Well Larry, you do make a point, but???? Why should it be a new and outside player that comes into this section and has to "coach" the conductor as to the need to change the principal. Why hasn't this conductor come to this conclusion by themselves??? Surely the conductor is "competent" enough to be able to hear and make the decision to move this player either down or out. Not out business as players to be downgrading our colleagues: Well maybe if it is a viola player. :) Milton Milton Kicklighter 4th horn Buffalo Phil retired
________________________________ From: Larry Jellison <[email protected]> To: horn list <[email protected]> Sent: Sun, May 23, 2010 11:42:01 PM Subject: Re: [Hornlist] Alternative to auditions in an amatuer setting Jonathan West writes a comprehensive post that some of you strongly agree with, making the case for seniority rule in amateur ensembles. I want to submit a minority opinion, that amateur horn sections thrive when there is a good section leader, the principal, who doesn't necessarily need to be the best player in the section, but he needs to be competent relative to the performance level of the ensemble. Whenever the horn principal is significantly below the competence level of the ensemble, the section does not thrive, has frequent turnover, and often has vacant positions. To a director, when I plead my case to him, I don't need to insist that I am right about this, since all he has to do is recall for all the past years that he hasn't had a stable horn section and that he often has had vacancies in the horn section. I don't feel that I need to plead my case with any of you. If you have an example of a thriving horn section that has an incompetent principal (relative to the level of the ensemble), I would like to hear of your experiences with this. It is great when a principal can also lead, help, set standards, and encourage the other section players. Regards, Larry _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/kicklighgter%40yahoo.com _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
