Klarinet Archive - Posting 000989.txt from 1999/03

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] You would understand
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1999 21:18:26 -0500

On Wed, 17 Mar 1999, Dr. David McClune wrote:

> The quandry is, does the world need another great saxophonist? I
> thought through the lesson, that with the natural embouchure, etc., he
> could become a great clarinetist or oboist. I do not intend to be a
> saxophone smasher, but there are just too few sax jobs.

I wish more people would ask such questions. We might even extend it to
ask, do we need another great clarinetist, oboist, etc. Still, there is
even more of a questionable area when it comes to the saxophone. I know
of great saxophonists who have bachelor's and master's degrees in
saxophone performance, and who are either unemployed or else flipping
burgers. If a saxophonist can play jazz, that opens up other worlds for
them. But, the saxophonist who can play only the classically oriented
literature is in a terrifically difficult spot.

However, your young prodigy or musical genius may well end up being a
nuclear physicist or neurosurgeon. We need such people who are oriented
toward music and the world of the arts. He may eventually become more
important to the music world through his support of it than a half-dozen
more people with degrees in performance.

This would be a great topic for discussion on a saxophone mailing list.
Too bad there isn't one any more. Anyone care to volunteer to administer
such a list?

Ed Lacy
*****************************************************************
Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
*****************************************************************

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