Klarinet Archive - Posting 000367.txt from 1996/07

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Clarinet Study
Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 16:00:46 -0400

Richard,
To put it succinctly , YES!!!!!!!

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Thu, 18 Jul 1996, Dick Walters wrote:

> 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
> >
>