View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
tptLad Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2024 Posts: 41
|
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:34 am Post subject: Band Director Troubles |
|
|
_________________ "Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin
Last edited by tptLad on Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
tptLad Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2024 Posts: 41
|
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
_________________ "Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin
Last edited by tptLad on Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
JayKosta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 3339 Location: Endwell NY USA
|
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
At this point I recommend -
Ask him how in the future you should notify him about days / reasons that you might miss. email, phone call, etc.
For now, just do a good job playing the parts you're assigned, and let him know that you want to do 'what is necessary' to be assigned the parts you desire. _________________ Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
tptLad Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2024 Posts: 41
|
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 11:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
_________________ "Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin
Last edited by tptLad on Thu Mar 21, 2024 5:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
huntman10 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2017 Posts: 712 Location: Texas South Plains
|
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Not to be a downer, but when is the next performance? Your director may be dealing with performance demands or possibly the fact that rehearsals don't go well when critical players are out. Even when we have uncontrollable events, the realities of performing as a group may mean we accept a temporary step down for the good of the group. It will go a long way to heal relations.
Sometimes we have to let our egos get a little bruised when things unexpectedly go south. Try to show your teacher an attitude that supports the group even from the lower section. It will do a lot for his opinion of you.
Just sayin'. _________________ huntman10
Collector/Player of Fine (and not so fine) Brass Instruments including
Various Strads, Yammies, Al Hirt Courtois, Schilkes,
Selmer 25, Getzen Eternas, Kanstuls (920 Pic, CG)
Martin Custom Large Bore, Lots Olds!, Conns, etc. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
tptLad Regular Member
Joined: 03 Jan 2024 Posts: 41
|
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
huntman10 wrote: | Not to be a downer, but when is the next performance? |
Next performance is in May or maybe end of April. _________________ "Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin |
|
Back to top |
|
|
JayKosta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Dec 2018 Posts: 3339 Location: Endwell NY USA
|
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:49 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This is starting to be a confusing 'management decision' episode.
I doubt that we on TH will be able to get a clear view of the entire situation - from ALL viewpoints. And we'll likely just be doing a lot of 'hypothetical thinking' about it.
Instead of dwelling on 'how / why it happened', the real issue is 'what to do next'. _________________ Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
LittleRusty Heavyweight Member
Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 12681 Location: Gardena, Ca
|
Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
JayKosta wrote: | This is starting to be a confusing 'management decision' episode.
I doubt that we on TH will be able to get a clear view of the entire situation - from ALL viewpoints. And we'll likely just be doing a lot of 'hypothetical thinking' about it.
Instead of dwelling on 'how / why it happened', the real issue is 'what to do next'. |
But. Doesn’t figuring out ‘what to do next’ depend in part on ‘how/why it happened?
From OP’s post it appears OP missed a total of three days school. If it was a week or more I can see the absence of a lead player affecting rehearsals enough to trigger this action. Three days I doubt it.
Perhaps OP wasn’t giving the director what the director wanted and the move in chairs was already being pondered?
Another thought is the purpose of school bands includes teaching all students. Both my high school and college jazz bands spread the solos around so everyone got to do so. This reassignment might be a similar “let’s give everyone a chance” move.
From OP’s post he only is assigned “4th on a couple jazz tunes.” Does that mean he remains in his initial chair for the majority of the tunes? If so I don’t see a reason to get too upset. YMMV
JayKosta wrote: | For now, just do a good job playing the parts you're assigned, and let him know that you want to do 'what is necessary' to be assigned the parts you desire. |
I agree with this plus maybe humbly asking if something you did triggered the change so you can avoid it in the future.
Good luck. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
david johnson Heavyweight Member
Joined: 09 Jul 2002 Posts: 1622 Location: arkansas/missouri
|
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 2:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
I was a director for decades and often moved parts around. I did use chair placement in each section. Sometimes I wanted to give inexperienced players experience on other parts, or wanted to change the section sound.
It was all for the total band sound and members knew it. Absentees for illness never figured in to it. Folks get sick. I even had students miss a week because of religious festivals in a different state. Work for the ensemble and making everything better for your fellow members. If you are physically moved within the section you may get by a jerk, or it may be by a real beauty who has been crushing on you, or vice-versa. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
stuartissimo Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Dec 2021 Posts: 1016 Location: Europe
|
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 4:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
It may also be useful to remember that the number of the chair isn't an indication of skill required, or of the person playing. Regardless how often it's repeated by American band players, it's simply not the case, and thinking that way shows a clear lack of musical understanding.
It's possible that the band director chose to rearrange in this manner to give the OP some room to recover from said illness. While not 'musically better', 1st chair parts are often physically demanding. 'Easing back in with a less demanding part' may be the band director trying to be helpful and/or considerate. There can also be other reasons for the change. Communicating with the band director may clear some things up.
If chair placement is truly used as a form of punishment, then it shows a clear lack of musical insight on the part of the director, and their opinion and instructions should furthermore be considered in that light (i.e. don't put too much value into it). _________________ 1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9090 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
|
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
To me, based on the information given. it seems to me that:
1) the band director needs more consistency
2) the band director has it in for you
3) this may not be the full story and the band director has just had enough _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis." Attributed to Chet
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Billy B Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 6130 Location: Des Moines
|
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2024 7:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
Suck it up buttercup. _________________ Bill Bergren |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|