Klarinet Archive - Posting 001362.txt from 1998/03

From: benevolent1@-----. Horney)
Subj: Uncooperative Musicians and Definitions
Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 18:37:47 -0500

Ryan,

>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
learn their part?

Though I don't believe that you are responsible for the bad playing on
the part of this particular person (they are responsible for that
themselves, and only they can remedy that, by practicing. You can only
push this process along by encouraging s/he do so) you were right in
taking them aside. This is a problem that is not only present in the
organization that you are involved in, but almost prevalent in many high
schools. I think that the ability to play an accompanying part (or
second or third clarinet in a band) musically comes with the mature
musician. It takes maturity to understand that even if you are playing a
part that is not the most important line to at that time you need to play
it well. All the things that make a musical performance: paying
attention to dynamics, balance, etc., are made or broken in the harmony
parts. This person is much more important that they realize.

>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).

I must take up issue with your view. In my opinion musicianship has less
to do with technical proficiency on a particular instrument and more to
do with emotion. Anyone can learn an instrument if they have practice
time and the drive to perfect technique. A musician can take a piece and
convey a feeling to anyone who may be listening, whether it be a wall or
a group of a couple thousand people. I guess that would make the person
who can appreciate the emotion in an imperfect performance and put it
above a technically flawless one without emotion is a true music
appreciator.

A musician should be playing because it gives them joy to do so. A
musician is someone who takes his/her talent and uses it to bring
happiness to others. The simple song can be played with emotion, whether
it be sorrow, elation, or something in between, by a true musician.

I know that I am just a high school student, and your query stated that
you wanted professionals' opinions, but I just couldn't resist. I thank
you, however, for posing a question that gave us all an opportunity to
examine our ideas about musicians. It is a term whose meaning is not a
simple as looking in a dictionary.

Sarah Beth
benevolent1@-----.com
ICQ UIN 6585512