Oh gosh, I kept thinking when she was talking about this she meant high school...oops....

I hope your situation gets better!

It's really up to you. If you feel like "sharing the wealth" or letting someone else have the opportunity to play flute solos, then go for it. High school band is so different from adult/college ensembles because usually the best player gets to play both piccolo and first flute parts. In college and professional ensembles, there is usually a designated piccoloist and a designated principal flute (as described by cflutist).

Some high school players are not always there because they love it, and as a result they don't practice and in general aren't very good at playing (at least, at American public schools). You are entitled to choose between playing piccolo parts only or playing piccolo and flute solos: it is a right you earn when awarded first chair. If you practice more than everyone else, then in my opinion you deserve the choice.

However, you can easily gain a reputation for being selfish by not sharing solos. Maybe you could choose a song that has an easier solo for the second chair/third chair flutists to split and save the technical stuff for yourself: that way they can be part of the spotlight but you can still show off your stuff. Your generosity may inspire them to be nicer to you in rehearsals, as well.

This may be a little off topic, but you still might be interested to hear this.
Altus Flutes is doing a contest and the winner and a guest gets a free trip to New York for three days as well as two tickets to see Denis Bouriakov (who is a unbelievable performer if you havent seen him) at Carnegie Hall. The winner will also be able to have Dinner with Denis After the show. Here is the link to register if you are interested.

http://www.altusflutes.com/2010/DinnerWithDenis.aspx

Norman17, if you would like to advertise an even it would be more productive to post a new topic. I am sure it is a nice event but, spamming is frowned upon in this flute forum.

At least we know not to buy Altus flutes.

Nearly forgot, playing in an orchestra is being a member of a team. If you are worrying about whether you are playing a solo and therfore getting the lime light than you are not a team player and don't deserve to be in the orchestra at all. If we all thought like that then there would not be any strings (most of whom never get to play a solo in their lives (at least at the level being talked about here)) and there would be no orchestra. If you are the principal then it is your responsibility to do the best that you can for the team. Believe me, the strings no more want these people in the orchestra than you do (and I would be surprised if the other wind thought any different as well). How is it fair that you are the piccolo and principal flute? well put it another way, how is it fair that you have invested time and money in having a piccolo available to play that you should be denied the opportunity to be principal flute just because the other players were too selfish to learn the piccolo. If they spent less time whining and more time practicing then they would be better than you and be principal on merit. No! take your opportunities when they come, the rest of the orchestra will be grateful for having someone like you. The chances are when you grow up, you will still be playing when the idiots that are with you will long ago have forgotten which end of the flute is which, and good riddance. I suggest that you make friends with the other sections, keep your eyes open and if you see the same rubbish elsewhere, support the other principals, maybe they will notice your problems and help.

Before you decide "not to buy Altus flutes" you should consider that Norman17 may not work for Altus. A lot of posters on this and other forums in the past have posted polar positive and negative comments about manufacturers and dealers only to be revealed as competitors of those products or disgruntled ex-employees.

Altus flutes are some of the best flutes on the market today, IMO. I wouldn't refuse to buy one just because a spammer made an obscure comment on a flute forum. Please use caution when making blanket statements- slander goes a long way on the internet.

Can you get all of the flute section music before it is handed out, and hand it out yourself?
If so, I think you could implement a system that would add harmony to the whole section and really create some leadership for you.

First, I would talk to the director. It would look much better if the other section leaders were in charge of handing music out to their sections.

Second, have the director make a comment the next time music is handed out, outlining the qualifications, responsibilities, and privileges of the section leaders, so the others know what they need to do if they want to be section leader sometime. (Ie, practice a LOT and become competent to play even the hardest solo work). But being section leader is actually more work than some people want to do, and I think the jealousy would be mitigated if the others realized just exactly what they would have to do to gain the principal position. And if they really WANT to work that hard, you will have a better flute section for it.

Third, give away some of the easier, smaller solos, as suggested earlier. Then, assign each of the solos an 'understudy', making it clear that if the principal assign-ee is unable to attend the performance, they will perform it. Also, make sure they play it at least once in regular rehearsal. Perhaps assign the most aggressive 'solo hogger' a school piccolo, and make them learn picc, too- that will keep them busy!

Kshel, You are quite right. Sorry.

It's all good. I have been toasted in a forum for the same thing before, but the person who righted me was correct in doing so. It helps me think openly!

PhilOshite is right, reminded us that we are in a same team trying to make good music in harmony. I think I should mind less about the solos.

we have similar situation in my HS concert band, I'm section leader and picc player. We have 2 band periods bc of in past people dropping ot bc the time clashed with another class. In my period, me and one other girl is good the other 5, to be blunt are terrable. And for w/e reason are always trying to play 1st parts, they kno they are 2nds. So my point is simply just make sure they know their place remind them who worked for their spot (you).