Klarinet Archive - Posting 000495.txt from 1998/01

From: Dee Hays <deerich@-----.net>
Subj: Re: The aging clarinetist
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 12:10:50 -0500

Gary_VanCott@-----.com wrote:

> Diane R. Karius, Ph.D. wrote (in part)
> To what extent do normal changes associated with aging alter
> our clarinet playing?
>
> ****
> I think this is an important question that has not be explored to any
> significant extent on the klarinet list.
>
> While I know there are many players on the list who are much older than I
> am (I am 49), this is an area of concern to me. Since I started serious
> practice (again) two years ago, I have noted some areas have come back much
> faster than others. It seems to me that my emboucher and tonguing came back
> to their former levels (such as they were) reasonably quickly. Areas that
> have been much more difficult are fingering rapid passages (particularly
> involving the little fingers and coordination between hands) and sight
> reading material with lots of notes.
>
> Of course, it is difficult to remember exactly how well I could play in
> 1970 and the fact that I do much of my current playing with professionals,
> tends to make my weaknesses more obvious (to me at least).
>
> Any suggestions from experienced teachers on the list, who have worked with
> people in my situation, are welcome.
>
> Gary Van Cott
> Las Vegas, NV

When I resumed playing about 5 years ago after a hiatus of 20 years, I found
exactly the same thing.
Embouchure and tonguing came back the quickest. Finger coordination second.
And
sight reading the slowest. This makes logical sense as when you sight read,
you are
attempting to coordinate the maximum number of elements (tongue AND fingers AND
eyes).
If you wear glasses, make sure your prescription is up to date (it's amazing
how much smaller
those notes have gotten in 20 years)!

Although I don't teach clarinet (other than my daughter), I have been around
adult beginners and returning adults in the civic bands that I have belonged
to. I have also had extensive discussions with my sister, who took up violin
and piano in her 40's. The biggest problem seems to be a lack of patience.
They expect too much too soon from themselves. Adults are used to being able
to pick up a book on something and develop a moderate expertise quite quickly.
Playing an instrument is entirely different.

On the plus side, adults are generally much more disciplined. Once they decide
they want to learn, they'll commit to the practice. In addition, they have a
lifetime of hearing music so they have a good idea of their objectives.

Dee Hays
deerich@-----.net
Canton, SD

Dee Hays
deerich@-----.net
Canton, SD