It`s true, if they realy want first chair, they should ern it first.
By the way, I love bass clarinet!

u first clarinet ppl r unlucky. i play second and sometimes first clarinet but i dont have a problem with the other first...and neither do the rest of the clarinets..

"i meant bass clarinet
like drop first chair soprano bb clarinet for bass clarinet"

why? i`ll tell you why! i`ve played the bass clarinet for 3 years, and it`s the greatest insturnment in the world! when you go to lower insturnments, if you`re the only one playing that insturnment, you get solos all the time. you`re not stuck with 8 other people playing the same insturnment. that sucks, huh? well, I`ve played every clarinet there is, and now I`m playing the contrabass. it`s the best insturnment in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that`s great.....
we have chair tests every term

yeah, wait until you kids get into high school.

usually people who arn`t the best in the section get first chair, how fair it is

Im first chair and `my section` really looks up to me i think. they ask me for help when they need it, and they admire that i can play all the music. i have been first chair for about 3 years straight, and im loving every secind. yeah i would definately work on sightreading and accuracy, it helps sooo much during playing tests.

I have no regrets on being first chair. I`ve been it since I started in 5th grade and currently I`m only in 9th grade. I do admit though, people could hate you just for a chair placement. Then again, what`s anyone have to complain about when they GET a chair to sit in while playing? Some tips for clarinet playing to shoot for the top -

*Play more than one instrument: I do a little more than doubling in my school`s band. I play Bb Soprano, Eb Soprano clarinet in addition to Oboe and Flute. Join drumline too if your school offers it, it helps with rhythms.

*Good site reading is a must: That`s a way to get your band director`s attention. If s/he can hear you play the song before everyone else, it can really stick out in his/her mind when chair placement time comes around.

*I`d say practice, but honestly I don`t do much of it.

*Join other bands: Look out for Youth Symphonies, or if you are really good, then try community symphonies. Other good opprotunities are when there are county and state bands in your area.

*Optomize your clarinet: Get a mouthpiece/ligature/reed combination that you are most comfortable with. I play with the Rico Mouthpiece my Buffet B12 came with(I`m looking for the perfect Crystal Mouthpiece), a Rovner ligature and Grand Concert Reeds.

I hope this helps! Go out and challange your "EVIL" section leaders :-D Or, become better to save your spot from those against you!

i don`t understand why the other clarinet players in my section are like that too. I play first clarinet, and they have something against me. When i was still 6th chair, everyone was so nice. If they really want that chair so badly, then they should practise for it, not hate whoever`s on first chair. Gees.

Anyway, the advice is good above,

i don`t understand why the other clarinet players in my section are like that too. I play first clarinet, and they have something against me. When i was still 6th chair, everyone was so nice. If they really want that chair so badly, then they should practise for it, not hate whoever`s on first chair. Gees.

Anyway, the advice is good above,

I`m not first chair this year as a sophomore, but in the past i have been. I`m in my school`s top concert band, so naturally it`s unrealistic to expect to be number one yet. If i were in the basic 10th grade band i`d likely be first, considering last year in 9th grade band i was.

My goal for junior and senior year is to be first chair. Currently i am 5th, with 3 seniors and 1 junior ahead of me. I`d like to say i have a shot at at least 2nd next year, but i guess i should just keep practicing and hope for the best.

Hey dude, thanks for noticing the tips Glad they could help someone!

pround first chair at my school`s top concert band
the rest of the clarinets in my band are so....

my goodness,just practice more often if you want to be 1st chair. but i play bass clar. and thats because i was 1st chair in regular clar. but being 1st chair doesnt mean anything...so dont get affended if you`re not 1st!

my goodness,just practice more often if you want to be 1st chair. but i play bass clar. and thats because i was 1st chair in regular clar. but being 1st chair doesnt mean anything...so dont get offended if you`re not 1st!