well, the girl thinks she can still get first chair bt challengin me.
And worst of all, our director just told us the challenger can set up what the challenge going to be on, which I know it's unfair because she already has an advantage and I don't
The best fingering is the one that works for you and your particular flute, considering pitch, ease of playing, perhaps tone, and easy changes form the previous and following notes.
Can you lodge a return challenge, to be heard at the same time, on something that is a bit more representative of good flute playing? Say a piece that you have mastered.
Boy, I realize that this sounds like Phil McC. but.....
IF you ask me, (not that you did) playing the very high F, E and Eb as a challenge is basically ridiculous. Any band director which would prefer to hear a player's tone quality on these notes is a bit misguided. Are you performing them regularly in your band pieces? Getting those notes out is really more of a acrobatic stunt than a musical experience and also equally as much subject to the particular characteristics of the individual flute rather than the player's skills.
Try the challenge on something like the Chaminade Concertino, Poulenc Sonata or the likes. Even a good Anderson study played musically would be a better indication as to musicianship. I'd much rather hear a quality rendition of the final flute solo from A Night on Bald Mountain than some player screetching out a high E4.
I feel the same way with this annoying challenge...
I'm practicing the notes...but still on monday, or maybe today, when I see my band director I tell him to change it to something more musical than the acrobatic scales. lol
Oh! and just to fill in the gap.
All this was the challenger's idea, neither the director or I had anything to do with this.
Isn't weird?
In a way, I think she chose the ugly scales just because she knows I can perfom better on an actuall piece than something she also knows I find pointless.
that does not make sense. scales do not determine who is the better player. Musical solos and difficult pieces determine that. tone, production, and rythm is always what i look for in a flute player. Not silly scales!!! all scales do is show that you know a key signature!! tell this seconed person, that even if she can do some 3 octave scales "GOOD FOR HER!"
I have to disagree with you, here, FirstChairForever. Scales do indeed make a good player....However, playing them into extremes of the range does not. Scales are the most basic building blocks of music (after individual pitches, of course), and it is very important that any performer be comfortable with them in all their permutations. Scales do far more than show that you know a key signature...Aside from making sight reading much easier, they show that you've taken the time to study the instrument thoroughly and care enough to learn the basics. What you mentioned you look for in a flutist is only a small part of what matters in an audition setting. Most people can learn to play notes and rhythms, but unless you can do so musically, you probably won't get past the prelim round. I agree with the others that the challenge that has been set is a ridiculous way to judge the better player, but scales should certainly be part of a challenge that encompasses material that more accurately indicates musicianship as well. A relevant solo piece or exercise, along with scales throughout the standard range of the instrument, and perhaps other material depending on the particular circumstances and players involved would be ideal.
Actually this does make sense for this challenger person. If she has worked on this area of the extrime high range and expects to beat Marylin at it, then she has one the day in her eyes.
As we've all agreed, it does not necessarily make her a better musician.
Next challenge: play the flute off to the left with the head joint placed upside down on the top lip while doing the 2 octave A major scale in fifths.
searching...
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