#switching instruments

[bandwhenyouretrans]

So I started playing trumpet last year and I hate it I just want to switch back to flute. I’m a senior next year and I’m literally sitting last chair in the lowest band. It makes me feel like shit. My music teacher allows everyone else to switch but she won’t let me. I think it’s because of me being trans. I’m close to quitting at this point. The shit she’s doing to me is making me want to die.

Tell her (if you feel comfortable) that I am switching to flute becuase I feel more comfortable with woodwinds that brass. Bring along a friend just Incase, but be confident! You can do this!

[loubells]

Listening to Streetlight Manifesto.

Today was great, I got to play at the Rock Hall, and be on tv.

That and yesterday Nate and I were dancing around on the track as people passed us, and it seems I am going to be on Tuba next year! <3 

[fuckyeahdrumline-blog]

I'm going to do it. I've already started practicing out of horn etude books. I'm doing all the breathing exercises that we do in band on my own, and I'm getting all my brass playing friends to help me with my tone and breathing. I'm going to get my friends who were in corps to help me with my marching too, as well as my two band directors. And my girlfriend and I are going to go running every night. I registered for the Boston Crusaders today. And even though I won't have enough money to go to that audition in November, I'm going to make one hell of a good audition video. I want this. I don't want to miss out on this just because I can't really play drums anymore right now. Fuck that. I'll just get better on a different instrument. I will march drum corps. I'm going to make it happen. 

[heat---seeker]

So I just got home from a great band practice. Towards the end of it, we got bored of our respective instruments, so we switched around to me playing drums, guitarist playing my keyboards, bassist playing guitar, and drummer playing bass. At first it was godawful, but I started getting a simple beat going and we went off. Came up with some pretty cool/confusing shit and decided that we might try it at a live show one day.

oh and our singer couldn't make it to practice 'cause she's not cool enough.

[ask-a-horn-player-blog]

I am going to be a freshman in high school next year, and this year I auditioned for the highest level of band the high school offers. I made it in. I plan on switching instruments and playing horn next year, instead of tenor sax which I currently play. I know of kids who switch instruments while in wind ensemble(the highest band level), but would it be wise to continue in wind ensemble playing a new instrument? Or should I switch and drop down a band level? I'm so conflicted, advice?

I can't tell you what you should or should not do, but...

I would drop down to the middle/bottom band, personally. It'll be a lot easier for you to learn the instrument and straining to do things you can't do yet can cause you to have terrible habits, and probably will.

If you're good enough to have gotten into the top band this year, work hard for the year and re-audition for the top band the following year.

However, if I really was in your situation I would stay on your tenor for this year and play with the top band once, learning horn on the side, in order to ease you into your new high school atmosphere as well as it being a great learning experience. Then, I would audition with horn the next year and see where it puts you.

In the end, it's up to you!

-M