Post by hchswiregrasshorn on Jul 24, 2007 22:36:12 GMT -5
The new band roster has me concerned for this year. Now I try not to worry about what is beyond my control, but I have to be somewhat worried about this.
Last year, we had three good sousaphones. 2 seniors and a sophomore. The two seniors graduated leaving us the upcoming junior. So, you would think we would keep him and move an upcoming sophomore who has played tuba for a semester. But, the junior wants to play quads, and I think our band director is letting him. I'm sure we have at least one percussionist that can cover the quads. We need a solid bass line. Now I'm not saying the sophomore can't handle it, but I think that we need it solid. They "found" another replacement, but I'll get to that last.
Our trumpet section is almost demolished. We had 6 or 7 marching trumpets last year. This year we are down to TWO possibly ONE! So our band director has to move people around to fill the quota. Meaning...
1) Possibly my horn cousin, which is normal because he's played it all but one year, and that year he played the B-flat horn...
2) Possibly Both of my mellophones from last year, though one may not be able to march anyway because of personal reason I will not go into. The other one neds to stay on horn. She is really good and needs to stay in my section to help enhance it.
3) Possibly the sophomore Tuba player. But if they let the junior play quads, this won't happen. At least I hope they won't.
4) A rookie euphonium player.
We have three ensembles at our school. A Beginner Band, which is mostly 7th graders or any other first year people. An Intermediate Band, which is mostly 8th graders and others in their second year. And the Advanced Band, also known as the Lion's Pride Marching Band/Concert Band. Unless they are really not ready, all of the Intermediate Band moves up to the advanced band. Well do you know how many trumpets are in the intermediate band? ZERO! So all of the beginning band people we have been training on trumpet for the past three years are gone.
That's not the end of the problems! The entire alto section (Horns/alto sax) is grave. Every year for the past three years we have had 5 in the alto section (3 mellos and 2 alto saxes) Well, if both of the regular melos get moved to trumpet and possibly my horn cousin, I will be the only mello. I hope that it doesn't come to that. I can handle being the only one, but we need at least two in the mello section.
The alto sax section changes so much that I don't even know if this is the current situation. We have always had two alto's (A and B) both pretty good players. They may have some trouble, but they get through. Well, "A" quit after marching season last year, but a percussionist that was learning alto (C) took her place. Well "A" is returning to marching band this year. (last time I heard) And we MIGHT be getting another alto that is a football player, (D) but I don't know if he can fit band into his schedule, plus I have never heard him play alto. But, remember that "replacement" for the tuba I was refering to. Supposedly, "B" is that replacement. There's a problem with that
1: I don't believe he has ever played tuba.
2: He has trouble with rhythms. He's a hard worker, but he struggles with them.
3: He has to learn the fingerings (which he has never played a valved instrument) a different clef and learning how to buzz. Another problem is that he won't be at band camp until Wednesday. And I'm pretty sure he didn't take a Tuba Fingering chart over the summer. I feel confident, however, that my band director will not let this happen.
Well at least the other woodwinds are o.k.
Last year, we had three good sousaphones. 2 seniors and a sophomore. The two seniors graduated leaving us the upcoming junior. So, you would think we would keep him and move an upcoming sophomore who has played tuba for a semester. But, the junior wants to play quads, and I think our band director is letting him. I'm sure we have at least one percussionist that can cover the quads. We need a solid bass line. Now I'm not saying the sophomore can't handle it, but I think that we need it solid. They "found" another replacement, but I'll get to that last.
Our trumpet section is almost demolished. We had 6 or 7 marching trumpets last year. This year we are down to TWO possibly ONE! So our band director has to move people around to fill the quota. Meaning...
1) Possibly my horn cousin, which is normal because he's played it all but one year, and that year he played the B-flat horn...
2) Possibly Both of my mellophones from last year, though one may not be able to march anyway because of personal reason I will not go into. The other one neds to stay on horn. She is really good and needs to stay in my section to help enhance it.
3) Possibly the sophomore Tuba player. But if they let the junior play quads, this won't happen. At least I hope they won't.
4) A rookie euphonium player.
We have three ensembles at our school. A Beginner Band, which is mostly 7th graders or any other first year people. An Intermediate Band, which is mostly 8th graders and others in their second year. And the Advanced Band, also known as the Lion's Pride Marching Band/Concert Band. Unless they are really not ready, all of the Intermediate Band moves up to the advanced band. Well do you know how many trumpets are in the intermediate band? ZERO! So all of the beginning band people we have been training on trumpet for the past three years are gone.
That's not the end of the problems! The entire alto section (Horns/alto sax) is grave. Every year for the past three years we have had 5 in the alto section (3 mellos and 2 alto saxes) Well, if both of the regular melos get moved to trumpet and possibly my horn cousin, I will be the only mello. I hope that it doesn't come to that. I can handle being the only one, but we need at least two in the mello section.
The alto sax section changes so much that I don't even know if this is the current situation. We have always had two alto's (A and B) both pretty good players. They may have some trouble, but they get through. Well, "A" quit after marching season last year, but a percussionist that was learning alto (C) took her place. Well "A" is returning to marching band this year. (last time I heard) And we MIGHT be getting another alto that is a football player, (D) but I don't know if he can fit band into his schedule, plus I have never heard him play alto. But, remember that "replacement" for the tuba I was refering to. Supposedly, "B" is that replacement. There's a problem with that
1: I don't believe he has ever played tuba.
2: He has trouble with rhythms. He's a hard worker, but he struggles with them.
3: He has to learn the fingerings (which he has never played a valved instrument) a different clef and learning how to buzz. Another problem is that he won't be at band camp until Wednesday. And I'm pretty sure he didn't take a Tuba Fingering chart over the summer. I feel confident, however, that my band director will not let this happen.
Well at least the other woodwinds are o.k.