that`s it, i figured i was not good enough to go pro (on the lovely clarinet of course)
i didn`t take any grade exams
i feel that i suck
never won anything for it
-->first chair means nothing
disapponied, i wanted to become a full time performer or band director,
now i guess i`ll just become a boring social science person
so sad.....
should i give up my dream????

why not double major....music is for those who will work to be good. so just double major

Don`t give up! Maybe all you need is some extra tutoring. Talk to your teacher about your frustration and if you can`t talk to him/her, then find another teacher who can really help you grow to be the player you dream of being. Have you considered a music teaching/education major? That may be a way to share your love of the clarinet with others while you work to improve your skills.

Also,plan to take heavy core lessons during the summer and practice till you drop(not literally). It is much harder to keep up with music when you have all the other classes to keep up with as well.

Hey, just because the system is set up for four years, doesn`t mean that is your only option. Maybe you just need a little extra time to make it work.

Don`t lose heart!

No, no, no. Don`t be like that! Playing a musical instrument was never meant to be easy but its so rewarding. Don`t settle because it seems tough right now. Talk to your teachers and other people who play the clarinet. They`ll understand and listen and be able to give you some pointers. If its what you want to do, don`t settle for a job that you know you`ll regret in 5 years time. Life`s too short.

Alyssa

hmm, if you think you suck, then don`t play
no big deal, it`s not like the music`s lost
i don`t care what you become

you know what, music are for those brave enough to admit their mistakes and disciplined enough to correct them. NOt for people who know their mistakes and allow them to conquer their dreams. to me that is an ignorant thing to say.

OMG thank you! that was really rude and awful!

don`t give up! you`re not alone!

ps; worrying about chair placement test tmr.
hope i get first chair again

Don`t give up! Everyone gets discouraged sometimes. A couple of years ago I went through a few months of being completely discouraged with my playing. I would imagine that there would not be one professional player who hadn`t gone through some periods of feeling bad about their playing. The difference between them and the people who didn`t make it is that they didn`t give up.
The fact that you haven`t done any grade exams doesn`t mean that you aren`t any good. They are just a way of measuring where you are. The main advantage they provide is a structured way of learning.
If you really think you aren`t good enough, then do something about it instead of coming here and saying "I`m not good enough"- self-pity achieves nothing. Go out and get the Baermann or Klose methods, and practice from them all the time until you are happy with your playing. Then keep playing from them to maintain that level.