On my first day of school I was outcasted out by all my other flutes by being so good compared to all the other upper classmen. I got 8th out of 24 flutes. This being my freshmen year. Not many of my friends sit near me and they don't march on the field. Now most people are nice but scared of me since I could play last years concert seasons music with ease while others struggled through it for a playing test. Is it bad to beat upperclassmen?

It's not bad, but I wouldn't refer to it as "beating" them. You happened to perform better on one specific piece on one specific day. Overall your playing may be at a higher level, but one audition is no indicator. Certainly do not brag about your placement, but pride in the fact that you did well is fine. Don't let what other people think affect what you do...They may not like you for the simple reason that you were placed higher than them. If this is the case, you can probably chalk it up to jealousy, and don't worry about it. It's not a competition for chairs, but a competetion against yourself that you are involved in, so keep striving to improve.

That is good, but I have learned that chair placements don't really matter that much in school. Of course they do to the player, but what are you comparing yourself to? That is the real question. You may be first chair all through high school and then go to college and find out you will be eating a lot of humble pie. mmm.. pie. I am hungry.

welcome to the REAL world, after all that school nonsense you will see things they really are, and laugh about it someday, when I was young I was sometimes purposely put in a lower chair because of my age, get used to it, it won't matter in the end

The same thing happened to me back in the dark ages....um I mean high school.

Just be sure you present the right attitude, always be prepared and eager to learn. Be pleasant and people will learn to respect you and not be put off by your accomplishments.

Remember, by "beating" some upperclassmen, you may have provided them with incentive and motivation to do better on the next chair placement. Be prepared and be thoughtful.

i know that as a freshman in concert season i was tied for first chair with a senior all year but that wasnt because of a "do better Mary!" reason, but an actual i was better than them reason. and for that year, it was HORRENDOUS. i got so much crap from everyone because of it. and then the next year i got first chair by a long shot (no surprise) all year, which then caused this other senior girl who didnt like me to threaten me. she taunted me right before the concerts saysing that she was going to push me off stage. during the concerts she would play during my solos and mess them up, making people think it was me who did it. beating the upperclassmen isnt all that its cracked up to be, especially in school. now if youre in an orchestra outside of shcool and you score a solo in a piece, then go for you. thats something to be proud of.

I FEEL THE SAME WAY!!!!! (well im not in that high of a grade......) but my friends got into a lower class of band and all the people who sit next to me are snotty and say im bad to keep up with everyone..... but i just keep playing and keep practicing but inside it really hurts becuase i know im good but maybe not to the point of being in that high of a band....

Its not at all bad! It just means you rock...and they dont! lol

Dont let them scare u from doin your best

man this sounds really familiar from last year in band!!

we had chair auditions, and the next day i found out i was placed at 1st again, ahead of 3 seniors. it didn't take long for a freshman to start giving me trouble about how it wasn't fair that i won ahead of them, specifically this one girl. she told me that no one liked me and i needed to go away. this whole situation with the fresh went on for a while until it finally ended! my freshman year was the biggest suprise for me. one of my friends who was a sophomore and i made a deal. i would take piccolo and she would take first chair...well, i ended up getting both........so with concert auditions coming up in november, i have a lot riding on my shoulders with retaining my positions.

the moral of the whole story is this. don't let it bother you that you were placed higher in the seating audition. if your conducter/director didn't honestly believe that you deserved it, then he/she wouldn't of put you there. just do the best you can do, and everything will fall into place.

I just found out im definetly with the seniors next year and some of them are my friends... even though i hardly know them. but i do know them coz they were from the same primary school and/or because of the production/school play... maybe you could try getting along with them?

man, some of ya'll play with some pretty mean people. >_<

at my school if i end up getting first somehow they give me a pat on the back, not an "i hate you, you suck" kind of thing.

OMFG~!!!!! this is what I sooooooo freaking hate. You know, the pple that are being mean to you, pay them no mind they are just jealous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pklease dont pay them no mind. although its hurtful suck it up now and later it will be delightlfully awarded. I have soeme friends like you (im just the class clown :D just kiidng ) neways, and i sort of get annoyed whenver they start talking (my teacher favored them) becuase they were braggin. they are in honors band and me? pssst. Im in adcande...lol/////neways, hold ur head up high.

Just play the flute for yourself and ignore them. I hate to say this, but when you venture into the real world, you will learn that there are worse things in life then getting first chair and "beating and upper classmen." From what I keep on reading, it seems to be all about competition in schools, when in reality the people that you are "beating" are nothing special or not very good. Now... if you can get first chair in the Boston Pops, THAT would be something to brag about. It would be like me comming on here and saying that.. Hey, I am first chair in the community band. (Never mind that the other flutist can barely play twinkle twinkle little star.) lol!

and actually Kara, I have known a number of symphony flutists, and none of them bragged about their gig, comes with confidence, those who brag the most tend to be the most insecure..

so my advice to the wonderful young people on this forum is to shut up and play beautifully, and don't take any sheep dip from anyone..