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OP says 7th grade. A little quick math would put him/her around 13.
The Not-so-good player?
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I already addressed this (post 7). OP doesn’t say they’re in 7th grade. They say they “can’t play better than their 7th grade self.” Speaking for myself, I’m not as slender as my 10th grade self. My back hurts more than my 12th grade back. I can definitely read faster than my 4th grade self. How big’s your gut compared to your 6th grade gut btw? Etc, ya dig?
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He actually said he's not 13.
Conn NW II Soprano, NW I Alto, 10M Tenor, NW I C Melody & Allora Bari.
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You'll have practice more if you ever want to improve.
Your instrument may need some repairs and or your setup could be holding you back too. Without being there it's difficult for anyone here to accurately diagnose the problem. More information can help though.
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A month later after this post, my band teacher actually let me play an octave higher on a solo that I cannot remember now- just an FYI that this is the average school band; a pretty informal setting (in general). Of course, when I made regionals later that month and a year later and eventually all-states 24 hours ago, I got serious (partially because the music was not so easy that I could have so much spare time during the time to "improv")
Also, when I was in a jazz band, a trumpet player brought a literal accordion [an unplanned part] and played a whole entire jig on the accordion; where even the conductor was surprised but pleased during the concert- showing how life's concreteness is never concrete and how nonconformity (at the right moment) is golden.
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Pure gold.
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Great! Just be you. But remember,in Music there are "NO RULES",ONLY GUIDELINES"! Your teacher is a "Teacher" because they have life experience that you don't have and they have " been there, done that"! Listen and learn carefully. Learn all that you can from your teachers. Being " headstrong" is admirable,but don't fall into the trap of being " the guy nobody wants to perform with". Being " authentic" can be rewarding,but it can also be a detriment to your growth as a musician. Always be a " good" hang as they say! Age and life experience will take you places you only dreamed about!
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Good teachers teach. Good mentors inspire. I was lucky to have a few of those, but also unlucky to grow up in an era when many adults felt duty-bound to belittle, ridicule, judge, inhibit, suppress, &/or punish every young person they came into contact with.
I'll be forever glad that I had enough independence of spirit to figure out some stuff experientially, rather than believe all the nonsense grown-ups told me. Sometimes kids need leeway to make their own mistakes, & learn that way. Sometimes kids can see through their elders' pretensions & misconceptions.
I'll be forever glad that I had enough independence of spirit to figure out some stuff experientially, rather than believe all the nonsense grown-ups told me. Sometimes kids need leeway to make their own mistakes, & learn that way. Sometimes kids can see through their elders' pretensions & misconceptions.
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Not to seem curmudgeonly, but...not certain why this thread get resuscitated ?
I mean, phrased differently...the subject could result in a good discussion...but...we are just grasping at air trying to 'address' whatever the OP is getting at....no (?)
You're not very good, self-admittedly....then..... a year later, voila !...you post you made regionals....then all state !!!
Interesting timeline....
...and a bandmate came in with an accordion and played it ....during ...
....a concert....?....unbeknownst to the director that this was gonna take place ?
...Or maybe not how the story goes ?
Such a scenario as reported... begs a few questions...
....OK....
...rocking the boat ....for the sake of rocking the boat....
....subvert the dominant paradigm....ok....
...and.....?
I mean, phrased differently...the subject could result in a good discussion...but...we are just grasping at air trying to 'address' whatever the OP is getting at....no (?)
You're not very good, self-admittedly....then..... a year later, voila !...you post you made regionals....then all state !!!
Interesting timeline....
...and a bandmate came in with an accordion and played it ....during ...
....a concert....?....unbeknownst to the director that this was gonna take place ?
...Or maybe not how the story goes ?
Such a scenario as reported... begs a few questions...
....OK....
...rocking the boat ....for the sake of rocking the boat....
....subvert the dominant paradigm....ok....
...and.....?
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I did not intend for this to be emotional a year ago when I wrote this, as the forum I was literally posting to was "Introduce yourself," which implies that one who posts there might as well introduce themselves.
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In another thread I semi-accused you of being a bot. I apologize.
Seems to me you should have a better teacher. When I was in junior high, (7th thru 9th grade), we were expected to know how to play our instruments well enough to play the notes on the page. We had weekly rehearsals with each section, and if you consistently failed to play your part, you were out. Might take a couple months, they cut you some slack, but out you went. You could be called upon to play a chromatic scale at any time, as an individual or a section. It had better be right.
As I grew older and went to bigger and better schools, the same kind of rules existed. And as I started getting gigs, and had,to make a living, the very same rules applied. (Except the chromatic scale part, that was assumed…). You can’t play your part? Don’t know the tunes? Then you don’t get called back.
I know it’s important to support kids, and to not stifle creativity, but unless it’s a free improvisation music class I think the teacher does a disservice to the pupils if he or she doesn’t expect them to play up to standard. It would be like a football team where every player decided for himself what the play was on each scrimage. You gotta have a framework.
Seems to me you should have a better teacher. When I was in junior high, (7th thru 9th grade), we were expected to know how to play our instruments well enough to play the notes on the page. We had weekly rehearsals with each section, and if you consistently failed to play your part, you were out. Might take a couple months, they cut you some slack, but out you went. You could be called upon to play a chromatic scale at any time, as an individual or a section. It had better be right.
As I grew older and went to bigger and better schools, the same kind of rules existed. And as I started getting gigs, and had,to make a living, the very same rules applied. (Except the chromatic scale part, that was assumed…). You can’t play your part? Don’t know the tunes? Then you don’t get called back.
I know it’s important to support kids, and to not stifle creativity, but unless it’s a free improvisation music class I think the teacher does a disservice to the pupils if he or she doesn’t expect them to play up to standard. It would be like a football team where every player decided for himself what the play was on each scrimage. You gotta have a framework.
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