Klarinet Archive - Posting 000877.txt from 1998/08

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bad Audition (on bass clarinet)
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 16:15:44 -0400

On Fri, 28 Aug 1998, Scott M. Gerhardt wrote:

> On Aug 27, 11:03pm, Roger Garrett wrote:
> > I guess I would ask you how many times you have auditioned people and been
> > "honest" without being asked for an opinion?
>
> When I have auditioned people and have heard something, say, surprising, I
> imagine that I appeared somewhat surprised; if I've heard a performance that
> I liked, I imagine that I looked pleased; and if I have disliked a performance,
> I may have looked ready for the next auditioner.
> If I ever sit for an audition and feel so much disdain for a performance that
> it could possibly be seen on my face, I think I must ask myself if I should be
> there in the first place.
> Whatever my physical reactions, they'll be equally reflected in my comments
> (should it be possible to offer them), and all reactions will be in the most
> respectful, sympathetic, and yet, honest manner that I am personally capable of.

Ok....great....now, how many times have you auditioned people and been
"honest" about their playing without being asked for an opinion? (You
never answered the question).

> Probably, and I agree that one must be non-committal towards the PERFORMER, but
> it is not possible to be so towards the performer's playing style.

Sure it is....you just don't react. You are capable of that if you try
hard enough. It is important because some people don't want to know what
you think.......they just want to know if they made it or not.

> An
> adjudicator has biases towards certain playing practices that he (or she) must
> naturally employ during the audition. He may consider a "bright" tone to be an
> undeveloped tone, or he may completely disagree with a style of staccato at a
> particular spot.

So does everyone in the band/orchestra/choir. But we don't tell each
other that the person doesn't sound good. I sit principal in a
professional orchestra, and if the second clarinetist doesn't sound very
good, I simply ask him to play with me a little during the break. I never
have to say anything about his playing.

> When or IF those preferences are revealed to the performer is the other matter.

Yes.....and so far, it appears that most people seem to feel that waiting
until later and after the audition is a more appropriate time to discuss
how the audition went. No one said anything about not having an opinion
at all.....just that the audition is not the time to discuss the audition.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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