Klarinet Archive - Posting 001355.txt from 1998/03

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Studio playing
Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 18:37:40 -0500

At 01:35 AM 3/29/98 -0500, Ryan Lowe wrote:
>I have several things that I MUST get off of my mind tonight.
>
>1) I am in a show right now playing reed 1 (Clarinet, Alto Sax, Oboe, Alto
>Flute, and Bassoon). Many of the other players double the part that I have
>or play some sort of counter-melody. There is one player in particular that
>does not know their part and when I took them aside to tell them what was
>wrong, they said not to worry about it because it was just accompaniment
>anyways. I am of the opinion, however, that because they are accompanying
>ME, the conductor will think that I am responsible for their bad playing.
>As was said in a previous post: "A second player can make or break a
>first"... Am I in the wrong for taking them aside and pressuring them to
>learn their part? I would just like to know some opinions on how other
>professionals deal with this.
>
I think this other player is being irresponsible, and fails to understand
the importance of harmony parts. There are no small parts, only expendable
players. By the way, what show makes you go through such gyrations of
doubling? It is hard enough to juggle three instruments!

>2) Several collegues (sp?) of mine and I were discussing the difference
>between a musician and a clarinetist. I am of the belief that a TRUE
>musician is able to do anything with any instrument or musical device, while
>a clarinetist plays only the clarinet. While musicians can also be
>clarinetists, the converse is not true. Clarinetists can be very musical,
>etc... but not musicians... This is just my opinion and I am sure that it
>will change with time. I would just like to know some of your views on the
>differences between musicians and clarinetists (or players of any one
>instrument).
>
Musicianship is not measured in numbers (although I applaud your
versatility). Even if you only play ONE instrument, you are a true
musician if you play it in such a manner that MUSIC comes out, not just
notes. All the technique in the world will not make you a musician if you
cannot feel and communicate the emotion and excitement in what you play.
And a few fluffs here and there can be ignored if you have musicianship
mastered.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.