being ahead

chreenis · Post by **chreenis** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:00 pm

hi,
I am in eigth grade(boy) and i play the flute(obviously). I am in a symphony in the state and i feel that i am too far ahead of everyone else at my bandclass. We got a new song today and i could play everything right and no one else could get high g above the staff accept me. should i tell my teacher to do something or what should i do????
Thanks

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:17 pm

You should never tell your teacher to do anything. You can certainly voice your concerns, and ask for their advice, but to tell them to do something is probably not going to get you much beyond a look of distaste. Chances are your private teacher doesn't have the power to place in a different ensemble anyway. They can, however, offer you more challenges with your private repertoire, or help you find the challenges in what you're playing. I'm sure you didn't actually play that piece perfectly, as not even the best players will ever sightread anything as well as they could play it with practice, so there is bound to be something your teacher can help you work on. If they can't help, perhaps you need to find another teacher.

remnantpark · Post by **remnantpark** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:32 pm

I know how you feel, but like what FlutePicc had said, never "tell" the teacher what to do or give any suggestions. I suggest that you keep humble, don't make the flute players turn against you and maybe help them (with their permission of course!

) And also ask your teacher for harder music that you can play by yourself for fun.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:37 pm

remnantpark wrote:I know how you feel, but like what FlutePicc had said, never "tell" the teacher what to do or give any suggestions.

I don't quite agree with that, remnantpark. You can make suggestions, but leave them at that...Suggestions. You shouldn't be trying to "tell" your teacher anything, but as a pupil (and I assume you pay for your lessons), it's your job to get the most out of the instruction that you can, and sometimes that will mean voicing your ideas, and sometimes it will mean shutting up and listening. To me, however, there is a major difference between suggesting something, where the teacher still gets to decide if that's the right way to go, and telling the teacher to do something, which is pretty much just rude.

remnantpark · Post by **remnantpark** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:39 pm

Yeah, I guess you /can/ make suggestions. For /my/ band teacher...that's a different story.

chreenis · Post by **chreenis** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:55 pm

this is my school band teacher we are talking about. I think she goes way to easy on us.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 7:58 pm

chreenis wrote:this is my school band teacher we are talking about

Okay, well even if it's not your private teacher, talk to him privately about your concerns, and any ideas you might have for improvement. Telling him to do something is probably not going to yield results you'll like.

fluteguy18 · Post by **fluteguy18** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:36 am

I agree. Dont TELL your director to do something. You could make a request having something change about your requirements in the class [extra repetoire etc.] so that way you arent bored, or feel that you are too far ahead. But, dont TELL your director to do anything.

drumajorchick · Post by **drumajorchick** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 8:47 am

I agree with what everyone else has been saying. Your director is there to tell you things, not you tell him what he should do. Maybe you can look into helping your fellow flute players with playing. Kind of like a tutoring type class. You want your section to be as good as you, right? Do something about it.

Phineas · Post by **Phineas** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 2:56 pm

chreenis

When I was in JR and High School, I was already a professional guitarist. Big deal! If I wanted to play in band, I had to go along with the program. It is not all about you, and/or what you think. You will find that most people who play instruments in school do not even practice at home, let alone ahve a private teacher.
I think you should get a grip, be humble, and make a choice. The grass looks like it will be greener somewhere else, but under every green lawn is cow dung!

If you are REALLY serious about pursuing flute as a lifetime goal, you will have plenty of time to be challenged and play with some of the top musicians in the world. Meanwhile, learn how to be cool and be part of a group!

Just play the d**n thang!....stop trippin!

Phineas

chreenis · Post by **chreenis** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 4:54 pm

Hi everyone,
thanks for all of the replies. I offer to help anyone that needs help but they won't take it and they think i am stupid because i am only an eigth grader and all the other flutists in my school band are nineth graders. They think i suck and don't know anything because they have been playing for 1 year more than me. I play a gemeinhardt 3sb flute without the plugs in and i have had this flute since i started sixth grade.(2 years ago)

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:13 pm

chreenis wrote:Hi everyone,
thanks for all of the replies. I offer to help anyone that needs help but they won't take it and they think i am stupid because i am only an eigth grader and all the other flutists in my school band are nineth graders. They think i suck and don't know anything because they have been playing for 1 year more than me. I play a gemeinhardt 3sb flute without the plugs in and i have had this flute since i started sixth grade.(2 years ago)

Well that's going to be a problem as long as you're younger than someone. On other flute groups I post to, I get that kind of reponse all the time, even if I make a particularly valid suggestion. It's natural to assume those with less experience than oneself have less knowledge or skill, though quite obviously that is not the always case. You just have to learn to deal with people who don't want or respect your help as graciously as you can, and then don't worry about it. You'll always be better than some and less skilled than others. Perhaps the 9th graders have some reason for believing you aren't worth listening to that you're not aware of, or maybe they don't like you for some reason. Either way, as we've all said, you're there to learn to play in a group, so keep working hard on your own, and just accept that you'll always be playing with people of varying skill levels. There's no point in getting all high and mighty or pretentious, as that will just make it harder for you all to work together.

chreenis · Post by **chreenis** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:19 pm

thank you very much. That really helps me a lot.

flutepicc06 · Post by **flutepicc06** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:57 pm

No problem. Good luck.

remnantpark · Post by **remnantpark** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:50 pm

Ouch, Chreenis. My friend is just like those 9th graders you had described.

She gets angry when this 7th grade piccolo player asked if she is playing the right notes.

I only get upset with the 7th graders if they insist that they are correct when they are not. But I just leave them be for my band teacher. I do not want to be offensive, but this year, I got some really really stuck-up 7th flute players in my band.