Today I've been thinking.

In English class, we're reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. And today we were discussing two of the characters. One of them has great ideas about how to change the world, but doesn't want to step up and make them happen. The other doesn't have great ideas, but is willing to put himself at risk to make a change. Our teacher said she thinks of people as being in one of two groups- thinkers and doers, and a third group that are sort of both. The thinkers are like the first character, and the doers are like the second. And I consider myself a thinker- I'm sort of shy and unwilling to step up.

I'm the clarinet section leader of my band. But I don't feel like I am; I've been trying to help my section improve, but I feel like I can't say anything without sounding bossy. That's what I've learned from several of our band's clarinetists before me; controlling isn't the right way to lead your section. But right now I don't know how else to lead.

One day, senior year, I would love to be the drum major of our band. But before I can, I have to learn to be a leader.

And that's what I've been thinking about today- being a leader. I'm shy, quiet, unwilling to stand out. Do I have to change all that to be a leader? I look around at the people I consider leaders; they're talkative, generally loud but not obnoxiously so. Pretty much everything that I'm not.

So that's what I've been thinking. How much do I actually have to change to be a leader? Can I lead, and yet still be quiet? Can I lead, and still be passive?

Being a leader is something I've really wanted to be for a while now. It would make things so much easier. But yet I'm not sure I want to change who I am. *sigh*

You know, this is exactly what I've been thinking about the last couple of days. Not so much with band, but with choir. I feel like you, even though I'm normally outgoing and leader-like, but only with my closest friends. Otherwise.. =/

I think it's possible, as I managed it the last time we had a concert. You just have to speak out when you need to, and not make everyone else feel like you don't want to help. Just lead with what you can, and appoint a few second-in-charges to help you along if need be. It'd be easier on you --and everybody else, by the way-- if it was active participation and not a dictatorship like you said.

I'm just going from what I know from choir, though. I have yet to be section leader of the trumpet section, although I share the first-chair spot with four others for some reason (o_O), so some stuff may not apply.

WARNING: I may not be the most reliable source since my school is, well...new...and thus, in addition to our location, we're a strange place you won't see anywhere else (or much else =P)...


From experience in all areas: band, academic clubs, athletics, group projects, you name it, I firmly beleive that I know the answer. You do, too; it looks like you're having a difficult time digesting it. I'm not entirely sure how you define shy and quiet...if you mean distant 24/7, then I can't relate to that. I put myself in that category, but it's only with my 'egg shell', as one teacher one used to describe me. Once you crack my shell, those traits begin to dissipate. Well, using myself as the example, I'm always the leader. A couple things on this: you must be the best at whatever it is you're doing, IMO. You won't get any disciples if you can't best them. Actually, lemme rephrase that: you gotta either be the best or think you're the best. Yes, a certain aura of 'I'm higher up than you!' is almost a necessity. Don't wanna stand out? Depends on what you mean. If your group is small, you shouldn't have a whole lot of standing out to do, so it shouldn't nuke you. Sorry, but I happen to disagree with Hazelnut. Leading is all about being a dictator. Hey, it's not for everyone. You gotta speak your opinion and your thoughts whether your audience likes what they are or not. Thus, you probbaly will have some stragglers who AREN'T your disciples ever...there have been some people who have not gotten along wel with me before *nods*. That's called you can't have ideal conditions where the whole world holds hands and sings Hakuna Matata while doing the macarena (wait...that mak no sense :S...whatever, I'm losin' it). Most importantly, above all else, leaders aren't passive. I can recall a fifth grade classroom discussion about the leaders and followers after a team-building day; the one thing we all picked up was that (though not using the same words =P) the followers were just kinda there while the leaders were dynamic personalities. You have to be. If not anything else I've tried my best to cover without getting into something longer than I could get out of, at least be a dynamic personality. Passive=/=Leader Material A dynamic personality is paramount because ya need disciples, people who will band with you in anything you say, even if it's just some informal whatever (group project, for example). Chances are, they're less dynamic than you are or just think more highly of you than themselves (or they're just lazy =P). In fact, who's the leader if the leader is shirking their leading whatevers...responsibilites, roles, image, whatever.

Thus, I think you'd make a stellar follower. Yeeeeah, coming from my position, conformity seems necessary in your situation. But, then again, I don't know how informal your clarinet section and band overall is. If everyone either doesn't care, isn't OCD, and/or is composed entirely of static personalities, then everything I've said is invalidated because my experiences are based on having me around...a quiet but dynamic personality. Regardless, I hope what I said made sense ^_^;...the antithesis, standing around churning up nimbus clouds over the poster above me. I may have more to say later =P...

I know exactly what you mean. Well, from a follower standpoint. I'm set to succeed my leader in a year or two when (they-ish) leave for college, and lead my orchestra... I know most of the people and am familiar with them(and better than), but at the same time I don't think I'll ever be prepared. Also, my leader can be a little... bossy/nitpicky. (She has that aura of holier-than-thou, but she's not THAT amazing... the person behind her in rank is better, but a grade lower... which is why she's leader.) If anything, try to inject humor into some advice so that your section will know that you're not completely serious about how bad they are... which, if they're anything like my orchestra, is pretty bad. (at least in the back.)

Illegible is right, but don't be too "high and mighty" about it. (You shouldn't have that problem, from what you're saying...) The "I'm better than you" feeling actually isn't necessary, in my humble opinion. I know my friend is a born leader, but he won't make you feel inferior, he just knows how to phrase things so that everyone comes out happy.

You will need to assert yourself, though, maybe strongly at first, but don't alienate everyone so that they all hate you and you feel horrible. (Then you might have to make a new thread in this forum to vent your frustration :P)

The thing is, in my orchestra, we're more of a network of friendship than a leader-follower complex, so it's a little more complicated to lead without someone's feelings getting hurt. Also, my teacher despises me. So maybe I won't be leader of anything... ever.

Hmm... I didn't mean to write that much. And, for all her (few) faults, I like my leader and count her as a friend anyways. It's just that she could be a better leader, not a different person.

Hmm... I think I'm a leader at a lot of things. Group projects, whatever I can get control of and manage.

My opinion would be that you can have that "I'm better than you" thought in your head, but you don't have to show it to your friends when you tell it to them. You can give anything you say as friendly advice, make them try it, and when it sounds good (which is what you're going for), they'll stick with it and keep trying. You've just gotta be brave enough to say it to them to begin with. =/

Yeah... I think I'll do that; speak out when I need to and try and lead with what I have. I'm not going to try and change too much, I don't think...

I guess in a way someone else could be considered section leader. There's a junior that plays bass clarinet, and at one point she said she was the section leader, since she plays clarinet too, but then my band director addressed me as section leader once. ^^

I think what's making it harder is that I'm a freshman and all of my fellow clarinets are freshmen. Most of the other section leaders are a year ahead of the rest of their section, and I think if I was older, then I'd be less timid to lead, because there'd be a kind of seniority thing there. Y'know?

I guess I'd describe it as being kind of awkward. I have a quiet voice, so when I say hi to people in the hallway or something and they don't hear, I get kind of like "Umm umm what-do-i-do". And yeah... it's sort of like I'll ask someone something when I know the answer, just to make sure they're not going to misinterpret what I'm going to do, pretty much. And then I feel awkward.

I know some people that were like that, and in my view, it doesn't work so well. =/ I want to be the kind of leader where, if I were to be picked for drum major, the vast majority of the band would be happy about it. I don't want to be the kind of leader where half the people don't like me... I don't think I could change that drastically anyway. xD

I probably would be a better follower. But the leaders I follow lead something I like, and I've always wanted to lead what I liked. =/ Our band isn't really that formal, I guess. Drum major is only really drum major for the fall in marching season... xDD And then for a while in basketball season, when we play at the games.

Hmm, humor I could try...

The leaders I look up to are like that, too. ^^ I'd probably have a hard time trying to force an "I'm better than you" feeling. xD

That's how it seems to be in my band. Lots of friends, a few leaders...

That makes sense... I think I say it too weakly when I try to suggest things. =/ And the main thing I suggest, my friend thinks it doesn't sound good when it's actually going to improve her playing a lot. =/

Indeed...

Thank you so much, everyone, for all the replies! <3

You're welcome :D Wow, you got a lot of advice... You better be a pro leader now :P