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Gary was being an a- hole today.
Erik said that he wanted to learn like trombone or trumpet or something and Gary was like "Yeah I'll get to that during class."
So he talks for like 30 minutes.
"Some people have been wanting to try other instruments, and that's fine to want to. But first you have to master your instrument that you chose to play first. And not a one of you has even gotten close to mastering your first instrument."
Ok, first of all, I'm pretty friggin good at trombone.
"If you disperse your time on to lots of instruments, you can't even think of mastering any of them. 5 instruments. 3 instruments. 2 instruments, whatever."
I play three instruments: trombone, baritone and trumpet. I'm pretty good at all three of them.
"How many of you even tried out for All- West?"
The three of us raise our hands.
"Only three. How many made it?"
I kept my hand up.
"One. One person made it. What band is he? The last band. What chair is he? Fifth. Out of nine. Not that great."
Ok, first of all, you didn't make it your first try. I think I'm pretty good since I actually made it.
"I didn't start any other instruments until I was in college."
Bullcrap. He told us at band camp that he never marched trombone in high school, he only marched baritone/ bugle.
"So not even one of you is even close to being able to learn another instrument."
s**t. Matt plays tuba and trombone. I openly play three.
"Matt switched because of the need for a tuba player."
I mean, dang. He still switched, didn't he?
"But if you think you'd want to learn another instrument, I'll be staying these days to teach you and to help new people with their instruments."
What the crap was that whole speech for?
'You can't learn another instrument, but if you want to learn another instrument, here you go.'

And I asked him like in 2008 if I could play baritone and he was like "Yeah ok."
And I was gonna ask if I could do trumpet for a duet and I don't even want to ask him about bass trombone anymore........
sucks.

My BD almost didn't let me play Tuba.

Luckily he let me.

Once my BD said the most retarded thing. "A tuner would be better than a Alto Flute!" -_________-

Hn, that doesn't even make sense. =/
I think you should talk to your BD, and tell him that,
well, you're not him.
And you really want to play which ever instrument you said that I forgot.

Idk, my BD doesn't really care what we play,
or even if we play one of our friend's instruments.
As long as they're next to us, he's off in la la land.
=O

That is not fair at all. I bet that speech was motivated by some of those not-so-musically-talented band members asking to play another instrument inadequately. First of all, your band director doesn't have any actual control over what you play. If you want to learn something else, do it, just don't have your band director help you. And technically, if you want to audition on that other instrument, he can't stop you. Next, you could always say that you want to be a band director (even if you don't) and tell him you're preparing for college by learning more instruments. Just to point out, your band director has issues. You should never criticize your students' playing, no matter how many people don't try out for honor bands. Good job, by the way - honor bands are hard to get in to. Your director either needs a complete attitude change or a different way to release stress. So basically, keep playing whatever instruments you want. The only change I can see is you can't ask your director for personal help, you'll have to do it on your own (or find other directors, like middle school directors - they will have tips for learning an instrument).

I'm the only clarinet that practices daily, I'm first chair, I already play flute
and piano, and I'm quiet, so after bugging my BD for a while he let me start
tenor sax for Jazz Band. XD Being the quiet band geek pays off.