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Date Posted: 13:19:11 04/14/05 Thu
Author: Chad
Subject: Exclusiveness Within Woodwinds...How To Quell Jealous Sections.

This is a very broad question that I would like an answer to. In our high school band, we had sectionals with flutes and clarinets. Oddly enough, the flutists overall attitude towards the clarinetists was negative. In a way, the flute section thought they were better than the clarinets and often refused to cooperate with them during rehearsal. Is there an easy solution to promote equality within band or is this too touchy of an issue to intervene in?

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Replies:

[> Re: Exclusiveness Within Woodwinds...How To Quell Jealous Sections. -- Hayley, 16:53:29 04/15/05 Fri [1]

We had that problem in my high school as well. Except in our band it was between the percussionists and the winds. Here's what one of my band directors did to try to solve the problem:
Every summer at band camp we would have Band Olympics where we would play a lot of different games. One band director I had had us do team building games where we had to all work together in the game. We also had a day where we had a band picnic as well. By my senior year the band as a whole was getting along a lot better. I'm not sure if any of the activities that I mentioned had anything to do with it or not but hey, it's worth a try!


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[> [> Re: Exclusiveness Within Woodwinds...How To Quell Jealous Sections. -- Nickie, 14:11:16 04/19/05 Tue [1]

A few things that I find interesting...

I've never noticed this kind of animosity in any band or choir I've ever been in. In middle school, in our band, there was animosity WITHIN the section which was often times difficult to reconcile. The "first chair" person always snubbed their nose to the rest of the section.

But in all the choirs I've ever been in, there has never been a problem with tension between sections. I wonder how this is started... where it's root is... and how it can be fixed...?


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[> [> [> Re: Exclusiveness Within Woodwinds...How To Quell Jealous Sections. -- Molly, 17:48:07 02/19/06 Sun [1]

I'd actually have to agree. Throughout all the bands I've been in, I've never noticed jealousy or agressive emotions towards the other sections, other than occasionally harsh words towards a specific sections (stupid drummers...; what WERE those flutes THINKING?), but sometimes that tends to be more a personal problem.... It always seems to be within the sections, and that can lead to a problem, especially with younger students who have a harder time reconciling and working with each other. Sometimes the person at the head of the section is easily angered by the others or maybe you just want to kill that guy who sits ahead of you.
Besides, I think that getting along within sections and with other sections is something that the young students will grow into, because you cannot make students like one another, but you can enforce the idea of cooperation instead.


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[> Re: Exclusiveness Within Woodwinds...How To Quell Jealous Sections. -- Amanda, 09:25:45 02/13/06 Mon [1]

I think that the animosity towards other sections and players/singers most likely begins at a young age. The students need to learn that each instrument/section is important in its own way, and that an group cannot achieve its goals without everyone working together. Easier said than done right?! A major thing to keep in mind is that when you have a beginning band/choir the students haven't made many judgements their minds are still fresh. During school, we never really had problems between sections or anything. I think it is due to our director making us aware that all sections are crucial to the success of the group. That concept was taught not only through words, but also thier actions and attitudes. A big thing is SHOW the students what you mean, you are a big influence during this time.


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[> Re: Exclusiveness Within Woodwinds...How To Quell Jealous Sections. -- Erika, 16:04:41 02/19/06 Sun [1]

I experienced the tension between sections in my high school concert band. We had a variety of talented musicians but it always seemed like a competition. In some ways it helped the band because since every section wanted to be the best they practiced quite a bit so that they were really good. In other ways it hurt the band because we all needed to work together to create the best music. In marching band every year we would have a competition between sections during our first week of two-a-days. This would give everyone a time to have some fun and create a fun routine to show the other sections. Every section was very supportive of the other sections and everyone seemed to have a good time. I am not sure how that idea would fit into a concert band setting. If there was a way to use that concept in a concert band setting then maybe there would not be that tension between sections.


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[> Re: Exclusiveness Within Woodwinds...How To Quell Jealous Sections. -- Derek, 15:25:45 02/21/06 Tue [1]

Simply put a sign on the wall that says this:

"There is no I in B-A-N-D."

Point to that day in and day out, and hopefully the mature students will get the point and become role models for the rest of the ensemble... because there IS no I in BAND


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[> Re: Exclusiveness Within Woodwinds...How To Quell Jealous Sections. -- Cheryl, 16:43:02 02/27/06 Mon [1]

I did not see this behavior in high school band. At least not to that extent. At the High School I attended, the sectionals were everyday for the 1/2 hour before or after your lunch, depending upon whether you had lunch at the top half or the bottom half of the hour.
The sectionals were led by one of the band directors. The type of behavior you are descibing, when it was seen by a director, was not tolerated.

When I was in Jr. High, the mean behavior was directed at me every day during band. The director did not stop them.
When I went to High School, I stood up to the ring leader and she stopped. After that, I learned to ignore all the pettiness and only pay attention to the directors, the drum majors, and Flora.

When I am a teacher, I will go the route of the band directors at my High School. Mean, petty, hateful behavior toward your classmates will not be tolerated.

Loss of band priveledges will result from such behavior.


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