Klarinet Archive - Posting 000203.txt from 1999/09

From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] re: 52 year old "beginner"
Date: Tue, 7 Sep 1999 21:55:08 -0400

Frank Galiani wrote:

> Dear Audrey, I am an age 65+ clarinet student and have been playing for
> about 18 months. Last month at the end of my lesson, my teacher said,
> "OK, Now we'll work on this," and placed the music for the K622 Adagio
> on the stand. I must have walked to my car when I left, but I can't
> remember my feet touching the ground! Getting these antique fingers to
> work and coordinate with my perhaps pre-senile brain has been quite a
> chore, but what fun. I find that I have to break down my practice into
> a phrase by phrase learning and reinforcement process. I've worked on
> some segments dozens upon dozens of times, gradually increasing the
> speed until I can come up to tempo at this point on all except a few
> phrases. When I reach a certain point with a portion of the music, I go
> back and start working with a metronome, albeit at a slower tempo.
> Starting every practice with scales, including chromatic, and arpeggios,
> has also been a very big help for me. From your post it is evident that
> you are miles ahead of me musically, but I hope that my excitement and
> enthusiasm about learning some of this wonderful music bring you a smile
> and an added bit of encouragement.
> Frank P. Galiani
> Baltimore, MD

Dear Frank
Thanks for your words of encouragement. Having read all the commentaries
and suggestions from people over the last few days, I've realized that:

a) There are lots of people my age learning an instrument for the first time
and probably experiencing the same reservations I have

b) My frustration is largely due to (as an adult) having heard so much
wonderful music, knowing how it should sound, and being, as yet, unable to
reproduce it.

c) I'm blessed to have found a teacher who takes me seriously - we both know
that I can't yet do the music I choose true justice, but he respects my deep
desire to be involved with it, and encourages my interpretive and emotive
understanding just as much as my technique.

I certainly understand the pure joy and soulfilling experience of playing
music of the Masters. I do a LOT of listening to great clarinetists,
especially the work of Robert Marcellus and Harold Wright. At this stage,
trying to emulate either one or my own teacher - who leaves me in awe - is a
huge part of my education (and frustration). I'm sure you understand.

Keep in touch, Frank, and good luck!

Audrey Travis

>
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