Klarinet Archive - Posting 001289.txt from 1997/10

From: darrenmr@-----.edu
Subj: can I catch up?
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 01:37:01 -0500

Hello,
I started playing the clarinet in the fifth grade ten years ago,
spent five years playing bass clarinet, and then returned to regular
clarinet. Our clarinet teacher in the fifth grade was a trumpet player, the
only music groups I've played in are middle school and high school bands
(and, consequently, I never practiced and didn't realize how much work I
needed), I didn't start taking lessons until the summer after my senior
year, and only this last week started using a technique book and an etude
book. Needless to say, now that I am in college, I am very far behind the
other clarinetists here, making it impossible to get into any of the
performance groups. I try to practice 4-5 times a week, and I'm also trying
to take some lessons during the semester. My question is whether there was
any way I can catch up to the clarinetists here who have been taking lessons
since the second grade and who have played in all sorts of youth symphonies,
honor bands, and the like. All suggestions are very welcome.
Darren

"Accursed world!" a frustrated Darren wrote,
"The path to perfection is an asymptote!"