I play clarinet in my band and have always sat in the second row to the conductor. My band teacher recently changed it up so that the trumpets are in the very front and the flutes are in the very back. We asked why and she gave some explanation that made sense and all. But then this one girl who plays clarinet asked, "The clarinets are barely heard in the front. How are we supposed to be heard in the back?" My teacher just said, "Well, there was nowhere else for you to go. I'm sure people can hear you. If they can't, just play louder." However, the dynamics in my music is mainly Piano or MetsoPiano. What do my fellow clarinets think of this?
How Should Band Seating Be Arranged?
- Posted:
- 3+ months ago by catsclari...
- Topics:
- music, band, play, trumpet, conductor, teacher, seating, rows
Details:
Added 3+ months ago:
Although I understand that the seating should be arranged by the conductor to help improve the sound of the band, I would just like to know how others would feel about this. Do other clarinet sections feel outplayed by other sections? I've seen trumpet 1 music for the same piece as my clarinet 1 music and even though the trumpets have much easier notes as well as the main melody, my part is very complicated and hard and I'm barely heard.
Responses (4)
Well, yes, working with youngsters is hard on a person's manners. And a lot of grownups expect too much, just because they think they are supposed to. You will forget all about it by the time you are 30.
My band class was complaining about certain things they could or could not here. My band director finally took us each to the front of the class and let us listen to the band as a whole. From where your sitting it sounds different then what everyone else hears. By the way I am a 3rd year clarinet and I hate when the band directors say that. You can always voice your opinion in a professional way but in the end it is up to the band director.
Thank you. My section is fairly small, only four people compared to the fourteen flutes and twelve trumpets we have, but I'd appreciate it if she'd take us into consideration when deciding the band arrangement.
I always feel as if we (the clarinets) are fighting to be heard. Although some of it is the players, the clarinet is just a quieter instrument. As opposed to trumpet, which can be quite loud. I'm sure your band director had a good reason for moving you, but I can't help but feeling that it is a tad bit unfair.
Thanks! It just really annoyed my section when the conductor just openly said that there was nowhere else for the clarinet section to go. She said it kind of rudely and it hurt many people in my section's feelings. I've even heard that a few people want to quit band.