Klarinet Archive - Posting 000037.txt from 1997/03

From: Bob <laker29@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: practicing
Date: Sun, 2 Mar 1997 15:16:10 -0500

BRAVO David: Those of you who are playing "FULL TIME" for a living, are
hoestly practicing as you can, to DO YOUR BEST!!
Many of my friends who can, are practicing 8+ hours a day! That's the
only way they can make a Break into the "SCENE" when they get a Chance =
Audition!!
The YOUNG PLAYERS out there need to know that there is only one way to
get better "Practice & Good Teachers!!" Emphasis on BOTH!! You've got to
PAY THE PRICE OF PRACTICE, and GOOD TEACHERS!!
Bob Lake <laker29@-----.net> 30 year teacher & Player in MPLS,MN

At 5:14 PM 3/1/97, David B. Niethamer wrote:
>On 2/28/97 7:07 PM, Deborah Shaw wrote:
>
>>Just out of curiosity, I have often wondered how much practice time
>>professional players put in daily and what do you practice? If anyone
>>who plays for a living be willing to share?
>
>It depends on the day, and what rehearsals/concerts I need to do. I try
>to get a few (2 or 2 1/2 each day. Today I had a rehearsal and a concert,
>so I stuck to about an hour of what I jokingly call "the scientific
>warmup" -long tones, and a trip through a few keys of Hamelin scales. I
>also did some reed work, but not for tonight. That reed I chose in
>rehearsal last night.
>
>As Fred alluded to in his post, family stuff can overtake your practice,
>especially with very small children. Last year I returned to my preferred
>routine (2 hours or so in the a.m.) after my daughter started the longer
>first grade day. For the previous five years it was a bit more random,
>and more scuffling to keep up than planning ahead. Many years of a stable
>practice routine carried me through some of the rougher weeks.
>
>My day *always* starts with 15-20 minutes of long tones. It usually
>includes 30 minutes of scales, most often at the end of the practice
>session, and most often Hamelin. The rest is the music on my stand.
>Unlike the major orchestras, we do a *lot* of different programs,
>sometimes two or three in a week. And just because Pops programs don't
>have three or four rehearsals doesn't make them easy! I enjoy the summer,
>when I have time for chamber music, and can pull out some etudes to
>study. Right now (we had two light weeks) I'm reviewing some lessons from
>the Russianoff Method.
>
>Happy practicing!
>
>David
>
>David Niethamer
>Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
>niethamer@-----.edu
>dbnclar1@-----.com
>http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/
>
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