Klarinet Archive - Posting 000757.txt from 1997/07

From: Sherman Friedland <sherman@-----.ca>
Subj: Major Decisions.....after
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 1997 05:57:38 -0400

As a musician who has just retired after 30 years of both playing
orchestral and chamber music and teaching in universities, it was
interesting to read of your meanderings concerning these decisions.
Madamoiselle Nadia Boulanger told me that the only way someone should
consider performance was that they would rather be dead than not be a
performer.

I was very earnest and seemed to demonstrate considerable gifts toward
performance so it really was not a choice for me. In conservatory I
concentrated only on performance treating theory and history as if they
were inconsequential.

When I achieved a principal clarinet position at a young age, I was
ecstatic, but found after three years that there were aspects of orchestral
playing that were odious. So, without including the horrific facts, I will
tell you that I left the orchestra forever, determined to become a
university musician where I could play what and when I wanted and to teach
clarinet and coach chamber music. This I was able to do in an honorable and
successful manner. So, I changed my major, so to speak, without having to
take an education degree, though I did have to return to school for a
masters.

I guess that the above were choices, major decisions if you will, but I
feel that you must set your sights in a particular direction and then also
let the waves take you, as long as you are able to maintain your love for
music and your standards. The degree that I took did not really mean
anything to my career, for my major was Orchestral Training. But while I
only played in an orchestra for three years, I conducted the University
Orchestra for seventeen.

Another thing, do not limit your musical interest to only your degree
major. Please don't waste all of the many abilities and talents you have on
one small facet.

I can tell you that I have done many things in music, and I have written
and been a photographer of sorts, and oh yes, married and had four boys as
well, and I keep saying to myself after thirty years, "Where did the time
go?"

So keep active and busy and whatever you do, don't stop. Sherman Friedland

>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 17:53:15 -0500
>From: deerich@-----.nett felt
>Subject: Re: Cracking
>
>Others have given good advice already on the prevention of cracks.
>However I also wanted to let you know that usually cracks can also be
>successfully repaired if they should occur.
>
>My daughter's oboe cracked almost the full length of the upper joint and
>they were able to repair it. This was an extreme and rare case but it
>was successful (5 pins!).
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 17:05:07 -0700
>From: pharmacy <pharmacy@-----.com>
>Subject: Re: Composer advice/agent?
>
>OK, Glinch and Jerry, I know I'm a REALLY old one because I don't know
>what a TECO or a MACRO is! Let me try: a TECO is half of a song that
>Carmen Miranda made famous, that clarinetists love to perform during
>recitals and
> a MACRO is a very, very, very LARGE clarinet.
>Am I close?
>Carol
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 19:51:56 -0500
>From: benevolent1@-----. Horney)
>Subject: Major decisions
>
> I want to apologize for the quantity (not to mention the quality)
>of my mail to this list. If you can stand it, I have another question.
> I want to be a high school band director when I get out of
>school, and have some questions regarding not only specific major
>options, but also general decisions. I have received many suggestions of
>what my major should be. My Music Theory (and choir) teacher says that
>"Performance is the way to go." My own band directors seem to have
>differences of opinion- some say performance, some others say music
>education (another says that I should forget music altogether and go for
>the political science degree, only half-jokingly). I was just wondering
>if anyone had any suggestions. Also, if there are specific schools that
>you would recommend, I would be open to anything. I live near Fort
>Worth, Texas, so University of North Texas is sounding nice, but I am
>just so confused now.
> Thank you so much for your time.
>
>Have fun!
>
>Sarah
>benevolent1@-----.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 21:39:50 -0400
>From: "Craig E. G. Countryman" <cegc@-----.net>
>Subject: Re: Major decisions
>
>I would say music education is the clear choice. Music performance
>would make you an extraordinary player, but education is an entirely
>different entity. Sure, you have to be a great performer -- the last
>band director at our school was a virtuoso on trumpet, but had no
>teaching skills. Music education will not only teach you skills, but
>how to teach.
>
>- ----------------
>Craig Countryman
>cegc@-----.net
>http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/1711
>
>Quote of the Day:
>
>"New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed,
>without any other reason but because they are not
>already common."
>
>- -John Locke
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 21:36:34 -0400
>From: "David C. Blumberg" <reedman@-----.com>
>Subject: Mike Hammer's # in Philly
>
>Does anyone from the Philly area have the repairman Mike Hammer's phone #.
>Please e-mail me privately. One of my Sax students needs competent local
>repair.
>David C. Blumberg
>reedman@-----.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 21:35:50 -0500
>From: "Todd and Lynnette Staley" <nette@-----.net>
>Subject: Re: Major decisions
>
>Sarah,
>I am now going back to college to finish my music ed degree. There are
>several options in the field of music besides performance and ed. Many
>schools offer music business and composition/theory degrees. Some schools,
>such as the University of Evansville in Indiana, even offer music therapy
>degrees which is a field that is becoming increasingly popular. I would
>only recommend performance major to a student who is very dedicated to the
>craft. The job market may not be a satisfying as other music fields. also.
>Music ed is a good field and the market for teachers is beginning to
>widen, however, it is not for those who are trying to become independently
>wealthy. Teaching is however a very gratifying career. My instructor got
>his BM in performance at a Texas university (forgive me for not knowing
>which one) then went to Eastman to master. Performance does give the
>option of teaching at the university level and playing at the same time
>which my instructor seems to think works quite nicely. It really depends
>on you and how you see your future. Good luck!
>Lynnette
>- --
>Todd & Lynnette Staley
>email: nette@-----.net
>
>- ----------
>> From: Sarah B. Horney <benevolent1@-----.com>
>> To: klarinet@-----.us
>> Subject: Major decisions
>> Date: Wednesday, July 23, 1997 7:51 PM
>>
>> I want to apologize for the quantity (not to mention the quality)
>> of my mail to this list. If you can stand it, I have another question.
>
>> I want to be a high school band director when I get out of
>> school, and have some questions regarding not only specific major
>> options, but also general decisions. I have received many suggestions
>of
>> what my major should be. My Music Theory (and choir) teacher says that
>> "Performance is the way to go." My own band directors seem to have
>> differences of opinion- some say performance, some others say music
>> education (another says that I should forget music altogether and go for
>> the political science degree, only half-jokingly). I was just wondering
>> if anyone had any suggestions. Also, if there are specific schools that
>> you would recommend, I would be open to anything. I live near Fort
>> Worth, Texas, so University of North Texas is sounding nice, but I am
>> just so confused now.
>> Thank you so much for your time.
>>
>> Have fun!
>>
>> Sarah
>> benevolent1@-----.com
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 22:29:21 -0400
>From: James Fay <n3hpz@-----.com>
>Subject: [Fwd: Composer again]
>
>This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
>- --------------6B8E969B187143B7A9052B4A
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>
>
>- --
>- -------
>James Fay
>n3hpz@-----.com
>http://www.nv.cc.va.us/~nvfayxj
>
>
>- --------------6B8E969B187143B7A9052B4A
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> for n3hpz@-----.com; Tue, 22 Jul 1997 06:33:47 -0400 (EDT)
>Date: 22 Jul 97 06:32:49 EDT
>From: Rick Sowash <73563.3161@-----.COM>
>To: Jim Fay <n3hpz@-----.com>
>Subject: Composer again
>Message-ID: <970722103249_73563.3161_FHD43-2@-----.COM>
>
>Jim --
>
>I'd like to post the following message on the Klarinet forum. But it keeps
>getting bounced back to me as "undeliverable." Can you post the message
>for me?
>Also, can you send me an address for Klarinet that will work for me? Thanks.
>
>Rick Sowash
>
>
>
>
>COMPOSER OFFERS NEW CLAR. SCORE
>
>Klarinet, Hello again!
>
>Please believe: This offer is not about money. I write music in hopes of
>making friends, not money. (Luckily, I earn enough as an author.) The
>friends
>I most want to make are serious musicians who will enjoy my scores and want to
>explore more.
>
>I'm offering to send you -- for the cost of the photocopying & postage -- a
>newly available work.
>
>The sheet music is computer-notated, using Finale. Parts are photocopied
>2-sided on stiff paper and spiral-bound. Easy page-turns. Music requires
>good
>musicians, but not virtuosos.
>
>Good tunes over tonal harmonies. Key signatures are used. Few meter
>changes.
>One critic said: "Distinctly American flavor."
>I say: "Derrierre garde, NOT avant garde!" ;-)
>
>
>ANECDOTES & REFLECTIONS: A PORTRAIT OF AMERICA
>
>for Bb clarinet, violin, cello and piano.
>
>I. Allegro - Klezmer, Slavic, Zorba-esque music evokes immigrant ancestors
>II. Moderato - homage to Gershwin, a son of immigrants
>III. Allegro - evokes American film score traditions
>IV. Larghetto - nature music: lush forests, running streams
>V. Lento - Old World pavane slides into "Swing" a` la Benny Goodman, then
>returns
>VI. Tempo di marcia - a pie-in-the-face award for John Philip Sousa
>
>41 minutes long altogether. But it can also be presented as three, separate,
>15-minute, two-movement works. That is, the First & Second movements can be
>offered as a single two-movement work. Same with the Third & Fourth, and the
>Fifth & Sixth movements.
>
>Cost: $22.04
>
>There is a splendid CD recording of this work. Gasparo Records GSCD-285
>"Chamber Music with Clarinet by Rick Sowash" played by The Mirecourt Trio and
>clarinetist Craig Olzenak. In addition to the "Anecdotes and Reflections" the
>CD also includes "Daweswood Suite" (also scored for clarinet, violin,
>cello and
>piano) and "Street Suite" (duo for violin and clarinet). Record store
>price is
>$14.99, but you can get it from me for $9.95.
>
>
>To order, please e-mail me at: 73563.3161@-----.com
>
>State your physical address and the sheet music and/or CD recording you want.
>I'll snail-mail your order to you with an invoice. If you don't like it
>(but I
>think you will), send it back and toss the invoice.
>
>More about me and my work is on my web site:
>http://www2.primax.com/users/~ricks/default.html
>Six of my works can be downloaded (free) there, including several for
>clarinet.
>
>Rick Sowash
>Cincinnati, OH
>
>
>
>- --------------6B8E969B187143B7A9052B4A
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>
>begin: vcard
>fn: James Fay
>n: Fay;James
>org: Northern Virginia Community College
>adr: Music Department, NVCC;;8333 Little River
>Turnpike;Annandale;VA;22003;USA
>email;internet: n3hpz@-----.com
>title: Professor of Music
>tel;work: 1 703 323 3114
>x-mozilla-cpt: ;0
>x-mozilla-html: TRUE
>end: vcard
>
>
>- --------------6B8E969B187143B7A9052B4A--
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 23:04:17 -0400
>From: peter.stoll@-----.ca
>Subject: Hey Fred!
>
>Having somehow deleted my entire in-box of msgs, my apologies to the
>list; Fred Jacobwitz, can you e-mail me again? Thanks!
>
>Peter Stoll
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 23:48:02 -0400
>From: "Michael D. Moors" <mdmoors@-----.us>
>Subject: Re: Major decisions
>
>Sarah,
>
>Here are some questions I ask my own clarinet students: 1. Do you like to
>play? 2. Are you thinking of getting a teaching degree because you like
>to play? 3. Is teaching something persue to "fall back on". If you
>answered yes to 2 and 3 I would give some real thought to whether teaching
>is for you. It is too demanding to "fall back on" and students deserve
>someone who loves teaching. The extra hours make it difficult to maintain
>your clarinet playing. Worthy of thought: I have a former student playing
>professionally that has a degree in library science. Why? Because there is
>a library in every major city. Nursing would be another marketable skill.
>If playing makes you want to become a music major; take music history,
>theory classes and study with the best clarinetist you can find. A
>performance degree means little. How you play means everything. It is
>important to learn the composers and musical time periods.
>
>If you love kids and playing both do what I did. Become a music Ed major
>and work! work! work! I was offered my present position the day I was
>schedule to go to Washington to take an audition with a military band. I
>didn't know how I was going to answer the phone call. I chose teaching.
>Never regretting it. I still play well but am not often am I in the shape
>to play up to my potential. It is a good compromise for me.
>
>I hope I gave you something to think about.
>
>Mike Moors
>
>
>
>
> >----------
>>> From: Sarah B. Horney <benevolent1@-----.com>
>>> To: klarinet@-----.us
>>> Subject: Major decisions
>>> Date: Wednesday, July 23, 1997 7:51 PM
>>>
>>> I want to apologize for the quantity (not to mention the quality)
>>> of my mail to this list. If you can stand it, I have another question.
>>
>>> I want to be a high school band director when I get out of
>>> school, and have some questions regarding not only specific major
>>> options, but also general decisions. I have received many suggestions
>>of
>>> what my major should be. My Music Theory (and choir) teacher says that
>>> "Performance is the way to go." My own band directors seem to have
>>> differences of opinion- some say performance, some others say music
>>> education (another says that I should forget music altogether and go for
>>> the political science degree, only half-jokingly). I was just wondering
>>> if anyone had any suggestions. Also, if there are specific schools that
>>> you would recommend, I would be open to anything. I live near Fort
>>> Worth, Texas, so University of North Texas is sounding nice, but I am
>>> just so confused now.
>>> Thank you so much for your time.
>>>
>>> Have fun!
>>>
>>> Sarah
>>> benevolent1@-----.com
>>
>>
>
> | | |
>____|\__|_________|\___|___________|___|____________|\_|____________|__|__
>____|/__|________=__|__|____O______|___|___=________|__|___|________|__|__
>___/|___|___|________|__|___|______=____|__|____=____|__|___|_______=___|__
>__|_/_\_|___|_______=___|___|___________|__|___|____=___|___|___________|__
>___|/__|___|___________|___|___________|__|___|________|__O____________|__
> / O |
>Michael D. Moors
>http://edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu/~mmoors/
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 23:04:59 -0500 (CDT)
>From: Neil Leupold <nleupold@-----.edu>
>Subject: Re: Major decisions
>
>On Wed, 23 Jul 1997, Sarah B. Horney wrote:
>
>> I was just wondering
>> if anyone had any suggestions.
>
>Something to consider, depending on how focused and ambitious you
>are as a person, is the double major: performance *and* education.
>I was stunned to discover how many double majors there are at Meadows
>School of the Arts of Southern Methodist University. Naturally,
>many of the course requirements for the two majors overlap, with
>the addition of extra coursework in pedagogy and instrumental
>technique for the education component.
>
>If you're not interested in running yourself into the ground by
>getting two degrees at once, I would lean more strongly toward the
>education degree. A stigma which often exists is that education
>majors are somehow inferior performers by default, as if the only
>reason to choose an education degree is because the person isn't
>good enough to tackle the demands of a performance curriculum. This
>is an absurd idea at best. The primary motivator for choosing an
>education degree is for the greater promise of employment and financial
>security. It hardly needs to be said that even the greatest performers
>around do not always land successful or satisfying performance careers.
>As we all know, a steady gig is the performing musician's ultimate brass
>ring, and it's so mythical in its perception precisely because it is so
>hard to attain. By contrast, there's nothing to obstruct an education
>major from becoming a superb performer through the same methods of practice
>and dedication as any other player, while also having the credentials to
>teach at the primary school level (K-12) or beyond.
>
>Your final decision will have to be a product of your personality
>and your own sense of ambition and desire. There's nothing less
>ambitious about aspiring to a career as a high school music director,
>as opposed to trying to forge a career as a professional performer.
>Performers create this aura of supernatural nobility to protect
>their egos, because performance is such a judgemental field among
>peers. Secretly, there is a tinge of jealousy in each struggling
>performer, directed at the educator who leads a fulfilling and
>financially stable life, knowing that the educator is supporting
>themselves successfully in a musical career. That isn't to say
>that education is for everybody, precisely as performance is not
>for everybody either. If you grow dissatisfied with your education
>degree and decide that you wish to go after a performance degree,
>you have the same option that performance majors do after getting
>your undergraduate degree. You can audition for graduate school
>as a performance major, undergraduate education diploma proudly in
>hand. If you play well enough, the opportunities which await all
>other Master's performance majors will be yours as well when you
>are accepted to the graduate performance program.
>
>Best of luck,
>Neil
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 23:21:24 -0500
>From: "Donald Walkner" <dwalkner@-----.com>
>Subject: major decisions
>
>Sarah,
>
> I'm not an expert by far on this subject, but I'm facing the same
>problem. My cousin last year decided to take a major in music education
>and a minor in music performance. I am probably going to do the same
>thing. I would like to have something to fall back on in case I can't make
>it as a performer. Besides, don't they say college is a time to find
>yourself? Many of my friends who were freshmen in college this year
>changed majors many times. One of my friends started as a music ed major
>and switched to teaching chemistry, teaching math and many other various
>majors before deciding he REALLY wanted to major in music. He changed
>schools instate twice, too. My cousin also decided music isn't for him
>either. As for now, I want to major in music, but that might change.
>Don't let anyone pressure you into doing what you don't want to. Besides,
>don't your first year music classes stay pretty basic? You don't have to
>make up your mind right away.
>
> Amy
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 21:52:08 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Nicholas Yuk Sing Yip <nyip@-----.edu>
>Subject: Re: Major decisions
>
>On Wed, 23 Jul 1997, Sarah B. Horney wrote:
>
>> I want to apologize for the quantity (not to mention the quality)
>> of my mail to this list. If you can stand it, I have another question.
>> I want to be a high school band director when I get out of
>> school, and have some questions regarding not only specific major
>> options, but also general decisions. I have received many suggestions of
>> what my major should be. My Music Theory (and choir) teacher says that
>> "Performance is the way to go." My own band directors seem to have
>> differences of opinion- some say performance, some others say music
>> education (another says that I should forget music altogether and go for
>> the political science degree, only half-jokingly). I was just wondering
>> if anyone had any suggestions. Also, if there are specific schools that
>> you would recommend, I would be open to anything. I live near Fort
>> Worth, Texas, so University of North Texas is sounding nice, but I am
>> just so confused now.
>> Thank you so much for your time.
>>
>> Have fun!
>>
>> Sarah
>> benevolent1@-----.com
>>
> Hey, I want to become a music teacher also.I believe if I become a
>teacher I could be a role model and this would be another teacher in a
>world of few teachers. Also being a teacher, you can teach yourself new
>things and be able to keep fresh the things you have learned. From what I
>have heard, you make more money in teaching, however I could be wrong.
>
>nyip@-----.edu
>
>------------------------------
>
>End of klarinet-digest V1 #101
>******************************