Klarinet Archive - Posting 000117.txt from 1997/10

From: Mark Charette <charette@-----.com>
Subj: To beginning or intermediate students ...
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 1997 22:49:41 -0400

Just a little note on a recent experience ...

A week back I attended two Master classes at the University of Michigan
School of Music. They were on a Saturday afternoon, and featured J.
Lawrie Bloom and Larry Combs.

My teacher, G. Jay deVries (some on the list know him :) had
let me know of this opportunity. I really didn't intend to go,
thinking the level of playing and music is *way* beyond what I can
use or understand, and Saturday is my "day off" (the wife takes my
kids to Japanese school on Saturday, so I'm alone in the house
all day). In other words, a useless class for someone like me.

It ended up a gorgeous autumn day, and either I could mow the lawn
or spend 1/2 hour driving to Ann Arbor and wander about the North
campus of U of M before the Master classes. The classes were free,
and since I *hate* mowing the lawn ...

I was pleasantly surprised. The Master classes given by these two
world-class musicians were wholly enjoyable. I can away wanting to
give bass clarinet a try :) I heard a piece I had never heard before
(the Sonatine by Rosza - next time some high school junior or
senior who thinks they're a real hot shot asks me for a suggestion
for Solo & Ensemble I'm pointing 'em to *that* one :) and I came
away with even more appreciation of the pieces I already knew of.

In short, those Master classes had something for *me* even at my
beginning level of playing. If you have the opportunity to attend
one of these classes, take it! I'd say they anyone who is seriously
studying the clarinet at *any* age or level can benefit from them.
--
Mark Charette | "This is a very democratic organization, so let's
charette@-----. All those who disagree with me, raise
Mika Systems, Inc.| their hands." - Eugene Ormandy
Webmaster of http://sneezy.mika.com/clarinet, The Clarinet Info Pages