Though the title does sound a bit like it should be something to do with football, I'm curious as to which position everyone plays in bands and orchestras - numerical (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc), desk, inside/outside for strings, etcetera - and where people are most comfortable (I know some people love the principal parts while others are 1st-o-phobic).

I usually play 1st or 3rd Horn, though I've also done 2nd and 4th on occasions. I don't think the numbers are really a question of "who's better", though - they're misleading. I've played some 4th parts and I completely hand it to the 4th Horns who can bring out those low notes so well!

Unsurprisingly, I'm most comfortable on 1st or 3rd - I prefer 1st when I really like what we're playing and there's an interesting part. However, I've seen some 3rd parts I like better than 1st, and when I'm not comfortable with what we're doing I prefer 3rd because I'm nearly guaranteed there's someone good playing at the same pitch or on top of me! It's a bit of a reprieve when you're stressed about the way it's sounding.

So, which position do you play, what do you like/dislike about it and where are you most comfortable?

In the youth symphonie orchestra I play in I'm one of the two 1st flutes which I really like, as the 2nd flutes had almost nothing to do in the pieces we played for the concert yesterday. Plus you get to play solos.

In both of the concert bands I play principal flute, and 1st in my Youth Orchestra. I play 2nd Alto Sax in my big band too, which is always fun I feel totally comfortabl playing 1st or principal flute though if I was playing clarinet I wouldn't even think about playing 1st! And in Jazz ensembles like my big band I prefer 2nd because my rhythm reading isn't so great and I prefer to be led rather than leading the section!
Alex xxx

Whichever is the easiest part they've got.
But I've not been learning long.

Depends how hard the parts are, but in our string group i normally play first because i'm not very good at sight reading or counting so it's easier if i have the tune (im such a cheater). In band there's only one flute part which we all play, and in woodwind group i play second flute (because the other person is about grade 7, and i'm kinda grade 4ish)

1st flute or piccolo, depending on what our conductor has arranged the piece for

At uni, in band 2nd, in clarinet choir 2nd or 3rd. In concert band at home I play first. The first parts in concert band are about equal in difficulty with the 2nd 3rd parts at uni.

For clarinet in my orchestra i play principal clarinet, lots of solos YAY! We're playing the mozart clarinet concerto soon can't wait!

For flute i play 2nd flute.

Desk 5 second violins where I hide and air-bow

Lead clarinet in one wind band, 2nd or 3rd clarinet in another wind band which I get to less often. In the band in which I'm lead clarinet, I do like to give some solos to others to play, so everyone gets the chance to show their talents. It's good to have the variety of parts to play.

Nicia - are you doing the solo part for the Mozart? If you are, hope you enjoy every second of this wonderful piece!

In the brass bands i play in i am on solo, and 2nd cornet - no prizes for the band of the higher standard (yes its the band I play solo for? strange, or is it because the better band is a youth band where young people don't have to wait till someone dies before they can move up!)
In orhcestra I play all the the trumpet parts - as the conductor swaps them about (this system is a it too fair - and often means the least competent players get put on the hardest part in the hardest piece!)
I play 1st trumpet in the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra.

I'm always in the 'inner circle' for most of the group I'm in. By inner circle I mean the 1st desk. I like sitting close to the conductor. Somehow I always feel abandoned if I'm sitting close the conductor. This sometimes creat problems when I'm playing clarinet in a symphony orchestra because they always sit back. I know I'm weird.

I'm principal clarinet /concertmaster for our school premier concert band. Clarinet 2 and 1 sometimes in the new zealand secondary school symphony orchestra, 1st desk viola in another youth orchestra. etc etc. The list gones on

I almost always end up on outside desk which I am fine with, and prefer (only because I'm used to it I think). Not so bothered about whether I'm 1st or 2nd violin, but if I'm 2nd I want to be on 1st desk really, otherwise it's pretty boring because the parts are easier and you don't have any bowings/fingerings to discuss. I gravitate towards the outside desk in the middle of the 1sts. Close enough to see the conductor and hear any discussion going on, far enough away not to be relied upon by too many so missing one rehearsal isn't going to cause problems.

When playing in a brass band I either play solo, 1st or 2nd horn - we take it in turns because the 2nd horn part can often be very tedious to play. I actually don't mind which of these parts I play but often end up on solo as I'm more comfortable than the others when playing in the horn's higher range.

When I play in a windband I either play flute, alto sax or clarinet - the easiest available part as I'm not that proficient on these instruments.

When I play with the recorder consort, I play which ever instrument is needed - so I often end up on bass as I'm one of only 2 players in the group with my own bass instrument. I prefer treble though, as I really love the tone it produces.

In Wind Band i play 2nd flute and in school band i play principal flute.

1st flute, I'm usually volunteered

school orchestra: first and only bassoon, always.

county orchestras: last year, principal, this year, right at the end of the section (though it is the best youth orchestra in brighton so it's to be expected!)

Soprano cornet (only one in a band! )

Left back (usually in the dressing room)

LOL. No, I don't play in any orchestras.

Andy!

I am usually 2nd 2nd flute in my band...so basically, there are 3 1st flutes and a picc, and 4 second flutes and I am the second of the seconds.

I'm in the middle of a band summer course now and I'm on 1st clarinet. I'm generally first on most things now.

I play in a few orchestras and string groups. I lead the orchestra in two and lead seconds in the other, which i love and we switch around in the others so I have played in most positions. I don't really mind where I sit as long as I can hear the conductor during rehearsals, but I prefer being on the outside because i always forget to turn the page when i'm on the inside, resulting in a lot of annoyed looks from my desk partners!

At the moment it's first flute at school band, I suspect it will be 2nd flute for the intermediate course I'm going on (they love bits of paper and I have none.. )

1st when I'm on clarinet, unless the sixth former who conducts takes 1st clarinet out... Highly annoying
2nd Alto in sax group, would play 3rd but we have 3 people on that already, 2 on 1st so I'm the only one who plays 2nd! Unless they need a soprano, in which case I switch instruments quite happily!

I joined the Jersey Youth Orchestra this year and I'm currently on 8th desk, Second violin, outside.



Regards,

xx Leanne xx Hellokitty xx

The only viola player, usually but on orchestral courses, I'm normally on the front desk, even though I'm not the best player grades-wise.

I'm third desk on the violas. I prefer being at the front in front of the conductor otherwise I find I just can't see over peoples heads etc. I didn't do a seating audition and so got shunted to the back, and it constantly annoys me. But whenever the deputy-principle isn't there, I always seem to end up sitting at the front desk next to the leader.

Yes Iam can't wait! The orchestra goes to all the different instruments to do a concerto (usually the famous ones) and now it's clarinets turn have been waiting ages for this as well!

I love being at the back it's much more fun! but in band where i play flute i'm right on the front row !

Woodwind in orchstra is the best section we have so much fun! Although i have been asking violinvs loadsa questions at the moment!

I'm in a big band and i'm on first tenor sax and i love it lol...i usually get all the solos which is great!
I used 2 be on second alto but the leader put me onto first tenor and i love it!

In wind orchestra I play 2nd horn but will be 1st next year when current 1st leaves. The times I've played horn in my youth orchestra I played 4th and 3rd, otherwise I'm number 2 viola, or next year principal when current principal leaves. In my jazz orchestra I play piano And I play 1st viola in my string quartet

I play 2nd desk viola (seeing there is three of us).

Ah, the pain of being a flute and a piccolo!

I'm in.... 3 orchestras and 3 wind bands so it gets complicated! Mostly I play a first flute part or picc, in 2 wind bands I'm 1st chair, and in one of the orchestras we shared the chair (lol) so I got to be 1st chair for a world premiere, with a big solo!

The flutes I know are mostly very very competitive, everyone seems to think they could do it better (I'm different, I KNOW I could ) so I've been planning my next few years, hopefully in 2 years I'll be 1st chair in the regional orchestra and band - unless nobody else takes up picc, in which case I'll never get to play 1st chair solos!!!

Wow, I'm so overly dramatic when it comes to seating arrangements. It's the taking part that counts!!.... just make it a part with lots of solos