Just be careful what bridges you burn...There was a really good freshman snare player that tried out last year, and had great hands and a great audition. I wrote his name on the results board as making the snare line. However, during rehearsals it became evident that he had a bad attitude, and didn't know some of the more basic pieces (fight song etc..) I tried to move him to tenors, but he didn't want to play them. Nor did he want to play bass. He ended up flubbing his way through some cymbal parts and holding cymbal music for other players while displaying a most spectacular "poopy face"

At the end of the day he asked me if there was still a spot for him on the line, and I told him "no" and did it in a very blunt manner. At that point I was tired of dealing with the stress, especially when there were other kids who were willing to do what I told them, even if they didn't have the hands.

Anyway, long story short, His mom called the percussion professor, and he in turn called the band director, and I almost lost my job...I had to apologize, and I felt really bad. So basically, try not to cut anyone, just let them cut themselves, because people get pissed if they feel like some young punk instructor is abusing their power at the expense of their son/daughter.

Honestly, there is a major difference in you (muggle) being 18 and the oldest one in the line being in a position of authority and a 16 year old having to deal with people that are 22 and older. No 16 year old should be put into that position. It makes everything awkward and I personally wouldn't listen to a thing they said.

Now on to the question. Since you are a member of the line....stay out of it. If the person is going to be let go, the director should be the one to do it....you shouldn't even be in the room. That will just strain relations between you and his friends.

my 7 year old sister is the percussion director for my mom's percussion ensemble.

I think that I must jump in here in the defense of quintman on this, and say that his age has nothing to do with his title. Without knowing anything more about his line, at 16, he could be the oldest member of his line, in which case his title would make perfect sense, but his title and age have nothing to do with the question that he asked to start this topic. I've seen drummers half my age, that have shown the ability and personality to justify putting them in different positions.

As far as getting rid of problem players, I must also agree with Demonllama and say that getting rid of him behind closed doors would not only be the best way to do it and keep him from making a scene, but would also be the most proffesional way to do it. When goes on behind closed doors is his business and the directors, and no one elses. If there are other players that will walk off the line if he goes, then let them go, if they want to follow him out after he has been booted for misconduct/ unproffesionalism, then chances are that their attitudes aren't going to differ all that much from his, and they will probably being doing favor in the long run. Look at it in a possitive way, this will open up slots for up to 3 other drummers with a much better attitude, which will in turn be better for everyone.

Quintman I was in almost the same position as you. We had a junior snare player who we had been having problems with since last season. He wasn't very good and had a very bad attitude. All he would do was mess around and then try to tell everyone what to do. And if things didn't go his way he would make a scene even at games. All he ever did was disrupt any activity the band was doing.

Finally our captains got tired of him and after talking to the director he was warned that if he messed up again he would be out. It didn't take him long to screw up again. So the director's took him into the office and let him go. He came back and apologized so they gave him one more chance but he still didn't last. They finally had to let him go for good. I think we actually lost a few other band members with him but none were in percussion. But we were better off without them.

So I would have to say from experience to just let the directors handle it all. Don't even be in the room when they let him go. That way nothing will come back on you. If some people do leave with him, let them. They must not really care about the line that much if they are going to leave over that. But anyways, I hope things work out for you.