Ok I know this may sounds childish, but I like to get the best out of what I do and what I want to do in our high school band. To make the story short and less angsty...Our section leader made field conductor this year. Sight reading tests weren't mandatory for this year because we were so busy. I knew this gave me a good chance to move up from 4th chair. I took the test and recieved a 98/140. For a brief moment I was section leader, then a fellow flutist came in and got a 101. I was a bit disappointed at first, but then I laughed at myself for being so jealous and raged. This girl is cool and I don't hate her at all. She is also a great musician. I decided to just challenger her early to try and move up. I'm not say that I'll win, but usually most other don't care or are too nervous to try and win. Ok I won't go on this sounds lame. Basically I want to get the best out of this. She told me that she wanted to play flute instead of her picc, which I completely understand considering the ones we play are horrible for high A plats. My flute teacher suggested playing my flute, or using my wooden piccolo. I would be fine on either of those, but I want to win it for what it's for. I think as I am typing this I'm answering my own question in a way. I just don't know if taking it down an octave where necessary will help me win. If you have any advice I would greatly appreciate it. Please note that I'm serious about this sort of thing, and I'm sorry if the topic annoys you. I'm going to try to figure something out.

Thanks,
Matt

Well, challenges are intended to see who can play a given piece the best. I would consider taking passages down an octave to be changing the part (probably for the easier), and that's really not likely to help you. You want to show your director that you can play whatever's given to you, not that something is too difficult as written. If you don't think you can win playing the piece as written, maybe you should drop the whole challenge idea. Most composers, particularly for high school repertoire (unless you're in an unusually talented group) don't write terribly difficult piccolo parts, and take into consideration the limits of picc players. Of course, if the composer has written outside of the range of a picc (our field show my sophomore year had extended passages (30 measures) of double tongued 16ths at m.m. 160, going up to D4, and on a piccolo that's not likely to happen while marching), then obviously that's an exception, and there's really nothing wrong with taking it down an octave for those notes outside your range. I guess what I'm saying is that I think you should leave the part alone and play it the best you can, or if you're going to change it, don't challenge.

I guess what I'm saying is that I think you should leave the part alone and play it the best you can, or if you're going to change it, don't challenge.

couldn't agree more.. that's what i'll exactly do. Ooh! and personally i LOVE challenges so i would take it!...when else are u gonna have a chance like this?..i dunno. i take all challenges..

I know this is way off topic, and I'm sorry about that, but did you get my message schoolgirl?

YES I DID! and i emailed you back

Great! Just wanted to be sure!

Thanks for the help. I ended up taking the high Ab down an octave just because it's way too shrill on my piccolo. I'm just going to use the school picc now because it plays much better than mine. I made sure I concentrated on dynamics and articulations. I did very well. Thanks.

ooh! nice job..i'm glad you feel good about yourself. I never feel good about myself after a TOUGH audition. the competition gets to me..eehh. i always look back at my mistakes and the things i could of done better. yeah..i should work on that! it's weird..you always do better than you think.

If you have issues with high Ab on piccolo, try adding the second and third fingers on the right hand (R2 and R3). This usually is used to effect a better response, but could also help with the shrillness.

Thanks for the tip. As for my chair, I don't like to boast or act...well you know, but I made 1st in marching and 2nd in concert and wind ensemble. I just finally feel like I'm placed within the band where I belong if that makes sense. I'm one of the more serious players, and I've been working so long to get there. At the moment I'm being kind of overwhelmed with my junior year, NFA, and college stuff. I've been reading up on some of the local music schools. It's making me see how much harder I have to work.

i'm sure you'll do great.. my friend wakes up 4 in the morning to practice piano for 2 hours..and also practices in the afternoon too. She's very serious!....but she's cool^^..piano ppl..