Klarinet Archive - Posting 000520.txt from 1998/01

From: "pim2" <pim2@-----.com>
Subj: Re: The aging clarinetist
Date: Sat, 10 Jan 1998 16:55:16 -0500

I am one of these - I have started to learn the clarinet aged 43 - never
having learned any music at all - but love singing and sing in a choir (not
a very good one). I have an aptitude but after 3 months I am about grade 4
(not very good on scales tho'). I feel I am not doing very well - I still
squeak (my middle register B particularly for some reason). I am practising
hard and am very keen but I have no reference point - am I doing vaguely
OK - where would the average person with some musical ability be now?

I am struggling with dexterity and accurage sight reading ( I seem to see
notes which aren't there quite often!) However, I love what I am doing -
just want to feel that this is not a complete waste of time.!

Erica Dyson
Manchester, England
-----Original Message-----
From: Dee Hays <deerich@-----.net>
Date: 10 January 1998 15:12
Subject: Re: The aging clarinetist

>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
>

   
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