Klarinet Archive - Posting 000349.txt from 1994/12

From: Jay Heiser <pp001887@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: getting started
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 1994 02:24:53 -0500

I think its great that somebody starts at age 50 and I wouldn't worry
'wasting professional's time'. About 1/2 the group is non-pro and the
other half are all educators, so they should be happy to see another
student.

I started acoustic guitar last year at age 34 and have gotten quite
serious about it. I don't have the time right now to play an hour a
day, but I did for awhile, and I try to at least play 1/2 hour a day
with much longer sessions on the weekend. I've got a pro quality
instrument and have taken lessons for over a year. Its great. I'm
only sorry that I waited so long.

Welcome aboard!

>My initial thought is why waste busy professional's time with such
>elementary enquiries, but having now downloaded several offerings
>on the availability of cup holders, I'm convinced that my question
>has some merit.
>
>I'm a 50 year old beginner, but I'm in the habit of getting into
>the things I do intensely and at the highest possible level
>possible within the limitations of age, talent etc. My frustration
>is what seems to me to be an extremely limited time my embouchure
>and lower lip will support daily practice. I've been taking
>lessons since the first of August and I've worked "up to" three to
>four twenty to thirty minute sessions daily interspersed with ten
>minute breaks. However after the first session I seem to be
>limited to three or four (taken a pretty slow cadence) measures of
>the Klose exercises for example. And by the end my lower lip feels
>like a balloon stretched across my teeth, and I'm no longer sure I
>can muster a smile.
>
>My questions are the following:
>
> generally what kind of endurance (in terms of time) do even
> experienced, professional players have; and
>
> is there anybody out there with experience with students in a
> similar mode and how long did it take be able to practice in
> really large hunks of time.
>
>I'm infinitely patient with what has to be developed-- even
>delighted that my mind's ear wants so much more, and I'm even
>fairly adjusted to the fact that with such a late start, I'll
>probably never reach a really satisfying level of play. However,
>its very frustrating to find myself so limited in what I can do
>about it (for example I would much rather be practicing right not
>than pecking away here at the keyboard.)
>
>Bruce Hudson, Raleigh, NC (HUDSONB@-----.com)

-------------------------------------
Name: Jay Heiser
E-mail: pp001887@-----.com (Jay Heiser)
Date: 11/11/94
Time: 22:51:47
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