Since 2003, How to Make First
Chair has helped thousands of musicians at every level
understand the proper way to approach practicing for auditions and
other performances so that he or she can be as prepared as possible
to do his or her best.
Directors at the Middle School, High School, and
College levels and professional musicians have recommended How to Make First
Chair to their students.
Learn about and preview the How to Make First Chair products at:
I would just like to
thank you for publishing this book. Recently, I
auditioned for the All-Region Band, made first chair and
advanced to Area. Setting aside all the chairs and
competitions, I believe your book has taught me to look
beyond the notes and realize that we are all giving
art. After 7 years of playing notes, I finally saw
something on the sheet I had never seen before, music.
Once again, thank you.
--Elias Barry, Senior Tuba, Community High School, Nevada, Texas
Chris Roberts has written a book full of great common sense approaches
to success in the music performance business. Even though it is mainly aimed at students, it is
a worthwhile book for any professional musician to read. Many of his ideas contain exactly the same
philosophy that I have been teaching for the past 35 years. I highly recommend this book to any
musician who wants to not only achieve goals regarding auditions, but who wants to be a more successful
performer.
-- Mike Vax, Yamaha International Performing Artist and Former lead and solo
trumpet - The Stan Kenton Orchestra (MikeVax.com,
BigBandJazz.net)
At our school, we have gone to great
lengths to encourage our students to practice. We decided to use a practice log book with
detailed information about practice skills. The job of creating it became
quite easy when I discovered "How to Make First Chair." The
methods proved to be the backbone of the endeavor. Now we plan on making the
book required reading and will utilize the concepts daily.
-- Paul Stephens, Director, Scott Johnson Middle School, McKinney, Texas
What a marvelous book! I wish I could have read it when I was in school! It
will be a required textbook for all my trumpet students.
I would just like to
thank you for publishing this book. Recently, I
auditioned for the All-Region Band, made first chair and
advanced to Area. Setting aside all the chairs and
competitions, I believe your book has taught me to look
beyond the notes and realize that we are all giving
art. After 7 years of playing notes, I finally saw
something on the sheet I had never seen before, music.
Once again, thank you.
