What chair are you/honer bands.

[wonderflute]

It was hard for me to go to high school. When I was in Jr. High, my band director had already told me from the beginning that I was better than any of his students he had ever had!(Big complement) , but that just made it harder to be in band the following year with a bunch of girls who didn't practice, and who were mad at me because a freshmen got first chair. I also got first chair honor band at every clinic I went to this year, except for the allstate clinic, which I recieved 1st chair, 3rd band (out of 4 bands), but I recieved call-backs for lion's band, but was 2nd alternate, and didn't get in. Oh well, better luck next year. It was kind of odd though, because it seemed like all the older girls were trying to gang up on me or something. AND, my band director wants me to teach and look after them, when they're the ones beating up on me!!! Well, some of them are quitting next year, and I think I'll be able to handle it then. I don't mean to be rude or anything, it's just what occured to me this year, but I hope to be better prepared for it next year!

[wonderflute]

By the way, where does everybody get those cute pictures that ya'll put up on your profile?

[aph]

Hey, guys, new here, thought this was an interesting topic though.

I'm a graduating senior from high school, and I've sat practically every chair possible through our symphonic band/orchestra and honor bands. In middle school, I was third chair, sitting behind players who I would sit above later. In high school, I sat 2nd chair in our school's lower band, behind a girl who would later quit flute. The next year, I sat last chair in our school's top band, symphonic band. Junior year, I finally practiced hard, worked with a private teacher, and moved up to 2nd chair, beat out by a freshman who was very very, good. Most of my section looked down on her because she was a freshman, and a senior that year quit band because she didn't make first. However, I talked with her the first day and found that, although she was scared of being a freshman playing first chair, she was a wonderful and interesting person. We became close friends, and any resentment that could could have cropped up between us never happened, which I'm quite glad of. This year, I was first chair, finally, although I felt my sophomore friend should have been first. But by this time, we didn't really care because we knew each other so well, and we supported each other during our solos during concerts and were there for each other.

Now, graduating, I look back and see chair placement as not that important in the scheme of life. What matters is that you have a great stand partner where both of you can support each other while playing music. After all, everyone there is there because they want to play music with other people who love doing the same thing.

[SilverwindWicca2007]

I sit 1st, and am the Section Leader, but only because our SL from last year graduated. I honestly think our band director goes about our seating in a very fair and equal way. There are currently 19 flutes in our band, there will be 11 more once Marching Band ends, and all the Guard girls return to flute, so it's hard to pick out a 1st chair. So we have auditions, and we are seated according to those auditions (just like any other band) but if you aren't happy with your seat, you can practice and challenge the person in front of you. You can keep challenging until you reach the top!! That's how I managed to get from 4th chair to second last year... And there's no limit on challenges, so if you lose once, you can practice harder and try again!!!

[Mango]

It's odd to me that you have to progress one at a time. We can go right for first chair, and if we win, the rest of the section gets bumped down one. If they don't like it, then they can challenge for their spots back. Of course, in my section, there are only two of us and one part, so it doesn't matter other than for the responsibilities. Which I would end up doing if I wasn't first chair anyway. So yeah. It doesn't matter. And everything gets readjusted after playing tests. Our initial concert positions are determined by our score on our end-of-marching test, which is our school song "Gold and Purple" memorized, at tempo, forte, etc.

[BandAlways]

at our school there is a concert band and a wind symphony (lower and upper) we have auditions at the end of marching season and that's about it. you can challenge once a week if you want, but most people don't. i was estatic when i got 9th chair (last ) in the upper band because i am only a freshman and they don't often make symphony. since thet i have challenged once (and won) ,another person has joined the band, and one person has graduated, so i am now 6th.

[Iolaus]

I entered college as a player who sat in first chair from the very beginning. When I had my first chair audition, I was devistated that I only made fourth in my freshman class.

I had that same experience in my first year in college as well. As one who had been a big fish in the small pond of high school, it was a humbling experience to realize that I wasn't as good as I thought.

Of course, now, I have to fight that old ego thing again, because after over twenty years of not playing, I'm "co-principal" flute in the Wind Ensemble at the Community College (essentially a community band). I have to keep reminding myself that it's the "small pond" syndrome all over again. I'm going to try for the symphony orchestra next semester; that should knock me down a notch or two!

[BandAlways]

lol, i know exactly what you mean! back in middle school, i was always the first chair... then i went to a summer camp and found myself fifth! then, i got the same thing this year during my first year in highschool band. it is a very humbling experience

[nii_neko]

We dont have chairs yet, but we do next year, and a lot of my flute friends say i'll be in the top 3, I cant wait till next year! Cuz, thats when we start Marching Band, Concert Band, Honor Band (chance), and SEIBA (chance). Next years the BOMB!!!!!!!!

[Band_Geek]

Ive always been 1st or 2nd chair but now that I am switching to Clarinet, I have no idea where I will fall. Im pretty sure that with a lot of practicing, I will at least be in the first row.

[crazyaboutflute2393]

We don't have chairs in regular band, but in Wind Ensemble (a step above our regular band class), I first made fifth chair (out of 7). I was kind of disappointed at first, because one of the worst flute players in the school (not to be rude, but she honestly is, and she knows it; and it's not because she's really that bad, but she doesn't care, so she doesn't play good) got third chair, and because I thought I would've done better. But then I realized I beat out all the other seventh and eighth graders and still got a spot, and that was good enough for me.

Then later it came time for honors band. We don't test to get in it, but instead, the band directors from all the schools in the county get together and tell each other how good their players are (rhythms they can play, range, etc.). Then they decide which players get in. And guess who made it? The eight-grade first chair and seventh-grade fifth chair players. Not another eighth grader. Not second, third, or fourth chair. Seventh-grade fifth chair player. That made me really happy, and I didn't care that I was fifth chair anymore; I was super appreciative of where I was in band, and learned I just have to practice a little more for those really hard playing tests!