orchestra
Post Edited (2012-09-03 20:04)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-09-03 17:30
John Miller, who's principal bassoon in the Minnesota Orchestra and maybe the best bassoonist in the world, went to MIT as an engineering major. What counts is not your major but how well you play.
Ken Shaw
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Author: luvtheclarinet
Date: 2012-09-06 20:52
Congratuations. You have obviously earned the chairs because of all your hard work. Keep working hard.
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Author: Kride
Date: 2012-09-07 04:19
I always viewed first chair as a leadership position with the principal demonstrating the most ablity to play the part and to help the section. So, is that a position you are comfortable with?? If you are just happy to be in the section and you're not a music major who cares about "future" prospects of making first chair then do what want to do . If you got all three votes from your jury you must have played very, very well to beat the other players. So, once again what you do you want? Some people just want to be in a section, some need to solo, some need to be first chair for ego reasons. I have been in a few community bands and they are seldom chaired by who is better. Most have some moderate player as a lead and then the rest go on other parts even if they are better players . Not fair but it is what it is. I came in to a program in Missouri and got to be lead alto in the Jazz Band quickly because I studied privately with the director. So, I had 4 saxes who I knew played better than I did but I was lead so I did it as well as I could . I practiced alot and did anything I could to make the section and the band sound better. I think the director wanted someone who cared and was willing to work over someone who played well but was a pain in the a## for whatever reason. Anyway, what do you want? If you want to be the best in the section then work and do it. If you really don't care where you sit then let someone who wants it take the chair. Just my 2 cents. Whatever you decide to do try to enjoy college. Some of the best years of my life. K
Ksaxman.com
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Author: Buster
Date: 2012-09-07 05:27
CuriousClarinet,
Despite what others may yell at you about winning auditions, only you can verify if you are worthy/capable of your position.
Other demands arise as principal beyond that of mere clarinetin'. Score study, the commensurate knowledge, and most importantly, self-confidence to tell the others in "your" section what needs to been done (if they are not doing their job) to make the section/ensemble function better as a whole, falls on your shoulders.
I wouldn't view that burden as beyond your reach; though it may take some study to garner the needed knowledge. Perhaps it's a burden that will only seed personal growth?
Not knowing what your actual major is, nor how you play the "blarinet", I would not presume to tell you you've bitten more off than you can chew; nor if you need to chill out and merely take everything in stride. Look in the proverbial mirror and decide what you can do. Or what you wish to do with what you've been dealt.
Don't delve into altruism in this case however... be selfish and look at your own goals.
Never having dealt with a non-music major placing above me in a professional/collegiate/summer audition, I can't speak as to how it feels to be on the receiving end of a request dealt by "one that should not be occupying the seat that they currently occupy."
But if someone sitting under you will not acquiesce to your requests, then speak to the director. He/She will inform if you are out of place, on top of matters, or deal with the offending seat-warmer as needed.
Play with knowledge and without fear, deciding what recipes you desire to extract from for your pudding.... you do get to taste it before it is offered for up for public consumption.
-Jason
Post Edited (2012-09-07 14:50)
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Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2012-09-08 02:04
Since I last posted I've had my first lesson with the clarinet instructor (same one who was at the audition) and was informed why I was placed over the other clarinets. According to him, my audition was far superior then the others, especially the excerpt from Stravinsky's Firebird. (the other two parts were from Tchaikovsky 5th Symphony). He didn't say anything, but after listening to me stumble through a few etudes I wonder what his opinion is now...
Anyways, I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that perhaps since I was the one who obviously made the most effort to learn the audition material, that alone makes me worthy of my chair. I might not be the most gifted or talented clarinetist in the section, but at least both the directors and I know that if I put some effort into learning the parts, I can play to (atleast) the equal of the others.
And since it came up, I've declared my major as Art with an emphasis in graphic design.
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Author: Johnny Galaga
Date: 2012-09-08 02:21
Had a similar thing happen in high school my sophomore year. Got 1st chair in the wind ensemble (the school's top group). The next five players down were better than me. But you know what? By the end of that year I had improved so much by sitting that chair that I felt I could play as well as any of 'em. I ended up holding that chair right up until graduation.
Keep the chair! If the players after you are better, then the pressure is only going to force you to get better. By the end of the day, you're gonna grow from this and become an even better player.
And, the problem with being a music major, is you get pulled so many different ways, learning solfage, music theory, lessons, conducing, keyboard class, secondary instruments, that you don't have as much time to practice your band music. So what happens is the non-music majors end up outplaying you in band class cos they don't have to do all that other crap. They get to spend their time only on what matters: playing their main instrument.
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