My Flute Rant

[Cleartone]

Well Saku, you could ask your friend at first chair to give it up
to the second chair so she could sit next to you as I did. but I am also guilty
in not responding to notootsieno's question, so if she is still reading this
one is for you. You must make a decision on how you want to approach this. You
can enter into this challenge head on and work hard to acheive your goal,
however you may create animosity between you and the other flautist. Another
approach is to not worry about it and play the flute at your own pace for your
own enjoyment. It is possible to mix a bit of both, but it is a precarious
balance. You know, when you graduate from high school no one will know whether
you were first chair or second. I beleive since you are on a "rant" that you
should continue with your challenge. Since you have improved when you recieved
your new flute, you are bound to improve even more at this moment of time. Good
luck.

[greeniceflower]

I had a similar situation like many others...I haven't been
playing the flute for long, and in fact I just started playing in beginning band
last year. Band was not even my first choice, but I gave it a try. At first I
tried to oboe but I failed to play it well, so I was failing by the minute.
Eventually, months/weeks later, I finally switched to the flute. I still
remember my first song was number 33 on the red book! I practiced and practiced,
looked at the fingerings and tried to remember them well. I was competitive and
determined to challenge myself so I don't have to be last chair (the two at the
back really don't practice and couldn't even make a sound the whole year). We
were only allowed to challenge two people at a time, so after a few weeks, I
finally passed by them. Finally, my hard work has paid off and I'm first chair.
The popular girls hated me and repeatedly said I "showed off." As the director I
have right now said, "you're only doing the right thing." Throughout the year I
was constantly ridiculed and laughed at because of their jealously. They only
directed their insults to me...and that year was torture. Good thing this year
we don't have challenges even though there are chairs (I think me and the
second chair have similar levels). I guess it was better when challenges didn't
exist. I'm still as competitive as ever, even when I think that the director
doesn't give me challenging enough music, I would play my own music and bring
myself up a new level. I try out for Honor Band and go to Wind/Ensemble just to
gain experience, and not the title. Even if I got a 2 (1 is the best) and the
chair behind me got a 1, I knew I did great individually because she played for
many years and I did for less than two years. The thing is...compete with
yourself and not with a girl that's not even worth getting stressed over! If
you don't make it, and you're sincere, you're the true winner because of your
good sportsmanship. If you win, you could still be sincere, right? The more
stressed you are, the harder it'll be. Relax..winning a cocky girl is not that
important!

[PiccChick]

how long have you been playing for your director? If he/she knows
what your capable of, you shouldn't worry. As long as u know u can do it,
there's nothin to be worried about. Ive first chair ever since 5th grade. one
chair audition, i messed up really bad and 2nd chair did good.i thought i was
gonna lose it but i didn't. its just what ur director knows about your
playin'.Good Luck For Next Audition-[;)] [:)] [;)] P.S -is there anyone out
there NOT getting private lessons i think im the only one.[:((] [:blackeye:]

[Dixon]

Flute is a fairly easy instrument to start and get decent with. The
key thing is your ears take almost as long to develope as your embouchure. That
means you probably are a poor judge of what sounds good and what sounds better.
Also you hear yourself differently than others hear you. Just like hearing your
own voice on a tape recording, your flute sounds different to you than to
others. In short you may think you are doing great and can move ahead to more
difficult music and are playing better than others, but you are not advanced
enough to make that decision. Let someone with a better ear do it and trust
them. The world is probably not out to keep you down.

[saiphrigel]

Competition can be good for you if you don't obsess over
it...don't let all this chair business make you lose your love of music.
What's the point in playing at all if you can't love it?

[Sneeble]

Oh my God, reading your post took me back about 15 years! When I
was in high school, I was in serious competition with another flute player, as
well (and boy was she mean)! So I practiced and stressed and eventually beat
her, but didn't enjoy the experience. Fast forward to college where I stopped
caring. I actually did well in auditions and made it to third chair, but now I
could just sit back and love playing the flute again. I know that in jr. high
and high school being first flute seems like the ultimate accomplishment, and it
seems like your world is going to end if you don't get it. But please trust a
wise, old soul of 30 who was where you are not too long ago - just do your best
and stop worrying about this girl. You'll drive yourself nuts and she's sooo
not worth it! It's really funny - I'm currently trying to get a novel
published about a girl who's so obsessed over getting first chair flute that
she and a friend resort to playing all these tricks on the current first chair
to get rid of her. I'm glad to know that the topic is still appropriate, 15
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[notootsieno]

Wow, I didn't even know this topic was still here! Haha.

I'm okay now, I've decided to stop caring about that beating that girl...*Update* I'm in the 9th grade now, I've made it into wind ensemble (the top band, YES! ) and I'm probably going to be last chair since I'll be among 11th and 12th graders, but oh well. lol.

Thank you to everybody who replied. I've always loved playing the flute, but I'm not quite so competitive anymore.