Band Director Troubles

[tptLad]

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"Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin

[tptLad]

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"Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin

[JayKosta]

At this point I recommend -

Ask him how in the future you should notify him about days / reasons that you might miss. email, phone call, etc.

For now, just do a good job playing the parts you're assigned, and let him know that you want to do 'what is necessary' to be assigned the parts you desire.
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Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

[tptLad]

_________________
"Life is a lot like jazz… it's better when you improvise." - George Gershwin

[huntman10]

Not to be a downer, but when is the next performance? Your director may be dealing with performance demands or possibly the fact that rehearsals don't go well when critical players are out. Even when we have uncontrollable events, the realities of performing as a group may mean we accept a temporary step down for the good of the group. It will go a long way to heal relations.

Sometimes we have to let our egos get a little bruised when things unexpectedly go south. Try to show your teacher an attitude that supports the group even from the lower section. It will do a lot for his opinion of you.

Just sayin'.
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huntman10
Collector/Player of Fine (and not so fine) Brass Instruments including
Various Strads, Yammies, Al Hirt Courtois, Schilkes,
Selmer 25, Getzen Eternas, Kanstuls (920 Pic, CG)
Martin Custom Large Bore, Lots Olds!, Conns, etc.

[tptLad]

[JayKosta]

This is starting to be a confusing 'management decision' episode.

I doubt that we on TH will be able to get a clear view of the entire situation - from ALL viewpoints. And we'll likely just be doing a lot of 'hypothetical thinking' about it.

Instead of dwelling on 'how / why it happened', the real issue is 'what to do next'.
_________________
Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

[LittleRusty]

[david johnson]

I was a director for decades and often moved parts around. I did use chair placement in each section. Sometimes I wanted to give inexperienced players experience on other parts, or wanted to change the section sound.
It was all for the total band sound and members knew it. Absentees for illness never figured in to it. Folks get sick. I even had students miss a week because of religious festivals in a different state. Work for the ensemble and making everything better for your fellow members. If you are physically moved within the section you may get by a jerk, or it may be by a real beauty who has been crushing on you, or vice-versa.

[stuartissimo]

It may also be useful to remember that the number of the chair isn't an indication of skill required, or of the person playing. Regardless how often it's repeated by American band players, it's simply not the case, and thinking that way shows a clear lack of musical understanding.

It's possible that the band director chose to rearrange in this manner to give the OP some room to recover from said illness. While not 'musically better', 1st chair parts are often physically demanding. 'Easing back in with a less demanding part' may be the band director trying to be helpful and/or considerate. There can also be other reasons for the change. Communicating with the band director may clear some things up.

If chair placement is truly used as a form of punishment, then it shows a clear lack of musical insight on the part of the director, and their opinion and instructions should furthermore be considered in that light (i.e. don't put too much value into it).
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1975 Olds Recording trumpet
1997 Getzen 700SP trumpet
1955 Olds Super cornet
1939 Buescher 280 flugelhorn
AR Resonance mouthpieces

[kehaulani]

To me, based on the information given. it seems to me that:
1) the band director needs more consistency
2) the band director has it in for you
3) this may not be the full story and the band director has just had enough
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[Billy B]

Suck it up buttercup.
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Bill Bergren