Klarinet Archive - Posting 000805.txt from 1998/08

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deerich@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bad Audition (on bass clarinet)
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1998 10:09:14 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott M. Gerhardt <gerhardt@-----.com>
Date: Thursday, August 27, 1998 3:36 PM
Subject: Re: [kl] Bad Audition (on bass clarinet)

>On Aug 27, 12:39am, GTGallant@-----.com wrote:
>
>> Never play overly expressive for an orchestra/band audition. Play clean
and
>> use moderate expression/dynamics/phrasing. Some adjudicators are boring
>> stiffs and will not like something musical (because they don't understand
it).
>> Most audition committees are only concerned with technique. Welcome to
>> college, my friend! Get use to fat-cat administrators and beauracrats,
who
>> will try and make your next four or so years as miserable as their
pathetic
>> lives! Just chalk it up to a lesson learned and remember, bore 'em to
death
>> and you'll be principle!
>
>I have to admit agreement here.
>
> Don't rock the boat. Eschew originality. Don't stick out.
> Do what everybody else does, or you're wrong. Don't disagree
> with me. Who cares what you think.
>
>When all is said and done, the $16k times four that a student shells out
will
>be applied toward either raising their own standards, or simply funding
>certain egos.
>
>It is the student's call, whether the student knows it or not.

There is a time and place for everything in life. However, college is a
place to absorb the great mass of knowledge available. It is NOT the place
to demonstrate your originality. Instead the auditioner's goal should be
to show his current technical abilities AND HIS ABILITY TO LEARN.

Also if you are auditioning for an ensemble, you need to demonstrate that
you know the requirements of ensemble playing. This means knowledge of
standard practices for the type of music being played. Ensemble work is
quite different from solo work. If every member of the ensemble insisted on
doing their own way, you would have a mess.

It is NOT the goal of instructors and administrators to make your life
miserable. It is their job and duty to impart the body of existing
knowledge so that LATER in life you can build on it and develop original
materials. It's tough to write blues if you don't know the characteristics
of the medium.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

-------------------------------------------------------------------------