Klarinet Archive - Posting 000163.txt from 1999/09

From: Ken Wolman <kwolman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] 52 year old 'beginner' needs help - please!
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 20:05:36 -0400

At 06:24 PM 9/6/99 -0400, J. D. Kent wrote:
>I too agree with this statement. I am a 46 y.o. learning to play an
>instrument for the first time. No previous music lessons, save for some
>chorus in high school, and I did that by ear. Besides the age, I was a
>mechanic for many years, and my hands have been pretty well abused. To
>make life even tougher, I just can't afford a teacher at this time, so I
>am attempting to go it alone. I think finding and creating an "adult"
>approach to teaching and learning music would be highly beneficial to
>many people, including, obviously, myself.

I suppose I come in close to being a beginner because from 1961 until the
end of 1997 I didn't pick up a clarinet except to say "Gee, I wish I could
relearn this."

Adults I suppose have different needs. Most likely--unless we're
ultimately deluded--we don't expect to inherit a job from Combs or Drucker.
We look for community groups or just play for our own pleasure.

When I was scouting teachers about a year ago, the only person who
suggested what I take to be an "adult" approach to teaching was none other
than Charles Russo, bete noire of the New York clarinetists and teachers,
and who has reputation for being something of a bastard when it comes to
conservatory students. He told me he figured that someone my age--about
his age--and with no professional aspirations is self-motivated enough to
take his technical exercises and work at them for a few weeks before coming
back for another lesson. Given the fact he charges between $80-100 (I
gather this is high even for New York) for an hour, this would make the
cost almost manageable. I haven't taken him up on it...yet.

Bonnie Sholl was the only other New York area teacher I talked to (among
four or five) who seemed genuinely interested in non-professional adult
players. Her idea was to "have fun" with the instrument rather than try to
produce another Russianoff or Reginald Kell.

Ken

---------------
"When you stop falling you will be in heaven but when you stop getting up
you will be in hell." -- David Torkington

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