Hey you guys. I'm David and I just recently joined the forums. I started playing the flute when I was in the 7th grade with my school band and even before auditioning for my instrument I knew I wanted to play the flute.
I was considered the most dedicated player in my class just because I advanced faster than my peers (I was the only woodwind in the class.....the rest of the 7th grade band was in Band 2 because they started in 6th gr.) Then when I finished the first Standard of Excellence Book I was encouraged to challenge the second chair in the 7th grade (She was 5th chair of the whole school) I challenged her and beat her. I realized that she played like a woman in labor - her notes were short and choppy and she breathed at every note.) I soared from schoolwide hmm...I think it was 12th chair to 5th chair.
Then I challenged the first chair - also a male who was very talented until he gave up last year. I became 4th chair and then in 8th grade I was made 1st chair after Kassandra became a high school Freshman. I did a lot of things in 8th grade. I played at my Solo and Ensemble festival on a dramatic piece called "Nuttorno" and got a Superior but I was given some tips on my horrible dynamic range - I have fixed that greatly, though. I tried out for All County and didn't make it. And then I was placed on the Piccolo at the near end of the year.
Now in 9th grade, I am part of my school Marching Band. I am the only male flute player and I guess the rest of them give me high praise for that...hehe...I am on flute for my marching show music and concert music but I am dedicating my All-County tryout time to the Piccolo. I am currently working on trying to become a Piccolo player in my county's All County band this year (even though to try out for Picc. I am required to also try out on the Flute. I need to work very hard.) That is it for now in my Student career. I am solely dedicated to my Gemeinhardt 2SP flute and Gemeinhardt 4SP Piccolo. I hope that by becoming active in the forums, I can gain some knowledge and advance. Bye!
Welcome to the board. I'm also pretty new.
Your story sounds pretty similar to mine, starting in grade seven, now I'm in grade ten. I don't really understand 'challenging' someone though? o_O
We are assigned chair positions in the Band and we are allowed to challenge someone of a higher chair position for their chair.
THE PROCESS:
I pick an exercise, they pick an exercise. We set a date
Were given #1 and #2 names and then we are placed in a sep. room
We each play the two exercises. The class votes either #. If the winner was of a lower chair, then they assume that person's position and the loser assumes the position next to that person.
We challenge each other for chair positions so that the director knows who gets Flute Part 1 and Flute Part 2
(ex: The class has four flutes. Typically, Flutes chair 1 and 2 get FLUTE PART 1 music and chairs 3 and 4 get FLUTE PART 2 music (or they get lower ranging Oboe parts.)
Wow. Really awkward. Believe it or not, my name is David and I also play the flute and piccolo. Also pretty much the most dedicated player in my grade. Theres this band directors award that Im very competitive with another flute/piccolo player. The whole chair thing is what my friend Courtney is most competitive about. Its her philosophy that anybody that can pretty much play all octaves on the flute, and plays the piccolo is worthy of the first and second chair. Ive sat in the first chair in all of my school concerts and if you havent experienced this before, theres a lot of pressure because its usually the first flute sound to hit the audience.
Cool. I was second chair once in 8th grade but I reclaimed it. In my middle school Band experience, only the first chair was applicable for Piccolo parts but now that I am in High School only me and the Junior year Section Leader Nevena (who is like God when it comes to playing the flute for me) play the Piccolo because we are the only ones with any experience in playing it
Bye!