Hello Nervous: Have a decaf and sit down :). Absolutely you should join the band. You stuck with the piano all those years. Right? You are practicing this new instrument with dedication and have already proven yourself by placing in your band program. Why worry? Now you have been ASKED to play in a jazz band. You will make mistakes as you go: so what. Join the rest of us. Thats how we all learn. Worst case scenario is there is a jerk in the section who gives you a hard time. Those are the fun ones! Take the "high road" ignore him, focus, practice and obliterate him with your improved playing skills: thats the worst case. My guess, however, is all will be fine. Just have fun. Wes

No, you shouldn't go for it. You said it yourself "Should I go for it? Help Please!!" Right there you're showing doubt in yourself, and abilties. You're asking a bunch of people on a website if you should or shouldn't do it... Why don't you ask your parents, friends, teachers? They would know more about it than we would. (although I would ask us here for help on sightreading, playing, other stuff) also... you said "but I find sightreading (especially around people that are better than me) extremely nerveracking" You WILL have to get over that sometime. No matter how hard you work there will alwase be someone better than you out there. 2nd sax? in what band? I mean don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you and all. But shit dude, belive in yourself, belive in what you can do, and... DON'T ASK PEOPLE ON A SITE LIKE THIS TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN AND CANT DO! we don't know anything about you, we don't know anything about that band, or how well you can play. now barring any of the asshole things i said before... why don't you go play in that band and learn from it? You really have nothing to lose here. If you don't do well just move on and learn from it. I doubt anyone will hold any mistakes agenst you. We all had to learn somewhere and you're getting a good chance here to learn from people. oh also, how old are you and again what band are you playing 2nd in and how many years of piano do you have? It really dosn't mean diddley squat to put those things out there and not give any background. for example, you could be 2nd in a pre-school band at your local daycare center, and have a plastic toy sax for all we know...