I have a band clinic at the end of this week. 20 of us are trying out but only 16 will make it. I have a prepared piece to work on but it sounds horrible. I have little time to practice because I've neglected this piece to work on scales. Does anyone know I can improve this prepared piece, and fast? I really need to do good at clinic this year because I was told it might help determine who gets first flute next year in our band!
In the piece I mostly understand it until have a note called E#. In all my books there is no E# to be found. I have looked through numerous fingering charts, but it seems E# does not exist. Does anyone know what this is?
Thanks in advance for the help. Really nervous that I might not make clinic this year!
Is there any way to get something to a good level in a way that is really fast and easy.... The answer.... no. You have to practice and put in the preparation. Just do the best you can, and if you don't do well, it will be a lesson learned for next time. Sorry to be so blunt, but that's the truth.
Lastly. Let's think about this one. A sharp or a flat raises or lowers the original note by 1 half step. So C becomes C#. Half a step up from E is F. So E# is enharmonic (sounds the same as) F natural. B# would be the same as C natural.
So then you can explore the ideas of double sharps and double flats. Ex (meaning E ##) is the same as F#. Ebb is basically D natural.
Thanks for the help. I didn't think there was a way to make my piece better that quick, but it was worth a shot. The E# sharp finally makes since and sounds pretty good in the piece. It's my fault for delaying practicing for clinic; I wasn't sure whether I would go or not. Guess I'm going. I'll do the best I can on it but it probably won't end well between the nerves and being unprepared.
I don't know if you still have any time left, but I hope this helps.
I copied the following info on how I practice from another thread:
For learning a piece with limited time:
1. Go through the piece and mark the difficult spots.
2. Don't waste time trying to play it faster than you can play it correctly. At best you are wasting time, but you may be learning incorrect notes too.
3. Focus on the difficult sections. Take these sections in small chunks. Use a metronome set a speed that you can play the section note perfect. This may be VERY slow. Gradually increase the speed of the metronome. Also, use alternative rhythms, such as dotted-eighth sixteenth, or sixteenth dotted-eighth. Take a break when your fingers start to get tangled.
4. Minimize time spent on run-thrus. Do just enough run thrus to retain the work you've done, but focus on the parts that are difficult, not the parts that are easy.
This morning is the clinic. Wish me luck! Clinic piece sounds really good I think, but it's not my opinion that matters. So hopefully I'll get a good chair! Really nervous already. Kind of excited too. Trying not to think about my Chromatic Scale cause I'm afraid I might mess it up or something. Just nervous. Wanted to thank you guys for all the awesome advice. Have a great day and send some luck my way.
I had chair tryouts yesterday. We were given 3 days to practice the piece. I have only been playing my flute again for about a month (after a good 6 year break...sad I know...) and the headjoint is making it tough on me! It is a Yamaha EC headjoint BTW. I hope you do a whole lot better than I did, lol!! My nerves got the best of me!! And the fact that this was only my second chair tryout for flute. My first was 20 years ago when I was in 6th grade! Oh, I am playing in the wind ensemble at the community college
Hey Flutelanders. I did really, really, really bad at clinic. I was way too nervous. My prepared piece, C scale, and Chromatic were great. Then I had to play a Db scale. That is my worst scale EVER! Then I had to sight read. I cannot sight read at all. So this year's clinic was terrible. Good news is I have another clinic next month. The thing that messed me up the most at clinic (besides the nerves) was that the room echoed. It was bad. So thanks for all your advice. Maybe I'll do better next time.
Lula, sry I spelled you name wrong in my other post. You still did a great job because you went and performed. You (I am talking for me too now) could have said no BUT you did it! Next time you'll know a little more what to expect and hopefully (same with me) will do better. Like I said before, my nerves got to me. Kinda weird because I can be up in front of hundreds of people, playing my sax and blow like no tomorrow but yesterday, in front of the nicest band director, on my flute, I blew it! Darn nerves!
Thank you though for posting and please let us know about the clinic you have next month.
P.S.
I am still waiting to find out how I did yesterday! There are 5 flutes in the ensemble. The director said there are only 2 flute parts so chair doesn't really matter but I am still anxious to find out how bad I did, lol!!
Good luck SaxShanny. I hope you do well and get the part you wanted. This was a pretty bad audition. Trying not to feel sorry for myself. (I whine a lot) Next clinic I will do better though. Thanks for your help. Good luck to you.
I thought I'd update you on my chair tryout...I was one of four who tried out (2 didn't) and I ended up with third chair. SO! The principle player is playing piccolo which left the second chair player (who is awesome) and ME!! playing first part!!! OMG I have been practicing so much and I didn't even know the fingerings to A3B4 & Bb3! This last week has been nuts for me. I almost thought I wasn't going to be able to do it. I have decided to stick with it and do my absolute best and try my absolute hardest b/c I know I will be a much, much better player after this experience. Oh, we're doing "Vesuvius" by Ticheli, "Tiger Tail March" by Giroux and "Alligator Alley" by Daugherty. Remember ya'll, I have been out of band class for 14 years, my primary instrument is sax and I haven't played my flute in MANY years! I must admit I am really loving this challenge
So happy for you! You did an awesome job. I have another clinic toward the end of February that lasts for 2 days. I plan on doing well at that one because I got 2nd band 1st chair last year and was terrible! (this year I am much better.)
Again you did and great job and wish you luck in the future.
the pricing on the take 2 us/uk shops is just insane. And they change very often. You could see a price of R800 for games that are 3 or 4 years old but last week they had borderlands going for R370.
Oh, also about two weeks ago they had the rock band2 bundle for R1399 which was an awesome price - its now back to 1890.
E# is an F. Anything with a # just simply means move it a half step up. Same thing goes with a b. For example an Fb would be an E natural because flat means to lower the pitch a half step.
Thanks for the help. I didn't think there was a way to make my piece better that quick, but it was worth a shot. The E# sharp finally makes since and sounds pretty good in the piece. It's my fault for delaying practicing for clinic; I wasn't sure whether I would go or not. Guess I'm going. I'll do the best I can on it but it probably won't end well between the nerves and being unprepared. 
Really nervous already. Kind of excited too. Trying not to think about my Chromatic Scale cause I'm afraid I might mess it up or something. Just nervous. Wanted to thank you guys for all the awesome advice. Have a great day and send some luck my way. 
