Hi so today my band teacher assigned us our place in the band and I got second chair for flutes. It's that good or bad? I wanted to get first chair but I guess I wasn't playing my best. :P so is second chair considered good or bad? Will I get anything like special from it? Or should I work my way to first chair since in my school we can challenge the chair above us. I want a opinion so I can make up my mind.Oh and if it helps, the other first chair (we have two groups for flutes) guy is kind of annoying and he always distracts the people around him. I know I should I have a good relationship with others but I dislike him
Guessing you just started? Yes it is. Unless you play professionaly, 2nd chair means you won't last. It's alright if it's just for fun *cough cough failure* but in reality, don't waste your time and quot now. 2nd chair is not good.
Being 1st chair is an ego thing. If you are all playing the same part, it makes little difference. Sometimes 1st chair is expected to explain things to the rest of the flutes. In our orchestra there are jealousies about which chair they play and we shuffle parts.
You should challenge no matter where you sit, and if you ever get to be first, you should encourage people below you to challenge. Competition makes you better, and as long as you have that drive you will be fine. Which flute section are you in, and how many flutes are there? Second chair in the first group is good if there are ten of you, not so good if there are only three. Second chair in the second group is probably not all that impressive. You will never like everyone in your band or orchestra. Learn to do your part, make friends with a handful of people and learn everyone else's name. Beyond that, you should keep to yourself and limit conversation to small talk. Spending too much time on relationships with band mates will draw you into the drama, and you will end up making enemies instead. Focus on the music and your own advancement, and you will be much happier with yourself and find it much easier to get along with others.
Second chair is better than third - or tenth - and NOT being first gives you an added inspiration to WORK. Also - the first chair flute often does not want to play piccolo - so that opportunity is offered to the second chair player! YOU have done well - and all this is part of your learning. So work hear, learn ALL your scales and arpeggios, work on sight-reading ( often used as a tie-breaker in competitions) and do your best. That fact that you CARE about this is a good thing.
