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 Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:06 pm
We have a sectional for Alto saxes in band on Monday, and I'm the SL.
We REALLY need a sectional. The grade 9s are really bad, and whenever the grade 10s aren't there, I get a bunch of e-mails on facebook saying,
"Ohh, the grade 9 saxes SUCK! They can't play anything! And they're so out of tune. Especially that one kid..... etc."
I don't really know what to do. I don't want to say, "Hey, you guys.... can you not play from bar x-y, you kinda sound really bad. kthanks razz " But if they do..... it WILL sound really bad.
Some of them aren't THAT bad, and some are even friends with me, so I'm not sure how to handle this.
They really need to be whipped into shape. And us 3 grade 10s having to play over the 4 grade 9s obviously won't work for long. Any advice?
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Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:17 pm
I suggest you put your game face on, the leadership face. Obviously it isn't very fun, but that's the responsibility that comes with being a section leader. What my section leader this year did was made us all play and then he'd get all frustrated and throw the gock block and the drum stick all over and jump and spaz and etc. Please don't do this. My ex-section leader went down the line and listened to us all. Make us play it, give us several chances and gave us tips to improve, she was nice about it to boost our confidence because most of us are terrified of playing alone. If they're really bad, cut them out and tell them to come back when they've learned it, and you can put them back in if they pass. They should understand that you that's what you have to do to encourage them to practice.
My band does regular "Pass offs" when you have to stand in front of the section leader and mark time and go through your entire part in front of them. It's terribly nerve-racking so...yea.
Good luck!
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:25 pm
Um. Id say spend the first couple minutes with your section talking about some things that need to be done. Like beyond a level of music, "One House Divided Cannot Stand" Get it? Your band will be VERY unsuccessful if a section cannot cope with eachother. If the 9th graders are as horrible as your making them seem, YOUR THE SL. Teach them a thing or two, instead of trying to overplay them. And tell the other members of the section to either show up or dont complain about the others.
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:48 pm
I know how you feel. You don't have to just outright tell them that suck you can just tell them that this part of the music is bad and we should work on it more. Or you can just tell them that they suck. I'm in the lowbrass and we never listen to our drum major or band director so we're pretty much oblivious to how bad we sound. Sometimes I have to step up and tell them that they pretty much suck and we should work on the part a little bit more. Sometimes you have to be mean to get it through other's heads. And don't worry they're only freshmen I'm guessing. It's their first year in highschool band. They'll get much better as the year progresses. Good Luck!
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:53 pm
Your not there to tell them what they can't do, you are there to tell them how.
During sectionals, explain to them how to play the piece. If they won't listen, go round everyone in the section and have them play particularly bad parts. For those wh struggle with it real bad, have a private group instruction with them. What I mean by that is teach them how to do it while everyone else watches. This is a good wy to whip them into shape without going up to them and telling them they don't practice(*coughcough* my sl*coughcough) If all goes well, they will be embarassed. Because they won't want to be embarassed in front of the whole section again, they may actually practice. At least, this works for my sctionXD
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