Mabey he just thinks that she had a bad day and knows she is capable of doing better than she did. Don`t be too hard on yourself or the girl I mean she had no input in where you were put. Anyway think about it, is first chair all that great? I mean you get blamed for all the little mistakes that others play.
Well o.k there might not be that many down sides but what else can you do about it? Be thankful you made first chair and well....you`ll just have to get over it until next year.

do you get to listen to each other`s tapes? That would be odd if you did. Also, just because you played your scales fast and clean does not always guarantee you first chair. You might have played your piece flawlessly, but maybe there wasn`t enough expression in it for your band director. I don`t know how many clarinets there are in your band, but for the ones that didn`t make all county or didn`t audition...does he just randomly stick them in chairs? Or does he listen to their tapes? It would seem odd that he would listen to theirs and then just not listen to 3 or 4 other ones in the section. My band director had 25 clarinets in band when I was there. The cool thing that he did was to let the previous year`s first chair listen over them with him to get an ear for what he`s listening for. really, it was the first chair from the previous year that wasn`t a senior! Also, why would anyone turn in a tape of an audition where they were screeching all over the place and sucking at their scales? That doesn`t seem right either. Second Chair is not bad at all. Think of how many other clarinets CAN`T SAY that they are second chair. Calm down and take a breath! Good job!

-Dennis

Although I am a flute, I understand EVERYTHING about that.

I was in a "honor band" in eighth grade and not in seventh because the teacher had to have another flute go. When I was in eighth grade, at the honor band concert, the wind ensemble and concert band at the high school I was going to also performed. I wanted to make the wind ensemble so bad. After the concert, I glance at the program and all six wind ensemble flutes are seniors. I rejoiced.

About a week later, soon-to-be my friend comes to my band concert. He was in the wind ensemble that year (and is this year). He told me I was a good flutist and I should work hard and make wind ensemble.

All summer, I practiced the audition piece almost every single day. Even when I got braces, I still practiced.

Finally, the day of the audition arrived. My friend who is a junior told me that there were only going to be four flutes in wind ensemble. I just shrugged and went into the audition room.

I did a fantastic job and I knew right then I had made the wind ensemble.

However, the following Friday, the wind ensemble director posted the audition results. I was one away from wind ensemble since they only accepted four. I could have been fifth chair wind ensemble!! I end up being first chair concert band. I semi-enjoy it, but with all the stress of my classes this year, I am glad I`m in the concert band.

You will make first chair!! My friend (who plays clarinet) emailed me and she said that she went from last chair to first chair just by a challenge. You can do it and you will do it this year!!

It`s strange how children get so caught up in this. When I was in eighth grade I was one of only two cellos in the entire school orchestra, and still the two of us were fiercely competitive and constantly dueling for first chair. Now, as an adult, I play in an orchestra with ten cellos, and it is completely a matter of indifference to me what chair I happen to occupy.

I know how you feel, in Wind Symphony I get put on second chair, just because im in three years below the guys in the first chair. Luckily they never turn up to rehersals, so the teacher says I can play first!!!!!! =P

All you can do is wait and SHOW THEM UP!!! SHOW EVERYONE YOUR BETTER THAN THAT GIRL AND GET FIRST NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!

Good luck


P.S. I agree, it doesnt really matter what chair, I guess

-Alan