Klarinet Archive - Posting 000353.txt from 1996/07

From: Dick Walters <waltersd@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Clarinet Study
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 1996 18:59:02 -0400

Fred,

Thanks for the input. In your experience, for a guy my age, is it
worth the effort? I realize this is subjective, but can one still
make substantial progress in "internalizing" this instrument at age
60?

Dick

Richard P. Walters
waltersd@-----.net

From: fredj@-----.EDU
Date: 7/17/96 11:57:33AM
To: Klarinet - Clarinettist's Network
Subject: Re: Clarinet Study

Dick,
Sacrilegious though it may seem for a former Russianoff
student
(seven years worth) to say, I believe the Russianoff method
will not do
you that much good. It was designed for either the advanced
player, the conserva
tory student, or the
freelancing-pro-with-no-time-to-take-lessons-and-needing
-only-a-tune-up-every-once-in-a-while. It doesn't seem that
you are in those
categories. I would recommend takeing a couple of lessons
with a teacher who
could assess your level and prescribe a few tomes of
exercises on the correct
level.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Tue, 16 Jul 1996, Dick Walters wrote:

> I am a 60 yr old guy who has played the clarinet since I was
10 in
> school bands, community bands and church groups, but who has
never
> really had good formal training or practice habits. Therefore,
> although have a great Buffet Bb and A and play 2-3 times a
week,
> my technique is far behind my desire of really being able to
pl
ay
> this horn. I have had the Russianoff Method for years and
finally
> decided it's not going to help sitting on my shelf. My scale
book
> is tattered from age, not use.
>
> My question, or request for opinion, will the Russianoff be
a good
> Method to build technique for an intermediate player, if I
commit
> the time to do it justice? Also, much hope of teaching an
old dog
> to really play this horn after fooling around with it a half
> century? Finally, any suggestions of a better way (short of
selling
> the horns)?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dick Walters
>