Klarinet Archive - Posting 000850.txt from 1998/11

From: "Mark A. Bradley" <markb@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Area All-State
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 05:24:17 -0500

The Zone 6 area all-state went remarkably well for a bunch of country
hicks (there is only one town in this zone with a population over
10,000)! Our conductor was John Wade from Amherst. Consistently I have
heard from guest conductors that bands from this area are of good
quality so maybe we all aren't so bad.

Ginger please audition for our concert next year! Out of Clinton,
Franklin, and Essex counties, all 17 clarinets that auditioned made it
so there wasn't too much competition. And i live for competition! ;-)

I had a good audition and sat 1st clarinet 3rd chair. The concert
wasn't soo exciting but it was nice. Two standing ovations, though!
One was for Paulson's Epinicion, which I thought would cause some to
walk out but I guess not!

In terms of preparedness, it is a tough thing for some. Music is sent
out about 2 or 2 1/2 weeks after auditions. It is true that some people
don't even look at the music...the conductor can usually tell that. For
me it was tough to find time between Pre Calculus, Plattsburgh
Orchestra, Adirondack Orchestra, school's band, solos, and other such
activities to work on area all-state (but i did...). I don't even play
any sports so I can imagine how tough it must be for others. No excuse
I think but it is tough for some. They should know their music (not
asking too much!), there's no excuse for missing key signatures and
entrances over and over again.

Still, no matter how good a high school clarinet player is, they will
not be perfect. Missing an entrance is not unexpected but you'd better
not miss it again!

The bass drum missed his cue during rehearsal in Epinicion, even when
the conductor was yelling and screaming at him. Looking back at him, he
was looking right at the conductor. His answer to "why didn't you come
in" was "well, you were acting differently this time" Geez!

I must say that some of our clarinetists were not particularly good and
I'm sure that much of the band was almost or totally sight-reading the
music. Unfortunately there's nothing you can do about that and the ones
that do work on the music must suffer.

Also, don't miss the point of this festival or any other similar music
festival. The big concert is hardly the reason for having 10 hours of
rehearsal. The point is how much you actually learned in that period of
time. Most conductors also are clear to point that out while waiting in
the gym for our turn to go on. It doesn't matter how good or bad the
group does at the concert but how much fun and how much was learned
during rehearsal.

But still! Missing f sharps over and over again certainly gets on my nerves!!!

Maybe we'll see eachother at the Conference All-State next year, Ginger.
As soon as I get the darned Poulenc perfect. ;-) I give it another
couple decades and I'll be close.

Mark
Mark A. Bradley AIM: Brdly08
Chazy, NY ICQ: 12875919 "It takes a long time
Mark006@-----."
markb@-----.com Phone: (518)846-8836 --Pablo Picasso

> For those of you New Yorkers who may have participated in/attended the
> Area All-State conferences this weekend, i would like to comment.
>
> I participated in the Zone 9 band. What fun. I sat (unfortunately) 4th to
> last chair...but it was ok. I was next to this funny girl from Ramapo.
> I'll never forget her.
>
> Anyway, sitting in that section made me realize that...well... I stink at
> the clarinet! Compared to some of those other players, I'm terrible!
>
> But, I have to complain. Don't you all think that a section should be
> PREPARED before attending a rehearsal for a weekend and then a BIG
> concert? The 3rd clarinet section especially was appalling. Some were
> constantly practicing during rehearsal (BAD) and some couldn't even count
> out the measures.... some came in too early...some too late..
> I admit I made a few mistakes, but GEEZ, at least i knew the MUSIC!!
>
> Sorry I had to vent. Maybe after reading this everybody will think twice
> about preparation.
>
> :( Ginger

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