I'm trying to decide between taking Strings 12 Advanced...or Band 12 Advanced. I've been in Strings since I was in grade 4 (8 years old) and I feel kind of guilty leaving it. My teacher kind of depends on me because I can play violin, viola, and piano and because the piano player is graduating this year, along with half of the viola section, and 90% of the first violin section. He tells me that if I remain in Strings next year, he can arrange it so that the orchestra can play along with me playing the flute solo. -.-" I believe he has too much trust in me...I've only had...<counts on fingers> 9 lessons so far I believe. Maybe 10. But then again, he always trusts all of his students.
On the other hand, going to band will give me a new experience of playing within a group for flute. I quit my church orchestra because the music was just simply too easy (most of the kids are like 10 years old, with some older kids ranging from 14 - 22). My flute teacher wants me to stay in Strings because she says performing as a soloist will give me a lot of confidence...which I don't have. =P
Any advice?
Strings...or Band?
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Hi Pandagirl! 
I was waiting for someone closer to your situation to reply. Since I'm one of the newest flutists on the planet (and reluctant to even call myself a flutist at this point), I thought it might be a bit presumptuous to assume that I knew enough to offer advice. Even so, I've been thoughtfully pondering your question.
I'm generally in favor of decisions that tend to benefit the whole, but you are within your rights to decide on the placement that best serves your needs. Going to Strings 12 Advanced will serve the common good goal. Your school is losing a strong portion of strings at the end of the year, so your continued presence in strings is an obviously attraction to your teacher and your school. Your flute instructor supports that route as well, however. She believes that the soloist venue will help increase your self confidence. You've stated, too, that you have such a need.
If you're looking for support for the decision to stay with strings, I can easily give it. Every indicator seems to point to that being the most beneficial course for you right now.
What would be the possibility of starting a flute group at school outside of the formal structure? We used to have extracurricular groups of varied interest at my high school. I don't know if that idea is feasible, but it would give you the opportunity to play with a flute group that being in strings denies.
One further out-of-the-box consideration: Would the powers that be permit you to occasionally cross over and work with the band? Or, am I just happy in my own little world, not realizing how high school really operates?
I was just thinking that you might have a bit of leverage, given your school's impending string section deprivation.
These are just my thoughts on a cold January morning. It's 3 degrees here, and I'm floating between the composition of this reply, and getting my wood stove going. There are icicles on my flute. I hate when that happens.
I was waiting for someone closer to your situation to reply. Since I'm one of the newest flutists on the planet (and reluctant to even call myself a flutist at this point), I thought it might be a bit presumptuous to assume that I knew enough to offer advice. Even so, I've been thoughtfully pondering your question.
I'm generally in favor of decisions that tend to benefit the whole, but you are within your rights to decide on the placement that best serves your needs. Going to Strings 12 Advanced will serve the common good goal. Your school is losing a strong portion of strings at the end of the year, so your continued presence in strings is an obviously attraction to your teacher and your school. Your flute instructor supports that route as well, however. She believes that the soloist venue will help increase your self confidence. You've stated, too, that you have such a need.
If you're looking for support for the decision to stay with strings, I can easily give it. Every indicator seems to point to that being the most beneficial course for you right now.
What would be the possibility of starting a flute group at school outside of the formal structure? We used to have extracurricular groups of varied interest at my high school. I don't know if that idea is feasible, but it would give you the opportunity to play with a flute group that being in strings denies.
One further out-of-the-box consideration: Would the powers that be permit you to occasionally cross over and work with the band? Or, am I just happy in my own little world, not realizing how high school really operates?
I was just thinking that you might have a bit of leverage, given your school's impending string section deprivation. These are just my thoughts on a cold January morning. It's 3 degrees here, and I'm floating between the composition of this reply, and getting my wood stove going. There are icicles on my flute. I hate when that happens.
-
pandagirl11
- Posts: 78
- Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:49 pm
I really really wanted to be able to switch between the two courses and I would be able to do...but they're in the same block. -.-" 
Death to the teacher who made that happen..
My other option is to...=P Join Senior "B" Strings...which is for those who can't make it into Strings 12 Advanced a.k.a. Senior "A" Strings...and then take Band 12 Advanced. -.-"
Death to the teacher who made that happen..My other option is to...=P Join Senior "B" Strings...which is for those who can't make it into Strings 12 Advanced a.k.a. Senior "A" Strings...and then take Band 12 Advanced. -.-"
"Death to the teacher who made that happen.."pandagirl11 wrote:I really really wanted to be able to switch between the two courses and I would be able to do...but they're in the same block. -.-"
My other option is to...=P Join Senior "B" Strings...which is for those who can't make it into Strings 12 Advanced a.k.a. Senior "A" Strings...and then take Band 12 Advanced. -.-"
Remind me never to make you angry -- ha!
It looks as though you have a no win situation, Pandagirl. Even though the world will continue to turn on its axis, I'm sure this still seems cosmically unfair.
Maybe something will change and you'll be presented with a better option. Who knows? My heart does go out to you though. I like to see students have every opportunity possible for advancement.
-
pandagirl11
- Posts: 78
- Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:49 pm
<laughs> Okay...maybe not death...=P
-.-" I have half a mind to just quit all fine arts. I'm not exactly required to take it anymore 'cause I finished my DipABRSM for piano so I'm officially exempt from all fine arts courses but I have space..and I don't wanna take a study block. Why must they be in the same block...
-.-" I have half a mind to just quit all fine arts. I'm not exactly required to take it anymore 'cause I finished my DipABRSM for piano so I'm officially exempt from all fine arts courses but I have space..and I don't wanna take a study block. Why must they be in the same block...
-
powayflute01
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:29 pm
- Contact:
Hmm. Do you like band music better or orchestral music better? For me, I'd do orch because I enjoy orchestra music much more than compositions for wind ensemble. But...some people dislike the way string instruments sound and would rather do wind ensemble.
Yeah, I'm not taking any music this semester. I quit our college wind symphony because the music was ridiculously easy (my freshman band in high school could have played this stuff!) and I wasn't very fond of the director. I was going to try out for the symphony orchestra and see if that was any better, but I'm rushing a sorority this semester and it turns out that orchestra rehearsals and sorority meetings are at exactly the same time...
Yeah, I'm not taking any music this semester. I quit our college wind symphony because the music was ridiculously easy (my freshman band in high school could have played this stuff!) and I wasn't very fond of the director. I was going to try out for the symphony orchestra and see if that was any better, but I'm rushing a sorority this semester and it turns out that orchestra rehearsals and sorority meetings are at exactly the same time...
Haha, this one is my favorite: :shock:
[size=75]I <3 LXA[/size]
[size=75]I <3 LXA[/size]
" I'm rushing a sorority this semester and it turns out that orchestra rehearsals and sorority meetings are at exactly the same time... "
I forgot how often scheduling conflicts could surface at school. "You can do this thing or that, even though this and that are both critically important to you." Yuk!
Pandagirl, I don't know what to say. If you quit fine arts, you're not going have any benefit of the program. Sometimes I ask how a particular decision will affect me a couple of years down the road.
I wish you luck in this, but I don't think you need it. You've got a good head on your shoulders.
I forgot how often scheduling conflicts could surface at school. "You can do this thing or that, even though this and that are both critically important to you." Yuk!
Pandagirl, I don't know what to say. If you quit fine arts, you're not going have any benefit of the program. Sometimes I ask how a particular decision will affect me a couple of years down the road.
I wish you luck in this, but I don't think you need it. You've got a good head on your shoulders.
-
powayflute01
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2003 7:29 pm
- Contact:
Hah, scheduling conflicts are the story of my life at this point...and if you try to do EVERYTHING then you really can't dedicate yourself to anything at all very much...
Yeah Pandagirl, you should do one of them...you might miss learning something critically important in one of those classes that could make all the difference in your life! (A biology teacher once told me that when I was trying to transfer out of a class in high school...that was a little different though because I got stuck in a class I didn't sign up for...)
Yeah Pandagirl, you should do one of them...you might miss learning something critically important in one of those classes that could make all the difference in your life! (A biology teacher once told me that when I was trying to transfer out of a class in high school...that was a little different though because I got stuck in a class I didn't sign up for...)
Haha, this one is my favorite: :shock:
[size=75]I <3 LXA[/size]
[size=75]I <3 LXA[/size]
-
crazyaboutflute2393
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 2:24 pm
Yeah I kinda know what you mean. There are so many activities at my school, it's always hard to choose what ones. So I sign up for as many that aren't on the same day, or the same time at least.powayflute01 wrote:Hah, scheduling conflicts are the story of my life at this point...and if you try to do EVERYTHING then you really can't dedicate yourself to anything at all very much...
But it's sort of a good thing if you think of it this way: You'll never be just the "football star" or just the "flute player"... you can be whoever you want!