First Chair Placements Worksheet

My hands shook as I put down my pencil, staring at the clock with fear burning in my mind like a hot iron. “I can’t do this,” I whispered to Amanda, who was sitting next to me, finishing a worksheet. “How am I ever going to wait twelve more minutes?” Amanda turned to me, and I could tell she was nervous as well, although not to the degree that I was. “You’re going to be fine,” she said. “I know you’re going to get it.” “I really hope you’re right,” I whispered. I took a deep, shaking breath and tried to convince myself that she was right. You deserve to get it, I told myself. You worked so hard... There’s no way you won’t meet your goal. Despite my attempt at confidence, a small voice, full of doubt, spoke in my head. Maybe you …show more content…
“I am going to do it,” I whispered. “I just know I’m going to get first chair.” I opened my eyes and stared at the clock again, not really seeing it, as I thought back to all of the time and energy I had dedicated to this one goal...

At the end of my sixth grade school year, I received an audition packet for chair placements. I knew I had a shot at getting first chair, since all of the flautists above me last year had graduated, so I resolved to work as hard as I possibly could on the packet. The day I got my packet, I went home and immediately made a “practice calendar”, which I hung on my wall. I told myself that in order to get first chair, I would have to practice every single day. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was determined Days turned into weeks, and my summer flew by. Somehow, despite lessons and activities and countless other things filling up my days, I managed to set aside twenty minutes every day to practice my audition packet. The only days on which I did not practice were the seven days I spent in Hawaii. Other than that week, I never went to bed without pulling out my flute and playing through my entire packet. As the school year loomed ever closer, I found myself feeling very confident about my chances of meeting my …show more content…
In only four minutes, the audition results would be posted and the long wait would finally be over. If my audition scores were higher than those of the other five flutes in the band, I would claim the top spot, which would mean solos and featured parts on both flute and piccolo. If one of the other flautists had done better on her audition, I would not have any of it. It was all or nothing now, and anything could happen. Three minutes... Two minutes... My heart pounded so loudly I was certain it could be heard by the other students in the classroom. One minute... Forty-five seconds... The butterflies in my stomach felt more like giant birds of prey. Thirty seconds... Fifteen seconds... I tried to pick up my stack of books and realized that my hands were trembling like leaves in the wind. Brrriiiiiiiiing!!! The bell rang and I jumped to my feet. My friends followed me, fear on their faces; many of them were waiting for audition results of their own. “Okay, guys,” I said softly. “This is it. Let’s go.” We hurried out of the classroom and down the hallway, breathless with fear and anticipation. Terrified, I stared at the lists, which were already hanging, and I searched frantically for my own name. “Where is it, where is it...” I