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set up

Posted by helpless on 2/10/2021, 2:39 pm

Do you put first chair flutes on left of conductor or right? What about clarinets?

Re: set up

Posted by Klaactu on 2/14/2021, 6:08 pm, in reply to "set up"

McAdow tried to place as many first chairs/section leaders close to each other as possible.

Re: set up

Posted by Dennis Syring on 2/13/2021, 11:59 am, in reply to "set up"

Your staging set is critical and may vary from one concert venue to another. If you are looking to get a good recording or just give those judges your best performance you should consider how the band is set up. Get some older directors you respect to listen to your band and try their recommendations. I would give you my typical set up but it varied from year to year. The stage you perform on will present a number of challenges which your band hall may not. Seldom have I found a UIL stage ideal for recording for competitions (except Gladewater).
If possible go and listen to other bands at your contest sites. Do not be afraid to experiment and move kids around in rehearsals. Also, record your rehearsals, analyze, and adjust your seating. It has worked for my bands.

Re: set up

Posted by MS on 2/11/2021, 3:20 pm, in reply to "set up"

I put my clarinets on my left. I put the trumpets right behind them. They usually have similar parts at this level.

The flutes go on my right.

I split the first two rows with flutes and clarinets. Oboes in the middle of the first row and bassoons on the second row. Double reeds sometimes have to be moved to alternate locations based on the strength of the players and the needs of the pieces.

I like the horn on my right because the lead player plays into the others. I also like the saxes behind them to help with pitch as they usually have similar parts.

You do have to play around with setup depending on numbers and strengths and what the pieces demand

Re: set up

Posted by Jeremy on 2/11/2021, 7:29 am, in reply to "set up"

Doesn't most of the sound emanating from a flute come from around the head joint? Isn't this why flute players who play to a microphone align the head joint with the mic instead of the opening at the foot joint?

It's my understand the sound of the flute comes mostly from the headjoint area but that some sound comes from the body of the flute and very little comes from the opening at the foot joint.

If this is the case, then flutes could sit on the right or the left and it would not make much difference.

Possible better for flute players to sit to the conductor's right.

Re: set up

Posted by Hodor on 2/11/2021, 10:18 am, in reply to "Re: set up"

You're correct. There's a reason the flute doesn't have a bell.

I get annoyed every time somebody tries to mic my flute at the bell. No, dude, that's not where the sound comes out.

Re: set up

Posted by Retired on 2/11/2021, 4:24 am, in reply to "set up"

Flute sound projects from the "Front & to the LEFT" of the player.

Stand outside (example, on a football field) and have the player, (while playing) stand at least 10 yards (30 feet) in front of the listener and slowly turn around (complete circle).

This demonstrates flute acoustics.

Re: set up

Posted by Visual on 2/10/2021, 10:22 pm, in reply to "set up"

Flutes on the conductor's right end up putting their backs to the audience. On the left they end up facing the audience. Better visual, better projection.

Re: set up

Posted by bandit on 2/10/2021, 9:23 pm, in reply to "set up"

I always put flutes to my right because they are my strongest and usually stronger than my clarinets. But really i guess i just picked a side when i was young and kept doing it that way.

Re: set up

Posted by DesertJazz on 2/10/2021, 7:59 pm, in reply to "set up"

As a flute player I always prefer being on the conductors Right, with the principal player being on the outside. That lets all of the other section members hear you, and they can adjust pitch/vibrato accordingly. I've been in groups where we were on the left, and the principal on the outside still. I hate that situation because it's next to impossible to really hear the principal most of the time if you're not right next to them. If you are going to that side I strongly encourage putting your principal in the middle!

I have had one year where I needed more volume with flutes, so I put them on my left and the principal in the center. I much prefer them on my right though. Clarinets are generally opposite the flutes as the other responder said.

Of course this year with my COVID setup that's hard to say anything on! Straight ranks and files spread out on our stage definitely has resulted in an interesting setup!

Re: set up

Posted by Flute Player on 2/11/2021, 10:47 am, in reply to "Re: set up"

As a flute player, I agree with all of this!

Re: set up

Posted by depends on 2/10/2021, 6:52 pm, in reply to "set up"

If the flutes are good, conductors left. If they're bad, on the right.

clarinets on the opposite side from the flutes

Re: set up

Posted by Really retired on 2/10/2021, 9:42 pm, in reply to "Re: set up"

always had top flute on left to help project sound out - and put 1st clarinets behind flute on row 2. Next, I kept oboe withing this same range of voices.

Re: set up

Posted by Count Bubba on 2/10/2021, 8:50 pm, in reply to "Re: set up"

Is there a reason for that? I know how that applies to French horn, but not necessarily flute.

As a woodwind player, whenever I perform on flute, I prefer to be on the left side from the conductor's perspective. My body is more open to the audience and I feel like I can see the conductor better.

But regardless of which side I sit, I'm blowing straight at the conductor and the embouchure hole is where the sound comes out.

Re: set up

Posted by Not really on 2/11/2021, 8:25 am, in reply to "Re: set up"

The sound does not only come off of the lip plate. The air column in the flute vibrates, producing sound. The path of least resistance is the foot joint (all keys closed), after that the path is which ever tone hole(s) is/are open toward the foot joint.

One can easily measure the volume with a decibel reader at different locations around the player. Different notes will change the volume reading. Perform a test and report back

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