Ok, I just got sick of looking at the small images, so I uploaded ones that are a little bigger. I was testing pulling pics from Twitpic to my blog – and that’s what sent them over here so small. So here are a couple slightly larger versions:

Also, Angela’s question below about chair tests inspired me to do some digging around the interwebs for some kind of explanation as to what purpose chair tests actually serve. I did not, myself, take band, and so I’m rather curious myself. I found this very helpful article by a man in San Antonio named Jerry A. Greene.

The most enlightening part of the article, for me, was:

Being A Leader

When students start out playing in beginning band and/or orchestra, they become familiar with the “am I right?” syndrome. They start to listen to one another and try to figure out what’s going on. If no-one sets an example as a leader, the section usually starts to get lost even when the conductor is focusing on that group. At times, one student will be playing in one place, another one will be somewhere completely different and others will just be sitting there having no idea where they are supposed to be. This is the time for the students that have the most confidence in themselves and their training shine, and usually end up becoming first chair.

I suppose I realized some of that, but, the part that I found most interesting is that the rest of the group, say, the trumpets – as is the case with the girls – look up to those in the lead positions in keeping up with the music itself. Makes total sense – I just never thought of that part of it. There are many, many things that I am learning going on this Band Mom journey! It’s pretty darn neat, really!

You can read the rest of Mr. Greene’s article here: Being First Chair In Band And Orchestra

Thank you for the great question, Angela, and thank you so much for the helpful article, Jerry! Appreciate you both!

P.S. Isn’t it kind of funny how Sammie’s room sort of matches my blog? LOL!!