Klarinet Archive - Posting 000323.txt from 1996/06

From: R Tennenbaum <rtenn@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Talent vs hard work
Date: Thu, 20 Jun 1996 22:43:42 -0400

This is an interesting question, not just from an educational point of
view, but a critical and self-educational one. Think of first-rate
instrumentalists and you first think of a total dedication to the
instrument, almost to the point of fussiness (Horowitz, Rubenstein,
clarinetists too numerous to mention). It's an involved process of
the player listening to what he's doing and trying to achieve
something in his mind. (Which is one reason I sometimes get confused
about trying to get "a sound" from by lilstening to another
clarinetist's recordings, unless just as an exercise. I don't think
most professional clarinetists listen to the same things I do in a
performance -- they get an idea of what the player is doing, and
listen to certain technical things and occasionally get an idea of the
other guys' interpretation.)

These days I think there are very few players at any level who can
excel without practice. Did players used to rely more on musicianship
(or alternatively showmanship) than the sheer dedication we see now?
Or it's just that these days it's truer (or just more obvious) that
lazy players just don't love playing *enough*?

Rafe T.
Readme @-----.com/~rtenn