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Post by bandgeek101 on Mar 4, 2009 22:57:41 GMT -5
Okay so my BD is holding a camp for SL and DM tryouts, which got me thinking I'm really the only qualified person for junior and senior year. The other people do not care about the band and cannot lead anything. What things should I watch out for in music to be able to learn how a good marching band sounds like and what does a BD look for in a section leader? PS-I'm a freshman now.
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Post by cpclarinet26 on Mar 7, 2009 8:52:36 GMT -5
Well, for a section leader, my director usually wants people who are brave enough to tell people what to do. You can't be a quiet section leader. You also have to be firm and work as well as you can with the director. As for music, learn from the top players what a good tone for your section's instrument is, fingerings and such that will make playing easier and/or better. Hope this helps.
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tromboneking87
Band Nerd
The symbol of Chief Illiniwek embodies spirt, pride, and loyalty to this great university
Posts: 372
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Post by tromboneking87 on Mar 7, 2009 13:47:20 GMT -5
For starters, I want to say that since you can already identify yourself as a future section leader, you're off to a great start. Being able to see the section dynamics at work is a crucial skill for any section leader to have. As far as learning about good sound goes, I would recommend listening to as many recordings as possible. There are tons of mp3's around of very good college bands, here's a place to get you started... www.bands.uiuc.edu/MI/recording.phpSorry for the shameless plug. What you're going to be looking for in a band sound is going to be a very dark, full sonority. You achieve this by bringing up the bass voices and the middle voices, and letting the top voices "float" over the rest of the ensemble. It's just like an equalizer on a stereo; you don't put the treble all the way up and but the bass all the way down (although some bands do that)! I would also recommend listening to recordings of ensembles on your instrument (e.g. trombone choirs if you play trombone, etc.), so you can get that characteristic sound in your head. On your "What does a BD look for" question, it really depends on the director, but for our purposes here I'll use my recent experience of interviewing for SL of the Marching Illini Trombones (I made marching section leader! Woot!). Generally, the BD wants to know that you aren't going for SL simply because you want to, or that you think you deserve it, or that you want the attention/glory/etc. If you've ever went to a Dr. Tim session, you'll remember this one: "It's not about I/Me, it's about We/Us". The ironic thing about being a section leader is that you're really serving your section. Of course you need to be "in control", but a dictator is just going to turn people off. Your BD also wants to know that you have a vision for the section, and the band. What do you want to do to improve the section? What changes would you make in the program if you could? What skills/abilites would you bring to the section? These are questions that you should be asking yourself. I'll leave you with one final question. When my BD asked me this I was a little unsure of how to answer, and you should consider this too: How would the section respond if you were made section leader? Thankfully, I received multiple congratulations, from people in the section and out. I hope I've helped you out. Being a section leader is a big deal. You'll have a huge influence on the attitudes of the section and the band as a whole. And it will be hard. But it's worth it. Good luck!
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Post by bandgeek101 on Mar 7, 2009 15:29:02 GMT -5
Thanks
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PhantomStrad
Newbie
The Phantom of the Trumpet Section
Posts: 37
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Post by PhantomStrad on Mar 15, 2009 1:07:55 GMT -5
I was section leader for the trumpets this year.
one thing I learned very very quickly... youre pretty much the mom/dad....
youre the head of the pack, yes, but you also take care of them like theyre your pups and you gotta protect them from the almighty wrath of the director. meaning you bring extra of anything important, just incase someone decides to forget, you got their back.
whats fun about it is you gotta show up earlier than usual, just to help set up for stuff or make sure your sections crap is in the right order and all that jazz, and you get to stay late to clean up after everyones mess...without so much as a thank you, cuz its expected of you.
Its a great experience, it really is.
not only do you have to have a firm hand, strong head and a kind heart, but you also have to know your music very well, and you gotta know their music too...so like, dont practice just your part, practice theirs too, so when they need help with something, you know what youre doing.
another thing I learned is this. when youre on the feild, you are their leader. off the feild, youre their friend. oh, and dont demand respect. chances are, youre not going to get it from everyone, seeing as youre an underclassman...unfortunately thats how high school minds work...just be patient. you'll get the respect your missing eventually.
well...theres a few tips from me.
if any of them have already been mentioned, I apologize for repeating.
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Post by fluttietuttie on Mar 15, 2009 7:41:49 GMT -5
Make sure you do, what you would want them to do. If you break the rules, they'll break the rules.
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Post by piccolo + ADD = fun on Mar 15, 2009 16:03:17 GMT -5
Go for it! But word of warning, it's a huge responsibility and you set the example. So think carefully...
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Post by brassdancer on Mar 16, 2009 19:12:27 GMT -5
The BIG thing I notice, is you are always held accountable for your section. If the band director is upset the trumpets dont know their part, it is YOUR responsibility to fix that. You'll take a lot of the heat for stuff like that, and you're going to have to be able to handle it.
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PhantomStrad
Newbie
The Phantom of the Trumpet Section
Posts: 37
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Post by PhantomStrad on Mar 17, 2009 4:37:12 GMT -5
^ exactly
and youre pretty much the scapegoat for your section. if something goes wrong in your section, its you who takes the beating most of the time.
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Post by lws2mforlife on Mar 26, 2009 9:55:44 GMT -5
I will be section leader this coming year for the low winds.
I am so excited.
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