Reality Check: Principal Chair

Reality checks are hard, but trust me, they're worth it.
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[@alibaebae5787]

There's a lot of charged air in our flute section bc of chair placement... I feel like the problem lies within our mindset of "I HAVE TO BEAT EVERYONE". Chair placement should be seen as something to motivate you to practice more and be better than you were before, but it has turned a lot of relationships sour in our section... The best solution should be to change our mindset to "I HAVE TO BEAT MYSELF AND BE BETTER THAN I WAS BEFORE" instead of aiming to beat everyone else. I just feel like a lot of tension arises bc of chair placement and bad relationships with a member of your section can be avoided by aiming to beat yourself instead of beating them. At the end of the day, our goal should be to make good music, regardless of our chair placement :)

[@nikkita1120]

Lol she called it. I'm procrastinating practicing my audition piece

[@eamondunbar8229]

Omg same

[@adelinepenguin5365]

Haha same same im procrastinating off practicing for my band audition which is on the 15th of january

[@me-oo1fr]

@@adelinepenguin5365 Lol mine's in two days x-x

[@beniaminr9587]

I started to watch this channel, because I started to think about learning flute and I am so glad i did. I'm still figuring out how to start, but this channel is so much more. Joanna is such a warm and wise person.

[@nicoleradley672]

Hi, thank you for all of your videos, they are very useful, never stop posting!!! I'm in a school orchestra, but there isn't really a principal flutist.But it will help, so thank you.Love all of your videos!

[@markgaddie6290]

I love that little blue plushie in the background:)

[@allisonserenafaithe80]

Actually Joannna, I was practicing my flute (I'm a flute and oboe player) while you were saying that I was procrastinating. P.S. I was playing Minuet (L'Arlésienne)

[@katelyn2100]

I'm second chair in our Wind Ensemble, but with that said, the first 2-3 people play first part. However, I have at times felt lesser than the girl in front of me. When we get our playing tests though, I'm always one point behind her and I tend to think of it as temperature. If we see the temperature as say 79, we think it's hot, but if it's actually one degree cooler, we can't tell the difference. So really, this girl and I are on the same level. By the end of the day, we are friends and that's all that matters. That and being in tune.

[@ginagamba]

Back in high school,I was that person not in first chair but who worked very hard at my instrument when I had something I was excited about. I always looked at the first chair with a mix of admiration, envy and feeling a little intimidated. I didn't have formal private lessons for a long time and most of the feedback I got from other people in the band (and from family for that matter) was negative. It HURT and I've often thought about quitting, but it also spurred me on to keep working on it and asking for help not just from the principal flutist, but other section leaders (a nice saxophonist in high school once gave up his time to help me with the weird syncopated rhythms of a Duke Ellington song we were playing) and people in higher positions, random friends who *happen* to be flute teachers.

[@jaenam4030]

hi, im a graduate middle schooler that has been watching your videos for a year now. i have played the clarinet for 5 years now. but i am completely attracted to the characteristics of the flute,i also love your videos burt never managed to subscribe until now.

[@XxCookieMonshterXX]

audition results came out and i found out that im principal of violin 2! knew i needed to rewatch this

[@timmylang1499]

I once had a jerk of a principal chair, who I would always compete with because that was my coping method. After a very long argument during band once, he stomped my flute to pieces. And that's how I got a free flute and principal chair lmao

[@rosemarycrafting1202]

Niiiiiccccceeeeee

[@jadeintheparke1]

Hoooolllyyyy Crap!

[@rosemarycrafting1202]

i kinda hope my principal flutist will throw my flute on the ground now. I do need a new flute.

[@timmylang1499]

Rosemary Crafting *"accidentally" drops flute* oh noooo I need a new flute. Parents where are you?

[@Vivinsane]

What a doche 😂

[@TheAndrewBarber]

For me I am just there to make good music. No matter what part I'm going to play, all the parts are important in some way and some people like playing solos more than others.

[@tanurse3726]

Omg, I can't stop looking at your earrings. It looks like the Azumi logo.

[@tmdsb2655]

I'm first chair oboe :D There's only two oboes :(

[@xAlphaBxtch]

I'm first chair piccolo in our high school Wind Ensemble but there's only one piccolo xD

[@sabrinarosenelson1842]

We only have one oboe

[@allisonserenafaithe80]

I will be first chair oboe, I'm the only oboe

[@jonathandelange259]

I return to this video every so often because it helps me stay grounded. I share your opinion. I am a writer and it's what I'm good at. Last night I encountered a music student who decided to call the repertoire I have chosen for my character to play "cheap". There was a total lack of encouragement on his part and I found myself feeling small. Here I am though, watching your video and I feel better. I'm not curing cancer with my writing, but if one kid reads what I write one day and picks up an instrument because of it then I win. I feel sometimes people lose perspective of the fact that music adds beauty to the world and that's because of snobbery and the perception that we as writers/artists/musicians are better than other people. We're so not! We're just all doing our bit to add a little bit of beauty... okay. Idealist rant over. Needed to get that out.

[@mikesaxclar]

Such wise words! Just get to know them and it all smooths out.

[@itscalen6305]

Ive been practicing for an hour attempting to perfect a song. I am aiming for 1st-2nd chair. Wish me luck!

[@MateoFrancisco]

I really like the spot and camera position in this video!

[@showmikgupta1625]

Planet Mateo I

[@melissaq8854]

my high school band director was so confused when she met my flute section my freshman year. she was new to our district and i went to a very small school. she always made the joke that we werent the "typical flute section" because we were never at each others throats.

[@Owlsbreath]

Sometimes I have this feeling that because I'm the only flute graduate student there's a lot of pressure in me to be on top of my game and ahead of everything. And sometimes it's overwhelming. Also I really want principle chair this coming fall season because our university orchestra is going to be playing the incidental music to midsummer night dream and the scherzo solo is there and we're also going to playing pictures at an exhibition.

[@jondishmonmusicandstuff2753]

I was principal chair for many years as a youngster. I will never forget when I was first chair sax in my college band. First of all, it can be political and cutthroat. I was always on top of being able to play my parts hence I was first chair. But I remember there was a time I got injured for some reason and was on crutches. I forget what I had done. So I was informed that a person down a couple of chairs from me wanted to challenge me for my chair. I looked at him and I said..."so you took this time to challenge me when you see I am injured?" He smiled and said "yup...this is a perfect time." Well here a bit of a tidbit for people out there. Do not make a first chair person mad and do not mess with a Taurus. SoI said "fine...let's do this." Inside I was furious but confindent. Of course I beat the pants off of him and he slithered back to his chair..down by the river and all was good. HAHAHAHAHAH Soon I will be challenging for a chair in an orchestra in Indiana in the flute section. I am damn good but we shall see....we shall see.

[@TheEpsilon972]

You're describing the "black" and "white" swan complexe. Good Luck on your journey.

[@vhslia1737]

I was 2nd chair and first chair moved to another class- it's a lot of responsibility and i have anxiety so it's pretty scary . .

[@Borderlands2lova]

I like how you know I'm procrastination... I have to read 4 books this summer for school. Hahaha

[@gracehoman66]

Ugh so down to earth, I love this.

[@lilly._.zephfam7573]

I'm a clarinet player,and there is a honers festivle that's going on in march,and my band teacher told me I'm most likely the 1st chair in the clarinet section...save me

[@billythecow7175]

I love your earings

[@kylejonathan8247]

Personally, I played principal chair a few times. I wasn't the best at times and there were times that I was the best (not to brag). And there were times where I was average.

[@trashvideocommentator2167]

im 2 minutes in and when she said its all in your head, i was like "wait a minute whats she talking about again" i think im on crack without the crack

[@rosemarycrafting1202]

Poro just chilling in the back playing league of legends on his mac

[@jessie.marie.03]

My 1st chair test is on Friday and the 7th grade flute class has 15 flutists. I know for sure that I will get into the top 5 because there are only like 4 people that are really good in my class😧

[@kyndallgunderson246]

Today, my school band got our woodwind and brass chair results, turns out, I got 1st chair, in MARCHING BAND, while being a FRESHMAN. Yet I believe that section leaders who marched 2 or 3 years are more important. Relatable content though...

[@NoodleyBits]

I got principle flute by default, I'm the only one. With my band, whoever has been in the section longest gets principle, unless they don't want it and they can work out within the section who plays what part, sometimes we switch off, depending on the piece.

[@Sunkuwong]

Ha! There are only 2 flutes, including me, and I think she sounds great! Sadly, we’re outnumbered 72 to 2 god help me

[@reggiekai808]

I actually have a really hard topic to talk about, my band director has favoritism. I’ve spoken to my friends in my school band and they also see that favoritism happening. When you look at it, most of the first chairs in our band are his favorites. He also does this thing where he posts pictures of students appreciating how much of a good student they are. Well, why wouldn’t you just post a picture of the entire band because we all personal feel like we try are best in band.

[@convection7411]

Ha! I'm not procrastinating! I'm watching and playing my flute :D.

[@cryspong]

I can relate everything you said in this video. It is really such a burden to be the Principal Chair of my section, you are the one player that can plays fairly well and you got to lead them. But honestly when I am trying to lead my section, nothing is working at all because of my selfishness and scoldings I gave them. I want to be their friends, I want to know them more... Something must have always been blocking my way.

[@spencerwhite7447]

My name is Spencer, and I play the trombone. In later years, I wish to major in music, in fact I often watch your videos to see what it's like in college. Outside of my school band, I take lessons, attend camps, and participate in a local community band and a trombone choir. As a young musician I think I'm pretty active, which has generally made me a pretty good player over the years. I'm extremely competitive and I love doing clinics and competitions, still yet I'm not the school's first chair. I'm actually the school's 3rd chair; the two players that sit ahead of me are two years older than me, and they've only ever played at school, and definitely don't have any I plans to do music in the future. They're both rather cocky, and most of the time they tease me about their superior chair, but we're still pretty close friends. Having said all of this, I'd like to ask for your advice: How do I cope with being beaten by people who don't try nearly as hard as me?

[@TheAndrewBarber]

It's only because they have more experience than you. And even then maybe your band director only puts them in the first 2 chairs because of experience and seniority. Just wait your turn and ignore them because in reality they are just scared that you are much younger than them and could be better than them.

[@spencerwhite7447]

Also, the school chairs are the only thing they've ever beat me at. I've out chaired both at a clinic we've all gone to, and out scored them on an audition for another, and one of them pretty significantly. It's not a matter of being worried how others see me, but it is. It's definitely the wrong thing to think about, but I've but a lot into it, and to them, none of the stuff that, in my opinion, defines how good you are as a player, matters to them. The only thing they've ever beat me is the only thing that is and will ever be the thing they care about: their chair in high school band program. It's seems narcissistic, but It's discouraging to have peers see me a third chair trombone player, whens there's so much more to it than they'll ever know. I've not ruled out the possibility that they're quite simply better than me, or faster learners, but if that be the case, how?

[@TheAndrewBarber]

Spencer White It looks like it's just all about seniority. Your band director is just putting them in the first chairs bc of their experience. I have the same thing going on in my school that i see in multiple sections. for example in the flute section at my school there is a sophomore flute and she is VERY good she got first chair in allstate band she's already in the top band at school but she is third chair. all 3 of the first chairs are good but she probably deserves a higher chair. The only reason i believe my director wont give it to her is bc she is a sophomore while the first chair is a senior (going to major in music) and the second is a junior. Don't get me wrong they are all amazing flute players and are all probably on equal playing fields but seniority is a bigger factor than it may seem because think about it...it's their last chance in high school to play the first part and have the solos ect.... so just wait your turn and keep up the good work and when you're a senior and another child protege comes along that's (possibly) better than you THEN you will understand. - Make some good music

[@parkthemusician]

I'm a second chair saxophonist and the girl who is first chair plays so loudly and messes up so much and because she plays so loudly she messes me up and of course her mom is like the leader of the PTA and is so peppy and obnoxious she is the most perfect little princess and she thinks we're like besties I really don't know what to do

[@jenniferflores4432]

What if your friend plays the same instrument as u and your in first chair but she keeps trying to take first chair away from u?

[@gjana]

I don't like the way our teacher place chairs. They make you play your chromatic scale as quickly and precisely as possible. Some people can play their scales like a boss, sure, but they are just awful at playing.

[@sunn7045]

This is why I don't really want to be principal chair, lots of responsibility to take care of your section, but at the same time, I feel like I can lead the section a lot better. I've been playing in a band that most of the members are a year older than me and next year the musicians at my age level will come into my higher level band(because we get older and get more skilled at our instruments). I've been told my some of my friends(in that normal level of the band) that about 1/4 of the flutes(I play flute) don't really care _or_ just don't really know how to play/don't really practice. I know that next year, I'm going to struggle a lot with this principal chair/"I'm better than you at the flute" thing. Part of me wants to be like a general at a boot camp(I know I'm crazy) but I know that I can't' just yell at them and they'll magically get better. The other part of me just want to help but my patience is kind of limited(I have two younger siblings). So I don't really know what to do next year. I know that some people can play better than me and I'm totally fine with that, but at the same time, I just want to help other flutists to become better players and so that the entire band sounds good. Do I go for first chair?

[@sunn7045]

(Sorry for leaving you this massive wall of text)

[@ecpflute]

Hello, I just wanted to say, I love all your videos, and please never stop posting. Anyway, you've now talked about being 1st chair, do you have any advice for people who aren't like me? Although it is a competitive band, it's still really demoralizing when i don't get 1st. Also, where I live everything is full of bias. So for example, a girl in our flute section quit band and our band director tried to do everything they could to get her back. Well she's doing band next year but what really makes me angry is that she didn't even have to audition, they automatically put her in the top band and probably first chair. She spent zero time working on the audition while a some other people and I spent upwards of 11 hours trying to perfect to our best ability. Do you have any suggestions? Should I confront my band director, sadly I can't just move schools because that happens in the area around me. Sorry for the rant. Lol. Thank you so much.

[@JewelBlueIbanez]

When there’s only two or three oboists in a section and each plays their own part, if first chair oboist for some reason can’t make a performance unexpectedly, would the second oboist then take over the first oboist’s part for the concert?

[@jonascarlson5666]

I couldn't stop laughing at Jo's dangly earrings 😂

[@kitty_ts311]

The first chair is for the kid that have time to practice and they don’t have a job that giving by their parents and their parents support them also they have a good instruments(their own instrument). ------------------------- I’m in the last chair from my entire section my flute doesn’t work that well I used school flute I don’t have time to practice because I have to babysit my baby sister my parents doesn’t support me I have to clean up the house make food do my own laundry. ------------------------- So everyone doesn’t the same opportunity to do what they like or love that’s why for those that not a section leader doesn’t mean they don’t care for what they doing if they don’t care they would have drop the class from the beginning. ------------------------- I love band either the concert band or marching band but I don’t have that opportunity to do what I love.

[@joemagnets9940]

Jo, you must have great parents that I'd bet didn't have to tell you anything, but taught by EXAMPLE.

[@hannahmorgan7213]

Advice on coping with snobby Principals who don't actually deserve First Chair? My Band Director made a mistake in the seating chart and put me second chair instead of first, even though he told me I scored First Chair, and the Principal is super snobby about it. Help!

[@elmivanzyl8371]

Hi!!! I really love your vids and you make me feel more motivated to practice my instruments (cello, recorder, piano) You made me realise that I should appreciate the people that support me (my mom, dad, brother, my three best friends, piano teacher, cello teacher and choir/recorder teacher). I have recently auditioned for the orchestra near me (it's a great orchestra) I thought my audition was crap, but when we went to the teacher there (soon to be my new cello teacher) she said she has put a recommendation in for me..... I was really cool..... until I got outside, when I got outside I COMPLETELY freaked out. I have heard a lot of people saying that their families aren't that supportive of their dream to become a musician, my mom and my one grandmother were both music teachers (so I was born into the musician thing). My grandmother is very supportive of me and started teaching me piano when I was 5 months old (I know that's very young, but believe me I'm not that good. I am in no way a child prodigy) The problem is my other grandmother and her side of the family (also a few of my other friends)..... most of them HATE the idea of me becoming a musician and it makes me feel very discouraged. But then I watch your vids and then I'm fine!! =)

[@andrewcardona9073]

This is me I'm my section leader in my band and the rest of the flutes are doing flute for fun while me I'm really serious about flute

[@whatsupangel09]

This blew my mind

[@eight429]

i'm first chair flute *i'm the only flute*

[@huskypuppypaws4850]

that was long

[@maddiew1580]

So I'm in the situation where my band director can be a total jerk by playing favorites. And trust me, you do not know favorites until you've met my band director. I have gotten a superior at states for my solo, made it into our county's first honor band (as the youngest flute player and not last chair and we both tried out and I made it and she didn't), and I have all of these accomplishments that our principle chair doesn't have. When our band director was announcing everyone for their officer positions at our band banquet, she would introduce them with all of their accomplishments, and all she could talk about for the principal flute was her solo in concert band. It is lowkey frustrating that I am not going to be able to get principal chair when everyone in the band knows that I am better than the actual principal chair... except for our band director. Do you (or anyone) have any advice?

[@brodyodyo4671]

yay!

[@emmawilding886]

I am the principal chair flute in my band. I am theoretically the best but all the others have been in the band longer than me and had better teachers from the beginning of their training. I had very rushed basics and am only re learning them now and while I have certainly improved vastly and am now as good and better than my fellow first flutes in that area, I still lack confidence in being a principal chair. I’m also the youngest in my section and up until this year we’ve always had an incredibly strong player as the leader who played in the National Youth Windband too. It’s really hard without her because everyone relies on me and I don’t believe know if I’m good enough. Help. I keep messing up and overall everyone thinks I’m incompetent as a section leader

[@crystalgarrard4388]

Also, in addition, there may be other factors outside of fields of focus. For instance, situations in personal lives, playing experience, a person's psychological well-being(or physical), etc... Just some things to keep in mind guys!!

[@catarinasousa1894]

I think the only problem that I have with my flute section is that first, they are quite young and second, they don't really seem to care about dynamics, specially when we have like pianos or pianissimos. They just play very loud! When I was younger and I didn't knew how to play much I thought that if I played lower, in case I made mistakes, no one would hear me but, with these guys, It's the complete opposite, even if they are playing badly or really off tune they just want the all band to hear...and that all thing of "if I'm not 1st flute I'm nothing" like....omg I can't.

[@lilbizzy5657]

dang, i'm procrastinating by watching old videos. region auditions are literally in 3 days...

[@thadyndupont9609]

I am principal chair violin II...because I'm the only one in the violin II section

[@Lana-qf9im]

We have 2 first chairs the other one thinks he's better than me

[@natebean5950]

And I was better at FLUTE? Listen too her she has good sound advice,CLARINETIST!!!!!!!!

[@jajeem3189]

I got 7th chair in orchestra..JUST BECAUSE MY HABD WAS MISPLACED 😓

[@bitoro23]

have you been in marching band ?

[@shantijohnson9245]

I'm first chair in my high school flute section..also I'm a freshman..and there's 6 flutes including senior flautists. I honestly feel bad, like I'm letting my section down but I'm so new at this I dunno how to be a good section leader. I know how to play flute pretty well but leading has never been very good for me😅

[@mink9186]

Shanti Johnson I'm first chair flautist in 9th too! It's hard looking over a section that doesn't really care.

[@jasonmartinez7667]

I'm 1st chair Tuba in my Hs band.Our Hs is has grades 10-12 and i'm a Sophmore.

[@kaylarossmiller]

I'm in the exact same situation😂

[@angelica_alvarado]

Jason Martinez are you in allen high school in tx?

[@Lucas_Wong]

Yaasss go off joanna

[@sfiosd]

can we see how you do your daily makeup, like what you wear for videos like this?

[@rosemarycrafting1202]

no we can't, because she never posts any of those type vids

[@jaenam4030]

I wish that my advanced band have chairs . It's a middle school band with not much passionate musicians. Mhm I agree with you .

[@kathleenkinney8536]

Good video. I find that there are sometimes fine lines, or no lines at all, between music and philosophy and life-lessons. And sometimes there are broad, neon-bright lines such as when one is procrastinating instead of practicing. (Notice how those words sort of sound alike, but the outcome is not at all the same?) It has recently occurred to me that musical instruments are sort of prosthetic devices for musicians, which also sounds like practice and procrastinate. I liked the lighting. I also found the earrings distracting, but that might just be Zachary and me. I just kept wanting the one on the left (facing the screen) to uncatch itself and face a different direction, and it never did. I think I should go procrastice . . . practrastinate . . . prostheactice now.

[@danielbuenrostro6388]

i set in principle chair cause i have band i sixth grade and im really good cause i got in my highschool marching band when i was in 7 grade

[@markgaddie6290]

That plushie looks like it is on the computer hacking your youtube account. XD BTW I am section leader for flute at my school but principal chair is a lot better especially when everyone is insanely talented great job.

[@UwUOwO-fj4sn]

props to you. Thanks for calling me out through the 4th wall 😝👍👏

[@yudisanchez8517]

Gosh I am first chair out of 32 flutes and they expect so much from me, and I am not even that good😔

[@haleyanderson2258]

I got second chair recently in my college band :)

[@JustAnotherFlutist]

OMG YAY!!! 2nd chair is my personal favourite! :D

[@haleyanderson2258]

@@JustAnotherFlutist yeah I love being second chair too because I don't have to be first chair but I'm almost first chair lol :)

[@windycity88]

i'm actually the senior of the section (i have the most experience) and i really love music, but the teacher did not make me the section leader/ principle chair. By the way, i am in percussion and i really love it but i think teacher did not know that i was the senior. and the teacher is a new one

[@KikiKittenAC]

I'm a freshman in high school and the rest of my section are sophomores. Because I'm the youngest and first chair, they never listen to me. How can I get around this?

[@KikiKittenAC]

And they also don't tune to me

[@nestorismael4316]

Just tell them to shut the f up and that it is time to practice so you can be awesome!

[@kiaraeijo]

This is so accurate! When I was in my last year of my associates degree, my college band director picked someone else to be principal flute( even though she didn't audition) and she would always come to rehearsal without knowing her part and I basically had to do her job for her. I was second chair for the wind ensemble bc the school did not have an orchestra program at the time.

[@0cherriesd506]

Just don't do her part and and have the band director get upset with her.

[@kiaraeijo]

+Don't forget to laugh everyday - The Frey Life my college band director had favoritism towards her and when someone else would fill in for him they realized that I knew my part and she didn't

[@everythingbeccachannel4913]

Any 1st chair flutes here!

[@desteddyeggroll]

I never got 1st chair ;(

[@TheRandomAsian711]

Wow you're right I'm procrastinating on sleeping It's 5:46 AM :''''D

[@microwaveddonut6983]

Hi

[@jennifernguyen2220]

Well, my section had 19 flutes

[@KiwiFlute]

I ended up being first chair in my area band not because I play well, but because there was nobody else who wanted to move to first flute lol

[@catarinasousa1894]

For real? Kids these days only want to play 1st flute, even if they play terribly bad XD I mean second flute is as much important as first flute, I just don't understand their mindsets.

[@KiwiFlute]

Catarina Sousa I prefer second flute sometimes if there's harmonies, I prefer to play the lower part XD

[@catarinasousa1894]

That is so true!! I think it's so beautiful when you can hear the harmonies, it gives me goosebumps XD one time my band was playing a medley of the Miserables and when we got to the I dreamed a dream part, all of them were playing the main harmony and I was like nah, I'm making play a second voice to this because It's sounds so much better, and I literally improvised a second voice XD Can't they understand how cool 2nd flute is?

[@arinsarkissian8743]

#WhenYouHaveAnAuditionTodayButYou'reWatchingKZbinVideos #screwed

[@christynguyenn]

my section leader cocky af

[@emilynightingale7758]

was anyone else really annoyed and distracted by the fact her left earring is stuck in the wrong position. I pretty much spent the whole video being like AGH! JUST FIX IT! but um, good video though...

[@chelseareneeG]

I'm not fascinating procrastinating I'm just trying to learn from a professional while I eat breakfast

[@thefluteintheback3064]

Hey guys. I just became section leader of the flutes at my highschool yesterday. Can you give me any advice?

[@oscarrh8005]

Practice and don't lose your chair. I'm going into my freshman year into my symphonic band next year which is exciting, I'll be the only guy flute though! But I think the teacher put me in there was to challenge the flutes. I was first my 8th grade year and in 7th second but the first flutist stopped caring and the only reason I never challenged her was because I was scared of her? LOL but what grade are you in?

[@thefluteintheback3064]

+Oscat Hinojosa I will be a senior this upcoming school year. I didn't join band until my second year

[@thefluteintheback3064]

+Oscat Hinojosa I felt the same thing as you for a while. I was too scared to try to move up lol

[@oscarrh8005]

+TheCrayonBox ! My main reason was that she was rude about and just would get mad if I mentioned it. But have you ever tried out for a All State band? I'm practicing so much to make it I want to be the first 9th grader in YEARS to make it into the all state band here.

[@thefluteintheback3064]

+Oscat Hinojosa Good luck with that! I hope you make it in, and I'm sure you will! I haven't tried yet, because my delayed joining kind of delayed the rest of my experiences. I will try this year

[@flhalbuquerque]

A imagem ficou ótima! 👌

[@bambiangel7913]

I'm already 1st chair what am i doing here?😂

[@megancarpenter7472]

I've been playing the flute the longest in my school and I've won best in state multiple times, but my orchestra pit someone, who has only played for two years, in first chair with me, but she doesn't even know how to play a high G or a low E!!!!!

[@0cherriesd506]

Hmmm, wow if shes first chair she should be able.

[@catarinasousa1894]

Maybe they thought you needed some sort of support on first chair? That happened to me as well. In my case the girl has no embouchure and a terrible problem to tune so....It just sucks so much.

[@MGJ182]

2:42 why does that remind me of a certain video...

[@RomeHuynh]

;-; I'm sitting here being a pianist

[@winanci]

So deep! :D

[@Bobthe1st2]

omg yes I can totally relate. I really don't mean to sound cocky or anything but I am the best flute player at my school and everyone else really are not close to my level (gosh I sound so rude) but yea like a lot of times I just desire them to be much better at the flute so I could better my self by doing duets and flute ensembles with them but I can't because they can't play the music that would be a challenge or something fun for me. I think about me a lot instead of them and Im really realizing that now. I would love for someone to be as good as me and compete with me to better my self but at the same time want to remain being the "best" from my school.

[@gaijinflyer]

Is it possible that someone be selected as principal chair and NOT be the best at playing the instrument. Perhaps the best leader can be chosen to raise the level of all the musicians.

[@Sunkuwong]

Paul Parashak Very possible. That’s why my teacher has her eyes closed as we audition for chairs, so it’s unbiased and the judging is actually based on skill.

[@rosemarycrafting1202]

Should maturity and age be taken into account? Ex a 7th who has a very high skill level and is very passionate about flute compared to the 9th grader. Should a ninth grader automatically be ahead because of age? What do all of you think?

[@P2Sue]

I don't think age or grade level / seniority should be taken in to account. A 7th grader could be way more mature than that 9th grader. When I was in high school, I was principal chair chair from a freshman all the way until I graduated. Someone seniors didn't like it because they felt like they had seniority, but it really boils down to how well you play and your attitude. Though I may be a good flutist in college that often gets principal spots, my instructors also note that I'm probably the least competitive or abrasive. I've always lived by the philosophy that you should be well practiced, be well prepared, and be humble. Just my 2 cents.

[@rosemarycrafting1202]

Thankzyou1

[@0cherriesd506]

It should depend on effort, because if the 9th grader wasn't that good and like you said the 7th grader was really good. Then the 7th grader would deserve the higher chair because they may have worked harder and they play the instrument better.

[@Arctic352]

P2 Sue I agree with you :) skill level, personality, and mindset should be taken into account because even if someone has seniority, it doesn’t mean that they would make a good section leader or principal that would work cohesively with the section😊 (Btw sorry this is a year late 😂)

[@lordegan6731]

I don’t play the flute, I play Tenor/Bari Sax but I am a 8th grader and I can rank higher than a 10th grade Tenor but I still got put as 2nd chair. Oof. But in our middle school I am the Saxophone Section leader and it can be a struggle... my best friend is the Flute Section Leader and she has some of the same struggles

[@Mike1614b]

she's evil, this one. ;-)

[@zacharycoronado6749]

Her earrings are really distracting

[@rosemarycrafting1202]

so true

[@kevinconk8164]

#me hello!

[@kevinconk8164]

XD

[@0cherriesd506]

Your earrings areso distracting!