Klarinet Archive - Posting 000760.txt from 1997/08

From: Gary_VanCott@-----.com
Subj: Re: doubling instruments
Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1997 23:08:44 -0400

Gary VanCott=NHIN
08/18/97 10:23 AM
There is nothing like using clich?s to guide your life! ;-) I prefer to
think of myself as something of a "Jack of All Trades and Master of Some"
(none musical, I am afraid)

But seriously, this is a matter of ability, instruction, practice, etc. If
you have the time, the talent, and sufficient guidance you can master more
than one instrument. There are many, many examples, some even on the high
school level. When I was in high school (many years ago), I had a friend
who was one of the top horn players and an outstanding percussionist. He
went to the University of Southern California and became a professional
musician.

One the other hand, it is better to obtain a reasonable level of
proficiency on one instrument than to be mediocre on several--and I am sure
that is what your band director had in mind.

Gary Van Cott
Las Vegas, NV
Gary_VanCott@-----.com

I

Cheddar99 @-----.com on 08/18/97 09:52:24 AM

Please respond to klarinet@-----.us

cc: (bcc: Gary VanCott/NHIN)
Subject: Re: doubling instruments

My Band teacher says that when you double you become "a jack of all trades,
but a master of none". I don't think that thought is quite true. In Jazz
bands and other small enembles, it is extremly helpful to play more thatn
one
instrument. I play 7 different instruments, and while I'm not the greatest
on
all of them, I've played just as good as my fellow bandmates, sometimes
better
Karen D.