Klarinet Archive - Posting 000626.txt from 1996/02

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: help:H.S. clarinetist
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 22:50:40 -0500

Jessica,
You hit the nail squarely on the head when you gave yourself the
solution: Go ahead and start studying with someone. I teach 16 students
a week at Peabody's Preparatory and most of them come to me for EXACTLY
the same reasons you describe. Don't forget, School Band is not set up to
"challenge" you. It is to introduce you to music making in a large
ensemble (and also sometimes, unfortunately, to provide a marching band for
the football team). And it does that quite well. However, there are some
things it cannot do. And, of course, it must move only as fast as most
of the band can move. Does your state have something like an "all-state
band/orchestra"? How about a "solo and ensemble adjudicated contest"?
Here in Maryland, these are open to all public- and many private-school
students. They provide a performance incentive. Naturally, however, one
does not do well in these unless one is studying dilligently with a
teacher (hopefully a good one!). Tell your band teacher you want to study
with a private teacher. He/she should be able to recommend someone. Good
luck. Glad you like the clarinet - it shows you have great taste and
intelligence (but, truthfully, you'll make more money as a pianist or a
violinist).

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax instructor, Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore.

On Tue, 20 Feb 1996, Firstname Lastname wrote:

> Hello, my name is Jessica Barfield and I am 15 years old. I live in
> Greenwood, IN and I am a freshman attending Center Grove High School. I have
> been playing the clarinet for 2 1/2 years and I'm pretty good at it. I am in
> the top band at our high school, Symphonic Band, and I'm seated 5th chair
> following 3 seniors and 1 freshman. Although it may seem as though I am
> pretty successful for playing for only 2 1/2 years, I have seemed to hit a
> road block. I feel as though I am stuck in a rut of mediocrety where I am
> not improving at all. There is no motivation. I feel like I am never going
> to get any better, but only slowly move backwards. I am not studying with
> anyone and I feel that is my only way to improve. I love playing the clarinet
> and I have often dreamed of playing professionally for my future career, but
> this dream is becoming harder to reach due to my lack of improvement. If you
> have any advice, please help! Thank you for your time!
> Sincerely,
> Jessica Barfield
>