Im a freshmen right now and Im lead snare in our line, but everbody hates me for it. Like when I write parts everyone just gets really pissed off, throws em down, and complains that (1) they suck (2) but we still cant play em. Theres a joke at our school, how many members of the drumline does it take to screw in a lightbulb. All of em'. The freshmen screws in the bulb and everyone complains about it. Does anyone have any advice on what to do?

How old is everyone else involved in the line?
Do you have an instructor?
Have you tried talking to the BD?

It may be really hard, but try and ignore their immature jokes and be the bigger person. If you give in and let them know its bugging you, they'll deffinately keep it up (I've seen it happen a lot!). If you really need to talk to one of them, talk to them when their alone. Just ask them what they have against you.
If all else fails, talk to your director.
Hope that helps

The rest of the lie is composed primarily of juniors and seniors, very few sophmores, and even fewer freshmen. So you can see where the tension would be. Weve got an instructor, but hes never there and when he is, hes look a thousand years old, so he doesnt really help. I dont know what r BD would do, i dont even know if he could stop them. I think Ill try ur approach drumrchic20 next time we reherse. thanks,

That is the exact story of my line! Except I play quads and i'm not a freshmen. But I resolved freshmen snare issue. The problem wuz that the freshmen snare player thought he wuz the best so he's kicked back to 3rd Chair. Behind no-one because there are no other snares. The only way the line will hate a freshmen like that is when they brag about it, try to show-off all the time, and walk around school trying to act like their the best.

This is another reason why I think that a freshman should not be given a position of leadership. Freshman have not earned the respect of the other members of the line yet. Being a leader is not about being the best player all the time. It is also about leading (thank you Captain Obvious) and being able to take control of the drumline and help them become better. That is something that can only been learned through experience. Freshman just don't have the experience and typically don't have the mental maturity to be able to lead.

I partially blame the band director for putting you in that position.

If you're having problems, talk to the instructor and band director and maybe they can help.

I agree with drumcorpsbc in questioning why a freshman is in charge of the line over juniors and seniors. That will definitely cause animocity, as they put in their time and are now their work is lost for some "fresh blood".

Well heres the crazy part. The BD's got me like paired with a junior right now for so called 'lead snare'. So its not like a freshmen is calling all the shots, but everybody stills hates me. I dont show off or anything, I just play my parts, so I dont know what to do. It may come down to a BD deal. But most of these guys are either dropping band or graduating next year which is gonna be even weirder since the lines gonna be predominanty lower-classmen.

Talk to the BD or just let the junior have the position.

Dude, take the line and ask them why the heck they keep ignoring and throwing down parts. if they say "it's because you're a freshmen", Then tell them, "Fine, then who else wants the title?" if a guy steps up then ask if the line would listen to him. If they say they will then give him the position of section leader. That's the civilized way of doing it. If you wanted to be an azz.... then you tell the guys up front that if they want to run their own line then challenge you and then beat them in a drum-off and tell them "That's why I'm leader, get over it!". If you act like an azz, you may get more enemies than friends or you may get respect because a freshmen can beat an upperclassman at playing. There are reasons that the BD selected you for leader. Playing ability, responsibility, potential, etc. are all factors for being the Section leader. Either way, just let the hassling run off the shoulder and just play your part. Not your fault if the line refuses to play clean or anywhere close to good.