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I'm a trumpet player and I've had marching camp last week and this week at my school, and I've been thinking lately: why are the section leaders always the top player of each section?

Here's the story behind that question.

My school has a new band director this year, but he has picked up the traditions that my old band director used for MB. For section leaders, he just told each section's instructor to pick a section leader. You know what my instructor does? Tells us to play as high as we can.

I suck at going to high pitches. I can go up to G, some times A if I'm not too tired. To some, that is high, but not for the students in my section. I'm a sophomore and a freshman can play higher than I can. The only thing is, I have really great tone. In the end, the senior played the highest, so he got the role of section leader.

The thing is... he's not a good teacher at all. However, I have a history of teaching other students, one example would be teaching little kids how to read. I'm also a good student who always behaves.

...but I don't think I'll ever make section leader. We have a freshman that has been in MB since 6th grade. This is only my second year of marching. So, next year, when that senior leaves, I think it'll be that freshman due to marching experience. The only problem is, she takes everything too seriously and, at times, has an attitude.

So, that's why I ask: why are the section leaders always the top player of each section? Aren't section leaders supposed to be the "good example" or the "role model" for the rest of the section? Why is it that, say, a 2nd part trumpet player can't be section leader?

~band geek now and forever.

Okay. So I have a problem with section leaders being the top chair of the section. The section leader in my section has always been a higher chair than me. When we had chair tests my sophomore year, I did my piece and D did his. I felt so good about it. Then I look at the list and D is a higher chair than me. It was his first year in symphonic band and I had been in it since I was a freshman. He was gloating about it and crap. This year in marching band he is first chair and I am second. I can play higher notes than he can and I already have all of the music memorized and I can do the dances better. I am thinking that the director did it because he has likes male players better than female.

That's the way I wish it would be. I haven't talked to my director about it because he's new and I don't want to give him the impression that he's doing things wrong. However, this method has been going on for years now, so if this happens again next year, you can bet I'm going to talk to him about it.

~band geek now and forever.

That sucks.

My director lets the sections vote at the end of the season, and he ultimately decides based on the popular vote (slightly), seniority, and experience.
That's the only reason I'm section leader right now, I'm the only one who's been in my section for three years. >>

Wow.. I agree with everyone else on the fact that that is a horrible way to choose section leaders. To become a section leader or someone with authority in the band I'm in then you have to take this class that is kind of like an introduction to leadership if you will. I took it this year and became section leader (I'm only a sophomore). But I didn't have much competition since three people were in my section. There was one section that were just chosen because they were rising juniors and the girl that actually took the class AND could play better than both of them combined didn't get it. It's a cruel world. ):

I can't believe anyone would pick section leaders that way.

In high school, a section leader is often the best player, because usually the best player is the most devoted to the band, and therefore the one who works hardest to be section leader. They are also usually an upperclassman, because experience marching (not to mention the authority of being older) is a big factor. However, that should never be a requirement. I would say devotion to the band and ability to teach are the most important qualities in a section leader (or drum major). My director would pick section leaders based on a written paragraph on why you want to be section leader. If you don't want the responsibility, you don't try out. Then he would pick section leaders based on who says things like "I like teaching and want to help the freshmen" rather than "I want to make the freshmen run laps" or something.

For another, high notes don't show who plays best. I'm a horn player, a performance major in college, and I have a really hard time playing high. However, as my horn teacher has pointed out, there is more to it than that. There's articulations, dynamics, low range (although that's usually ignored), lyrical ability, technical ability, and intonation, to name a few. I suppose your instructor's thinking a good high range indicates a good playing ability. I'm sorry you have to put up with him.

we have a chair test for our section leader but im better than most people except 2 in my trumpet section. i can play higher than a higher than a high E above the staff. im a freshman.