Klarinet Archive - Posting 000072.txt from 1995/12

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: burn out
Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 00:05:58 -0500

Firstly, WHO ARE YOU???? I like to be able to attack a real name to
someone I write to. However, your question is indeed a timely ne. My
wife, a rather well-known 'cellist, quit her dream job and became a nurse
because of burnout, so I have a little firsthand knowledge of it. There are a fe
w facets to it: First, you shold never get into any profession for
the wrong reason. For example, I love to play and I have a certain amount
of talent at it. That's why I am a musician. I'm NOT in it for the money,
nor do I expect to end up in the dream job of principal clarinet in one
of the top orchestras. My joy is in making music. If you have certain
career goals and you are not advancing towards them, it will definitely
cause you to get frustrated and stale. Have you reexamined your raison
d'etre?
Secondly, I have found that variety is indeed the spice of life.
I play classical, jazz and Eeastern European folk music. I also play
other instruments including folk instruments like the bagpipe. This is a
great source of fun for me, as well as a wonderful change of pace. I
could definitely get stale like so many orchestra players do, if I only did
one sort of music. How about you? Do you have a varied musical life?
Thirdly, do you have a life outside music? If not, then that is
obviously a good place to start. A person cannot live only for his/her
work.
Hope this helps.

Fred Jacobowitz

On Mon, 4 Dec 1995, THE PRES wrote:

> I don't remember this topic being posted before, but I was wondering
> if anyone on this list could offer some advice on how to keep form getting
> musically burned out at times. I'm sure all of us have gotten frustraited, bu
t
> when you reach the point that you don't even want to pick up the clarinet some
> days, how do you deal with it. I usually love to play, but I feal I'm in a
> rut. I'm not willing to give up. Could someone help me?
>