Klarinet Archive - Posting 000052.txt from 1996/06

From: Josias Associates <josassoc@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Jazz Clarinetists?
Date: Tue, 4 Jun 1996 14:10:08 -0400

Gene,

Although I've lost track of the name of the high-school player
who started this thread, for that person's benefit and your believability
in advising him/her and the band instructor, I thought some of your
specific experiences might reinforce some of the outstanding credits
you already cite in the forwarded message.

I seem to recall your playing lead clarinet in the first pit
orchestras of famous productions. Wasn't "Fiddler...." one of them and/or
possibly others?

Would you kindly refresh my memory?

Regards,

Connie

Conrad Josias
La Canada, California

On Sat, 1 Jun 1996, Gene Keyes wrote:

> I think there is an another important here, beside the obvious ignorance of
> your band director.
>
> As a music educator, he should be encouraging you to explore different
> avenues of musical expression that are of interest to you, even if they are
> not "traditional". While it may be true that the music written for today's
> jazz ensemble (educational setting) for the most part has a stock
> insrumentation(5 saxes, 4trbns, etc,)there is no reason not to encourage
> your interest and enthusiasm by allowing you to 1)double a part 2)write an
> appropriate clarinet part (within the sax framework) 3)encourage you to
> experiment with saxophone 4)provide another outlet for your interest(small
> ensemble, etc).
>
> It's fine to strive for perfection in a school setting but let's not forget th
at
> own personal ideals and goals of musical perfection do not necessarily apply
> to all of our students. Young musicians should be given the opportunity to
> experiment and "stretch". As an educator, it's important to provide an
> atmosphere that encourages musical growth even if the results are not
> alway's perfect..........not restrict it because of a narrow set of
> preconceived ideas. A good band director will learn from his students....
>
> BTW.... I am a HS band director with over 25 yrs of teaching experience in
> addition to being free-lance player in the NY area with over 30 years of
> experience in musical organizations ranging from the Metropolitan Opera
> Orch. to Klezmer Bands in Williamsburg (Brooklyn not
> Va.)................hope your band director finds my $.02 useful/gk
> Gene Keyes
> gene@-----.net
>
> Gene Keyes
> gene@-----.net
>