Klarinet Archive - Posting 001222.txt from 1999/01

From: "MARY A. VINQUIST" <kenshaw@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] HELP! message from Sara ( Klarinet94@-----.com)
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 14:33:36 -0500

Dear Sara -

You say: "I practice, but don't see much improvement. Does anyone have a=
ny
tips that can help me memorize (and mesmerize) the music?" And then "I
work hard, to the point of being so angry at myself because I just can't
get it right. My band director even made it a point to tell me that I
wasn't trying."

There are so many things to say. First, check your equipment. Your
clarinet may be need repairs, or your mouthpiece or reeds may be getting =
in
the way. You may be doing things with your breathing or hand position or=

tonguing that get in the way. =

You sound like you're letting your anger and frustration (and the band
director's inconsiderate comments) get in the way. It will help to
remember what's most important -- playing the clarinet. Don't let yourse=
lf
get distracted by what other people say, or even what you say to yourself=

at a bad moment.

Practicing helps, but you may not be practicing the right things. Just
going over and over the music is not efficient. One thing that will help=

fairly quickly (over the course of a month or two) is learning scales and=

chords. The music you play is made up of scales and chords, and when you=

already know them, you can recognize the patterns and play them from
memory. This also helps you memorize the piece itself.

Best of all would be to get one-on-one help from a teacher, who can hear
you play, fix up a reed for you, and show you how to correct things you
don't even realize are holding you back.

All of us have been through exactly what's happening with you. I know th=
is
doesn't make it any easier for you right now, but we know what it's like,=

and we also know that you will get past it. I can't say it gets any easi=
er
-- everyone has devils and problems that seem insoluble -- but playing th=
e
clarinet makes up for it all, and the better you get, the more it's worth=
.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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