Bernstein, Leonard - Candide Suite

[sakuramimato]

This being my first year in my school
district's honor band, it is a great honor and I am surprised that I was
chosen. The first piece was fairly simple, but as the musical repertoire
progressed, the selections became very difficult. Our finale songs are from
Bernstein's Candide Suite, featuring the following compositions: mvt. 1, The
Best of all Possible Worlds mvt. 2, Westphalia Chorale and Battle Scene mvt. 3,
Auto-Da-Fe (What a Day) mvt. 4, Glitter and be Gay Has anyone ever had
experience with these songs? I would also like to know what grade level the
piece is (I'm guessing around a high grade 4 or a low grade 5) as this suite is
a little above my musical ability and it has been a painstaking challenge for me
to learn both flute and piccolo parts. Also, I have less experience than the
other musicians attending district honor band with me (most of whom are juniors
and seniors and sit first or second chair in their respective bands or are
section leader). One last question: what grade level should a student such as
myself in the 9th grade be able to play?

[fluteluversmom]

>>One last question: what grade
level should a student such as myself in the 9th grade be able to play?<< Hi~ It
sounds to me like you are doing pretty well for being in 9th grade...at least
compared to the 9th graders in the school here. It seems that every school has
players at different levels for any certain grade. I would just keep working at
being the best that you can be. Keep challenging yourself like it sounds like
you have. You probably already know where you are in comparison to the other 9th
grade flutes in your band. We had a discussion a while back here about flute
players getting to college and finding out that they were at the bottom of the
group even though they had been tops in their band in High School and won all
the competitions they were in. Do you have a private teacher ? If so they could
probably tell you if you are where they think you "should" be as far as skills
go in 9th grade. Kim

[sakuramimato]

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten a
private teacher in my years of playing, so I'm mostly self-taught other than
what my instructors in school have taught me. I guess my hours spent practicing
daily on borrowed etude books from my friend's brother (Joachim Andersen's
Etudes Op. 33 & 64) and practicing for all of the bands I have been placed in
has given me a strenuous practice schedule (roughly 6 hours daily). I guess I'm
doing pretty well having a private instructor unavailable to me. (Also, there
are money/time issues)

[ick27]

I've played Candide Suite with my
college concert band I remember it to be fairly challenging. No way I could have
played it when I was in 9th grade! I seem to recall a fast march section and a
C#4 or two.. Anyhow, I'm sure its not just you--it's a challenging piece! The
reason why they pick music like that is to encourage people to really work and
become better players. So just have fun, play what you can, and pretend to be
playing really well on the parts you can't. [:)] -Bradford

[Amber]

Oh my Gosh I love Candide!!! The
flute solos are so fun, especially the one on the last page. It is a great piece
of music and you are lucky to play it.