Band director is an idiot!!!!?

Question:I played first chair trumpet in my hs band. Earlier this school year a solo was given to the person in second chair. There was NO audition at all. Now that person is one of my best friends. When I go and talk to the director about why the solo wasn't auditioned for, he flatly told me he didn't think I could play it. Fast foward to two weeks ago. For the first time in 5 years he decides to hold chair auditions. We all try out. I get placed in third chair. Not to sound conceited or anything, but I know I'm better than the person in second chair( my friend got first). I am told by other music directors that I'm an good and an important part to the band, but all I can say is if they're gonna treat me unfairly then I'm not gonna participate. I plan on dropping band next semester and leave them hurtin. The whole program is revolved around favorites (the popular few), I'm an unfavorite, but I'm nice to everyone. My friends don't know that I plan on quiting. How do I tell them.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I played first chair trumpet in my hs band. Earlier this school year a solo was given to the person in second chair. There was NO audition at all. Now that person is one of my best friends. When I go and talk to the director about why the solo wasn't auditioned for, he flatly told me he didn't think I could play it. Fast foward to two weeks ago. For the first time in 5 years he decides to hold chair auditions. We all try out. I get placed in third chair. Not to sound conceited or anything, but I know I'm better than the person in second chair( my friend got first). I am told by other music directors that I'm an good and an important part to the band, but all I can say is if they're gonna treat me unfairly then I'm not gonna participate. I plan on dropping band next semester and leave them hurtin. The whole program is revolved around favorites (the popular few), I'm an unfavorite, but I'm nice to everyone. My friends don't know that I plan on quiting. How do I tell them.

I agree with Marianna. Suck it up and play. That is life. Maybe The person did really really well in auditions. I know how you feel. I have always gotten leads and solos until I moved to a small town. I havent gotten a single one since then. Favorites? maybe.

Stop and think for a minute. If you plan on playing in college then continue playing now regardless of the situation. Honestly, you may not be as good as you think you are or maybe your friends did better in the audition. Your perception of favorites may be just that, a perception and is it really worth messing up your future plans for? Suck it up and play. Of course you're an important part of the band, but the band will play without you and they may be glad to see you go if they perceive your attitude to be anything like what we're seeing here. People are more perceptive than you think. You may think it's unfair to be 3rd chair, but they may have really thought that 2 people played better than you on audition day. End of story.

If you quit, the only one that will suffer a loss is you. You will have no band practice and no further music experience to put on your college apps. The 4th chair trumpet will get to move up and will be happy. The band director will likely not care and will probably think less of you for quitting. Your parents who may have just paid a good deal of money into the band program may not be happy either.

I think you should stop, breaht deep, count to ten, a few times, and really think about this before doing anything irreversable. If you stay in te program you have the chance to get future solos. You also have a chance at music scholarships and playing in a college band where talent will be recognized without pretense. You could even be on an album like the USC marching band and travel with the sports teams to big games, etc.

Just think about your long term goals and what really matters. One band director now, or your future...

Marianne