Now that some of the vitriol has subsided, I think i'll test the waters.
Valerie, I have played in a community band as principal for over twenty
years. There are no auditions for entry, and we as a group put ourselves out
there as a place to play for any adult who enjoyed their high school or college
band experience. the individual level of play varies from excellent to "not so
excellent" (he said euphemistically) but overall the band plays well and has a
loyal following for our concert series.
Several years ago in Chicago I heard a community band from Austin TX, and they
were outstanding. I went backstage and talked to one of the horn players. When
he said there were no auditions to get in, I asked how they were able to
maintain such a high order of difficulty with the music. he said the group was
pretty much self weeding. Those who joined knew pretty quickly if they were in
over their heads or not.
As far as i know, most in the band are happy with their position, and know who
the better players are. That being said, there was a clarinet player who showed
up to a rehearsal some years ago. i recognized her and no one else did. She had
been a music performance major at the local university, and had been awarded a
full ride for her freshman year at the University of Michigan as a performance
major. She switched her major midstream to psychology, graduated, and was
looking to get back into playing again. She was told to play third part by the
first players. She left after two weeks. Here was a player who not only could
have played first, and principal at that, she could have soloed with the group
as an artist. But she left because there was no mechanism in place for her to
advance, and we lost a valuable addition to the group.
I spoke with several "old guard" members about the possibility of instituting a
challenge procedure, and they would have none of it. "I've been playing this
part for too long to give up my position" was what i heard, usually. A shame. I
once left the group for a year, and when I came back, I walked up to the
principal and said "put me where you need me". He told me third horn, and i was
fine, and just glad to be back. After three weeks, I walked into the rehearsal
to find the principal sitting second horn. As i approached the section, he
motioned for me to sit principal. I relate this just to say that i know how
these amateur groups can work. If people are self weeding and willing to cede
parts to other players voluntarily, all is fine. Such is not always the case. I
favor auditions. I have not auditioned for anything since college, and make
several thousand dollars a year as a freelancer in my part of the state
including playing as an extra in the
local professional orchestra more that once. I feel confident enough in my
abilities to accept any challenge from another horn player within the group,
and yes, if an outsider chose to join the group and outplayed me in a
challenge, i would gladly move down, knowing the group had just improved.
(OK...easy enough for me to say...until it happens)
Two more quick points: To Jonathon...yes, Valerie's character WAS maligned.
Reread Pizka's early comment to her original post. I wish i still had it, but
it basically said that she was posing as someone who was trying to be a
"know-it-all". SURELY I am not the only one to have laughed out loud at that
irony!
Second, this list is shared by both pros and we less skilled. I think of myself
as a "semi-pro" on those days when I have great face, and those days when i get
a call for a paying gig, (hopefully those days coincide!), but to most on this
list, i am an amateur. That being said, we on our two levels have different
situations, and different problems and perspectives. This difference, however,
gives no one the right to look down his teutonic nose at any other. Mr. Pizka,
you are a font of knowlege, and a much appreciated one at that, as are many
other of the pros who post on this site, but i respectfully suggest you look up
the word "tact" in an American dictionary, and please consider this quote:
"Diplomacy is the art of stepping on someone's toes without ruining their
shine". I wish I could attribute it, but I'm certain someone on this list can.
_______________________________________________
post: [email protected]
unsubscribe or set options at
https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
