In my band class a girl that was in the top band last year quit but recently came back. When we got our parts she was ahead of me WHICH ISNT THE BIG DEAL (trying not to make it sound as if im conceded about myself) I have been playing a couple of years and skiped 3 band levels in one year. But when I asked our director why I did not get 1st (im right next to her) he said, "Because you are in a lower grade." does that make sence to you? still not trying to sound rude but I AM WAY BETTER THAN HER!!! what should I do, deal with it? or what?

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By the way im only in 7th, she is in 9th

Hey, this is how life is in middle/high school. The older classmen get prioity. It's like that for me too. but don't get discouraged! BE HAPPY for the 1st chair, and be friends with her/him. I used to worry and think about chairs, but that's not the point of band. You still get the musical experience
i could complain too but i'm happy where i sit! I sit 5th chair in band at highschool. Even though, I'm the only one in the flutes that made it to district honor band. this is year is ALL-STATE for me
the music you make is the fun part! ^^

I agree with Schoolgirl. Once you leave school, what chair you had in middle/high school makes no difference. It's bothersome that some directors choose to seat their sections based on things other than skill (and this still happens at the college level, and even beyond), but there's not a whole lot you can do about it, and it's not really worth worrying about. Play your parts, keep practicing, and in the long run you'll be better off than her if you really are the stronger player.

Get ready because it's often that way as an adult too when you have to get out and get a job.

Flutist06 you hit what I was asking for right on the nail!

Awh.. that really bites! That is not fair at all, but unfortunately like others did say, seniority still rules a lot. Have you though about asking your BD if you could have do a seating test challenge? Maybe he/she might welcome the idea of change, who knows. Just keep on pluggin away and you will get your time.

don't worry about it you know your better and thats what counts don't discouraged and try your best i went to band playing glock last year i completely sucked but i was the only one and i couldn't ready music very well but this year as our band is small (last year there was about 7 of us) i will play flute with the other 2 flautists who go and i will sound completely naf compared to then as one is grade 5 the other is grade 3 and i am taking grade 1 somethime near christmas so don't be discouraged when you go out into a real orcestra/band when your ollder it won't make much differance that an older person got first chair just think when she leaves school first chair will be yours anyway

I'm sorry Leigh, but I have the hardest time trying to read your posts. Could you please try to include some punctuation and capitalization? It will really help us understand what you're saying.

Ditto Chris. I admit, my grammar is poor but out of courtesy to the other board memebers, I work on it all the time and always try to use a spell checker. Some times people will skip over posts that are hard to read and I am sure you don't want that happening

Seriously Leigh there is a thing called preview that you can look at and make sure you'r article doesn't suck. Plus dont worry about not getting first chair. Last year I only got 1st chair once even though I was probably the best sax player in my band. I didn't even make the 1 band but i made second highest band for my school and i get first chair every week and im against people who have been playing 1-2 years longer than me!

Seriously Leigh there is a thing called preview that you can look at and make sure you'r article doesn't suck.

It'd be a lot easier to be grammatically and orthographically correct, as well as clear and articulate, if we were allowed to edit these things. "Preview" helps a little, but since I know what I mean, I think at first I've written it. I normally only discover errors obliquely, when I've had a minute or two to forget precisely what I meant to write.

Dear Leigh:

This might be redundant, since I think I posted a response, earlier, but:

I recall, in my high-school year(s), that I was not chosen for 1st chair position, due to "politics".

What I mean to say, is that the flutists (in band and orchestra) who were chosen above me, happened to be studying (private lessions) with the band instructor.

I wasn't --- so (he) chose two other flutists ahead of me.

Again, politics, at its worst. And yes, it happens in high school.

I was relegatd to "third" flutist --- and assigned to play the Piccolo(gasp!).

I felt that I was more accomplished than the two flutists who were placed above me (principal and assistant principal), but, that was MY opinion.

I think Kara said it best: there should be the right to "challenge" --- or audition for "principal" flute, when you feel that you are being overlooked, politics aside.

The major symphonies now recognize this --- so why shouldn't high school students be allowed the same? The operative word is, after all, TALENT.

IF you think you're better --- then "challenge" them!

But, I feel, just "roll with the punches" --- and be the best you can be. And who cares, in high school what "chair" you have to accept? Just recognize it as "politics" at work, and it has NO reflection upon YOUR abilities or future endeavors.

Hope this help, from someone who's been there.

Regards, Jim Millen

I think it's un fare how he did that !GRRRRRRRRRRR...... I mean you are better and yet he did that!!! grade shouldn't matter!!! the way you play is the reason he sould pick her!!!GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR........RAWWWWWWRRRRRR!.

A freshman was chosen this year to be first chair instead of one of my friends at my old school.
My friend is a senior and way better so I've heard. It's so weird, though...but I dont know. That's so weird! I think chairs should be based on talent ... not seniority.

I'm sorry...

The same thing happened last year to my section leader who was a junior then. They held auditions to replace 2 people who had graduated for wind ensemble (our highest band)because they were going to the MidWest conference. Two seniors were chosen over her even though she was better cuz they were seniors. She managed to cinch the 1st chair though this year amid extreme competition = ). Plus the 2nd chair in that band is a sophomore and the 3rd chair is a freshman.