Klarinet Archive - Posting 001139.txt from 1998/11

From: SDSCHWAEG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] life beyond college
Date: Mon, 30 Nov 1998 07:51:51 -0500

In a message dated 11/30/98 5:46:43 AM Central Standard Time,
talbotse12@-----.edu writes:

<< Something I have picked up on from talking to middle and high
school directors is that many of them miss performing. This has me a little
depressed because I still love performing... I know there are many music
educators on this list and I was wondering how you kept fresh and where you
look to find performance opportunities. I'm curious as to what others on this
list have done in this
situation. >>

Dear Sean,
It IS difficult to keep up your playing when you're teaching in a school
situation. You have to be determined to keep it a priority in your life.
After I left school (long, long ago!), I played for years with the Northshore
Concert Band, and went back to play with my university summer band for several
summers. In the area I live in now, a group of band directors and music
teachers did put a wind ensemble together, to address just this issue, and
I've played with it for over 10 years. I also have a chamber group of my own.
I've taught privately all this time - I find that this gives me a lot of
incentive to practice, since I feel I owe it to my students to be in good
shape as a player. Not to say that I didn't become a bit rusty over the
years, especially when my children were babies! Sometimes it's not possible
to keep playing at the top of the priority list! Probably the best thing I've
done is to start taking lessons again. You might also consider playing at
churches (though there's not a lot of call for clarinet players), or check out
community theatre groups. It's also possible to give a recital, say at a
local community center, just for the heck of it! Or, at least, when you have
your students give a recital, maybe around contest time, play a piece on it
yourself - they'll be impressed! Several people I know also play
professionally in dixie or big bands. While I find I have many more
performance opportunities now that I teach in a college, you can still do this
- you'll find playing opportunities if you look hard enough for them;
otherwise, you can create them yourself. Good luck to you, and
congratulations on your upcoming graduation.

Sue Schwaegler

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