|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:47 pm
So, this year our clarinet section was about 6: four seniors and two freshman, me being one of the freshman. Two juniors switched instruments for marching season and one came in on alto sax, then decided she preferred clarinet. This made our two concert bands Four sneiors+ two juniors in 1st period and 1 senior and 3 freshman in 2nd period. Well, the two seniors are retrnign to their new instruments for marching season next year. We are also expecting at least 5 freshman next year just on clarinet, unless some switch instruments or jsut stop band all together.
Well, the point of this is:
The clarinets next year need a section leader. My competition is a girl my age who doesn't know how to make a big sound on wither of her two instruments and a boy who could care less, yet somehow likes band. He can't play.
in a way, i would like to be a section leader for my section, but I don't know if I can amrch well enough. There are a few factors leaning towards section leader-
-Our sL this year messed up a lot...
-I am a very good motivator. I got an annoying freshman trumpet player to practice, and even got him to completely learn a song the day before he had been completely clueless about.
-I am secodn chair clarient in my band. Only because it is a senior who is first chair, because the bD wnt in order of who he thought would do better. We haven't had chair challenges yet.
-I made regionals after my sister broke my mouthpiece. i didn't realize it until I got there. The mouthpiece I borrowed form one of the seniors didn' fit right and I had a smaller range, but I still got third highest chair in clarinets from my whole band.
-I made Wind Ensemble(1st period) without having to audition, which is how you get into that band.
-People tell em all the time that I would make a good section leader.
-I can go very high, and know almost all major scales by memory and can play them in 60 seconds by memory(Twelve of them.)
Factors leaning away from it:
-I can't conduct well. I tend to ge tout of time and can't conduct to msuic without a countoff or metronome.
-I am not very good with memorization. I have a shor term photographic memory. Things get memorized quickly, but they go away just as fast.
-I am not good at marching and playing.
-Marking time is terible. I can not stay int iem very easily unless I see someone who is in time.
Do you think I am cut otu to be a section leader? I would liek to be, but I don't know if I could do it. Most of my band geek firends say I could. Obviously my BD and the seniors think I have potential. Everyone helped me when my mouthpiece broke at regionals. My BD put me in the highest band that was audition only even though i haven't auditioned. Pleae, i need feedback...
I am still not completely sure if I want to try out or not. I know i might not make it, and that he might leave us sL-less, but I think ti would be better to at least try if everyone thoguht I could do it.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 10:27 am
My advice...go for it. For one thing, I don't think section leaders need to conduct (that's the drum major's job). Since everyone thinks you have potential and you can get people to try, you being section leader would be a good thing for your band. As for marching/playing, there will be others who make up for it while you just focus on marching, and you'll get better with experience.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 4:37 am
i think u could try it 2! i'm goin for dm and that's gonna be harder to do. if i don't make dm i'm gonna try to be woodwinds captain. i really really want to be dm though smile but if you make it as section leader, think of this, it will help you get a scholarship and make it easier to get into the college of ur choice. I'm gonna try to get into the University of Florida which is real hard to get into especially when u r not a straight a student. if you want to be section leader, u don't need to conduct! haha, the only requirement last year at my school was that you had to do an interview. sometimes they'll ask you 2 play, i'm not sure about marching. i know they do that with dm, but idk if they do that with section leaders. my point is...go for it! sorry for the rambling lol i tend to do that smile
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:35 pm
I'm not really sure what conducting has to do with a section leader... either you're that confused with a Drum Major or you're in a very strange school.. not to be mean.
Anyway, I don't see why not, if what you say is true about yourself then you've got quite a good shot at it. Even if you don't make it, you've got two more years to try for it, and if you try for it this year it'll get your abilities more well known to your director and staff (if you have any staff). There's no down side to this for you, as a sophmore (I'm trying to use context clues here) you've really got nothing to lose, you'll always have the time to get better, so there should be no backing down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:00 pm
I know exactly how you feel. But don't worry about what grade you're in or anything, Band doesn't usually work that way. If you feel like you can handle the responsibilities that come with leading a section to success, you should try it.
As far as Conducting goes, if you can learn how to keep a tempo, you should be okay leading sectionals and what not.
And Section Leading should have to do with skill, not ability. I'm the Tuba Section Leader and I'm Third Chair, so don't feel bad.
If Section Leader meant you had to be best at everything, then it should be named Section God. Since it's not... xD
If you want, feel free to PM me about any questions about what section leading is like in a band with 100+ kids. [LPO Alliance Marching Band, Oroville, California.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:25 pm
Wow, I haven't seen this in a whileXD Its been almost haf a year. Just o let everyone know(A bit late) I didn't make section leader...I'm going to try again this year, and try for drum major my senior year.
Except now evryone wants to be section leader>.> The other sophomore who actually cares, and 2 out of 4 freshman are going to try out. My chances are falling lower and lower down the drain. for referance, all these people(inlcuding me) are in the top band, which means they are skilled in both marching and playing(both are looked at during auditions)
My main advantage is that I know what to expect in auditions and can be prepared.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 3:55 pm
Update:
I've decided to skip section elader and try for drum major. ihave officially relaized that nobody in the band wants me to be section leader. They all want the other sophomore to be. The freshman this year will be standing next to me, and then go to her across the section and ask her how to play a note. Apparently, I'm an idiot. Yet it isn't like I can't play the note. I can. I made regionals for petes sake! I don't understand why nobody thinks I know what I am doing.
So, instead of dealing with drama and disapointment, i have decided to jsut skip to trying for drum major. I've been practicing conducting, and have gotten pretty skilled at 4/4 and 3/4 time, but I'm still a bit shaky on everything ese, especially _/8 time. Basically all the factors I put up when first made this topic are fixed. This year I managed to get out of step marking time only a few times, as compared to my always last year, I have almsot all of my music memorize. well, actually, I have it all memorized, it is just a matter of being able to play it. There are a few parts that we all have problems with. Also, this year I marched and played a whole show for the first time, and since have marched and played basically all the show.
I think I could make drum major if I were to get a metronome. Mine is a piece of crap. Lined up with another metronome, started at the same time at the same tempo, it slowly started to slow down. And then after it was about 10bpm slow, it started going faster until it was 10 bpm above the other metronome. Now try and tell me that is a good metronome to practice with>.> With some practice, i'm sure I can do it.
The only thing I am worried about is if I were to end up ebing an only drm major. That would be fine with me were it to be a second or third year being drum major, but for my first year i want someone backing me up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 pm
While conducting is key to being drum major, I personally think that confidence and being outgoing are the most important factors. Be a good example, show early on to everyone that you're the best one for the job. Even though the freshmen don't come to you for help (it's possible they just feel more comfortable asking different people? I'm like that a lot), let them know that you're there if they need you.
As for conducting, which tempos are giving you problems?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 8:02 am
Its not tempos that are giving mw problems. It is the time signatures. Basically anyhing that isn't 3/4 or 4/4 time, I cant do very well.
I'll try to be more outgoing, and I do my best to be confident. Being a clarinet player, confidence is key. If we aren't confident, you can't hear us. I've always beena bit shy, but marching band has been bringing em out of my shell.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
