bagpuss
Active Member
Just wondered about others opinion on the subject of section leaders. There is one particular person in our band who is in favour of them (you know who you are). I on the other hand am completely against them, and I must say that if someone tried to be my section leader and started giving orders, they would be more than liable to get punched!!!
As far as I am concerned, we are all in a band together as a team and that's how it should stay. From the 'weakest' player to the 'strongest', it shouldn't matter. If they are good enough to be in the band, they should be respected as such and not looked down upon as being somehow inferior. In fact, if they do fall into the 'weaker player' category, then they should be encouraged all the more. To illustrate the point, in the percussion section in our band, there are 3 of us. Myself and two young ladies (one of whom is 15years younger than me - that makes me feel so old!!). I know that both of these young ladies feel somehow inferior to me and I'm told that there have been some less than complimentary looks and words if I'm not at rehearsal for whatever reason. Now, these haven't been serious enough to warrant a word with the MD (as far as I know), but I am still keen to stop it from happening. Just because they are both younger than me, doesn't mean they have any more or less right than I do in the band. Yes, I have been playing longer than them (longer than one has been alive in fact!), but they are BOTH there on merit and as far as I'm concerned that's all that matters. If they struggle with a part, I'll try my best to help, and I'd like to think that if I was in the same position, they'd do the same.
So, now I've illustrated my point, what does everyone feel about section leaders? Shouldn't all members of the band help all the others and not be section specific???
B. Puss esq
As far as I am concerned, we are all in a band together as a team and that's how it should stay. From the 'weakest' player to the 'strongest', it shouldn't matter. If they are good enough to be in the band, they should be respected as such and not looked down upon as being somehow inferior. In fact, if they do fall into the 'weaker player' category, then they should be encouraged all the more. To illustrate the point, in the percussion section in our band, there are 3 of us. Myself and two young ladies (one of whom is 15years younger than me - that makes me feel so old!!). I know that both of these young ladies feel somehow inferior to me and I'm told that there have been some less than complimentary looks and words if I'm not at rehearsal for whatever reason. Now, these haven't been serious enough to warrant a word with the MD (as far as I know), but I am still keen to stop it from happening. Just because they are both younger than me, doesn't mean they have any more or less right than I do in the band. Yes, I have been playing longer than them (longer than one has been alive in fact!), but they are BOTH there on merit and as far as I'm concerned that's all that matters. If they struggle with a part, I'll try my best to help, and I'd like to think that if I was in the same position, they'd do the same.
So, now I've illustrated my point, what does everyone feel about section leaders? Shouldn't all members of the band help all the others and not be section specific???
B. Puss esq