I agree, there is nothing so great about being first chair. And it gets boring when there is no-one to threaten your position. Yeah, and I`ve played bass clar b4... i like it. Almost better than normal clarinet, well its more fun playing bass in a band than b flat clarinet.

I think that if you want to be a principal player, you have to earn it. Not just whinge cause you didn`t get it. If you want first chair, make a stand. Show your band director that you`re capable. But don`t bitch about the first chair players. Coz in addition to having the solos, the first chairs also have to help, guide and lead the rest of the section and no-one will want a leader who treats anyone who is better in a bitchy way.

I know this from experience. I`ve been principal and section leader in 2 bands and 3rd chair in a symphonic wind ensemble and I`ve found that the only way to get a principal spot is to work HARD. I worked harder than anyone else in the band which is why I got the spot. I would have no problems with someone moving up and challenging me. If they`re better, then they can go for it.

Besides, sometimes in pieces of music, 2nd chair is not only more interesting but harder. And wouldn`t you rather play bass clarinet or Eb of which there is only one player?

people think that being first clarinet is easy b/c you get all the melody parts and director pays attention to you first...that is so NOT TRUE...being a principal clarinet (or even playing first part) is a lot more difficult than it looks....most of your notes are in the stratosphere, and everyone expects you to pick up the music like that ::snaps fingers:: and thinks that you know how to read every rhythm. Unfortunately for my school this year, the freshmen haven`t been taught as much as the rest of us had at that stage, and we missed out on playing "Festive Overture" (with one of the awesomeist clarinet solos!) because our section as a whole wasn`t strong enough...people put a lot of pressure on the 1sts, and usually tend to not like them too much...it isn`t fair....anyone can achieve playing first, they just have to try a little harder...

I play first chair clarinet in the county wind band, but second in a community band... and bassoon in the county orchestra!

I used to play baritone sax in the band where I play first clarinet but to be honest, after about 6 months I was practically crying to get off it, it drove me insane... the parts were sooo boring. When I got a GOOD part it was so fun and funky, but those parts were rare. Now bassoon, although still a bass instrument, gives me a lot more interesting parts and is generally such a COOL instrument to play. i love it.

When I`m on first there`s me and my friend Jo who are about the same, then Claire who is AMAZING and is like diploma level... everyone looks up to her. She`s so good!

I`m the first chair of our section in our band and all the upper classman hate me because im a freshman none of the stuff we do is hard its sooooooo easy and they hate me for it and the oter reason they hate me is because ive only been playing a yeer and a half i played trumepet befor that and now im learning the flute and oboe not that im swiching in the band but they all just freakin hate me they`ve tried to challenge me but they just cant beat me i just hate it when people say stuff like the directors blind because whoever the first chair is suxs they just need to shut theire mouths alittle more and practice

I do not really blame my director because he really goes by how long you have been playing and if you are committed. For me I have more of a problem with my orchestra director because I play in a professional polka band plus I practice and the other girl does not. I am a lot better then her but she instists on playing favorites with the other girl. When I got the second clarinet music for it I told her that it was too easy and I did not want to mess around and waste my time on easy music and then I switched to percussion for orchestra. Plus I think the fact that I am blind is playing a role in the decission. But our band director is not that way. He sees that I work harder and put me on the first tenor part for jazz band. Plus he has me on second clarinet for concert band because There are already three seniors and another junior on the first part and I see why he is there and not me. But a lot of times people can be really unfair.

....im only 14 n i have been playin 1st clarinet in my skool wind band 4 2 yaers now...yea bcoz im da youngest clarinet with higher grades dan da rest of dem i experience a lot of bitchy comments 4rom da rest of da clarinetz n if dey r readin i want 2 tell deam da...GET A LIFE U LOSER FREEKZ IF U WANT 2 B 1ST CLARINET...ACTUALLY CUM 2 BAND PRACTICE INSTEAD OF SMOKIN BEHIND DA MOBILES....U ASSES.......

I know what you guys mean I`ve had first chair since I WAS 9 and ita an even bigger responsibility where I go to school now because you have to be the section leader and you help all the kids in your row and you have to make sure they know all the right beats and measures. And you have to make sure that they behave on concerts! ANd peole are jealous of me!

The thing is that I do not hate the people that are on first chair. To tell you the truth I am friends with her. I just hate it when after we get the music and I went to ask a question I heard my orchestra teacher saying that she needed to have someone there that would know it right away and that I would not learn it right a way. The worst part is that when the concert came I could still hear that she was not playing the high D in the piecec that I knew I could play and that I would have had the piece ready for the concert. If I can have the district music memorized in the month and a half that I had and still get the score that I did then I most certainly could have had the piece ready. Me being blind is not and excuse to keep me off of first chair.

I hate having chair tests! we just had one today 1-24-05 and i got 1st chair and now the person that was first chair before hates me cause i beat her
i think that is called jealusy

i practice whenever i get the chance which is not that often and i still stink compared 2 every1 in my class! i am like first chair on 3rd clarinet... which is pretty bad.. but i am challenging myself for next yr!

i practice whenever i get the chance which is not that often and i still stink compared 2 every1 in my class! i am like first chair on 3rd clarinet... which is pretty bad.. but i am challenging myself for next yr!

i practice whenever i get the chance which is not that often and i still stink compared 2 every1 in my class! i am like first chair on 3rd clarinet... which is pretty bad.. but i am challenging myself for next yr!

me and the girl next to me compete for the solo`s, so now we are both the pricipal clarinet players, both have r13 prestiges. Now we split up the solo`! she plays half i play the other, try it out and see if it works for you!