being ahead
Moderators: Classitar, pied_piper, Phineas
Good for you for taking the initiative to change. As for the others, no you can't change them but maybe give them some time. Remember that it's only temporary. Eventually you'll move up to higher bands and the attitude change will help the people there who don't already know you to form better opinions. Just grin and bear it.
I haven't thought about this for YEARS!
When I was 13 I was playing in the school band, and I was further advanced in my playing than any of the other flute players. I remember it being frustrating, particularly since I got attitude from the others purely from the fact that I could play my parts well (like I shouldn't be good just because I'm younger). What was it at the time, jealousy, insecurity- whatever- in a couple of years I was playing first flute and getting all the solos, and in another couple of years I had left school and was playing second flute in a much more accomplished band. Back to square one- except I really was on the bottom rung that time- barely keeping my head above water
You might be a big fish in a little pond! You could find yourself in a much bigger pond one day and find that your attitude needs a little adjustment I don't mean this in a nasty way, I remember feeling the same way you did. Don't compare yourself to the other players, or worry about what they think or what they are doing, think about your own development and make yourself an indispensible part of your band. You'll get your chance.
When I was 13 I was playing in the school band, and I was further advanced in my playing than any of the other flute players. I remember it being frustrating, particularly since I got attitude from the others purely from the fact that I could play my parts well (like I shouldn't be good just because I'm younger). What was it at the time, jealousy, insecurity- whatever- in a couple of years I was playing first flute and getting all the solos, and in another couple of years I had left school and was playing second flute in a much more accomplished band. Back to square one- except I really was on the bottom rung that time- barely keeping my head above water
You might be a big fish in a little pond! You could find yourself in a much bigger pond one day and find that your attitude needs a little adjustment
I don't mean this in a nasty way, I remember feeling the same way you did. Don't compare yourself to the other players, or worry about what they think or what they are doing, think about your own development and make yourself an indispensible part of your band. You'll get your chance.
Buttercup
It is funny that you brought that up. The pond you swim in is a big factor that influences your playing also. I grew up in Hollywood Ca.(Los Angeles). Anything past highschool, and you had to be at a certain level. Even some of the highschools were on an almost "Pro" level. My main instrument was Guitar at that time(Still is). In LA back then, I was average. I could play as good as ANY guitar player gigging around LA. When I moved to St.Louis, I became the big fish. Now I rarely get gigs playing guitar because people are afraid I will upstage the star when I do a solo. It is even starting to get like that on Flute...lol After a few years, I was invited to sit in at a Jazz Jam session in NYC! Man, was I fish food in that pond! At least for a while. Mostly because I did not know a lot of the tunes by hard. I could hold my own, but I was not the big fish.
No matter how good you think you are, there is always someone out there that can play something that you cant, and vise versa. All the reason to just be cool and play your part.
Be cool, play the d##n thang, and have fun. When music is not fun for you anymore, it is time to put it away and learn truck driving.
10-4 good buddy!
Phineas
It is funny that you brought that up. The pond you swim in is a big factor that influences your playing also. I grew up in Hollywood Ca.(Los Angeles). Anything past highschool, and you had to be at a certain level. Even some of the highschools were on an almost "Pro" level. My main instrument was Guitar at that time(Still is). In LA back then, I was average. I could play as good as ANY guitar player gigging around LA. When I moved to St.Louis, I became the big fish. Now I rarely get gigs playing guitar because people are afraid I will upstage the star when I do a solo. It is even starting to get like that on Flute...lol After a few years, I was invited to sit in at a Jazz Jam session in NYC! Man, was I fish food in that pond! At least for a while. Mostly because I did not know a lot of the tunes by hard. I could hold my own, but I was not the big fish.
No matter how good you think you are, there is always someone out there that can play something that you cant, and vise versa. All the reason to just be cool and play your part.
Be cool, play the d##n thang, and have fun. When music is not fun for you anymore, it is time to put it away and learn truck driving.
10-4 good buddy!
Phineas
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fluteguy18
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:11 pm
I agree. I was in a somewhat similiar situation in high school. In that pond, I was about the size of a whale.... not saying that I am hugely talented, but rather that almost everyone else didnt enjoy playing flute, and didnt try whatsoever. Now that I am in the University level pond, I am not fish food by far, but I am still not a big fish.... but yet I am not an upper classman either so as far as underclassmen go I guess I am a pretty decent size... 
Everything must be looked at with the proper perspective.
Everything must be looked at with the proper perspective.
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sidekicker
- Posts: 311
- Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:58 am
- Location: Scottish-American in Oklahoma
I've given this advice before on another thread, but it's basically what Phineas said. Yes, it's that simple. We make it harder when we allow this Jr/Sr high school (and even college sometimes) band fluff to invade our goals in life. Just assume you're swimming in the bigger pond and your expectations will be much lower for other people; in all likelihood they are the ones swimming around in their small pond in life anyway and will have quite a rude awakening when that is realized in another setting. This type of attitude will probably help get you through this admittedly difficult time that most of us have experienced.
Just play the instrument and don't get caught up in this ridiculous stuff that, in time, you will look back on and laugh that you even thought about it for more than 10 seconds.
SK
Just play the instrument and don't get caught up in this ridiculous stuff that, in time, you will look back on and laugh that you even thought about it for more than 10 seconds.
SK