Klarinet Archive - Posting 000553.txt from 1996/03

From: Sanchez Computer <sanchez@-----.COM>
Subj: How the piano and Clarinet changed my life.
Date: Thu, 21 Mar 1996 17:30:43 -0500

Hi there everyone!!!

I have something to say about playing piano and recorder before playing
clarinet.

Here's my story.

Summer of 3rd grade-

I fell in love hearing other friends and my chruch's organist
playing piano and organ (my father is the choir director and liturgy
director at our church). So, my friends recommended my to my piano teacher,
Dr. Graham Purkerson (whomever gets a chance to hear him play, you are in
for a real treat). I have been taking now for 8-9 years and loving every
bit of it.

6th Grade (good ol' Catholic school)-

Our music teacher, Mrs. Martha-Anne Curry decided to start to play
the recorder. It was a plastic Suzuki (spelling right????) and we could
play songs and neat-o stuff out of a book.

NOW- THE BIG PART-- My father is a good friend of (yes, a personal friend)
of DR. WILBUR MOORELAND!!!!!!
He took me to hear him play with his wife, Christina (piano) and Dr. Rebeka
Stark (chello) at a concert at USM. After that and after speaking to him, I
make up my mind then and there that I was going to play clarinet.

7th Grade -

Now, my first year at public school. My schedule was already messed up, so
I was late to band (only a day). My band director, Mrs. Dianne Pulver, a
Clarinettest (best player I have heard, after Dr. Moreland), asked me what
instrument I wanted to play. I replied:
"CLARINET"
She said "Wow, I am a clarinet player, also. Do you know Dr. Moreland?"
I said, "Know? HE IS A FRIEND OF MY FATHER!!!!!"
Then she went on about how she took from Dr. Moreland "blah blah blah", and
then she asked me if I played any instruments. I replied,
"PIANO, RECORDER, AND A little bit of GUITAR"
And she said "wow"

And the rest is history!

Piano, in my opinion, is the most versitle instsrument on the face of this
earth. Learning Piano will help you to determing the subdominant, tonic,
.... 7th minor.... and neat-o theory stuff. Since learning clarinet, my
sight reading skills have improved (since I sight read everyday, because I
don't practice).

But, I hope this will help anyone who "thinks" that piano first- then
clarinet is the way.

Well, I don't "think". I KNOW from personal experience.

If this is boring, erase it. But I have told several parents my story who
didn't want their kids in band because they already play piano, and now,
they all sit first chair in their respected bands.
Please feel free to give out my e-mail to people who are afraid that
clarinet will "mess up" their piano career.

Paul Sanchez
sanchez@-----.com

PS- does anyone know of a piano listserv?