Klarinet Archive - Posting 000245.txt from 1999/12

From: John Vosbikian <johnvos@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] stage fright
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 13:25:00 -0500

> I just played in a concert where I had to play solo. I played the
>Mendelssohn Nocturno. It went okay except that I squacked four times and
>missed a couple of spots. I was nervous, and sweaty. The reed was a little
>light as well, so that did not help very much. Now, I have played this
>piece before much better. Before the concert I tried to calm the nerves
>down by eating bananas to keep me from becoming nervous. That kept me from
>shaking only. This is frustrating. This is something that has happened to
>me maybe 3/ 8 times. I have found some ideas and checked into the archives.
>I don't know any breathing techniques to help me relax. Does anyone else
>have any suggestions on how to overcome stage fright? I would really like
>to get rid of stage fright, so I can play much better.
>
>1) The use of herbal tea
>2) Alexander Technique
>3) inderol
>
>
>Nick Yip
>
>"I'm a clarinetist, I can't help complaining!"

I have to comment. I've been playing clarinet as a serious hobby
(hate the word "hobby") since I was a child, and at fourteen, started
peforming in "Greek Town", 8th Ave., NYC, back in the early sixties
(all gone now). It was rows of clubs, stretching a few long blocks,
storming all nightlong with Greeks, Armenians, Arabs and Turks (along
with Euro-whites of Ginsberg "beatnik" mentality). Anyway, I noticed
this topic along with discussions about reeds and another about what
to eat before playing; and grin over the disparity between our
different clarinet experiences/lifestyles.

Stage fright? Not when your standing in the middle of a horde of
drunken Greeks, screaming "Yassou Klarino Yanni!!" in your ear while
spitting paper bills and slamming them onto your forehead.

Reeds? The best clarinetists I ever heard were Greek & Turkish
gypsies... they only purchased 1 to 1-1/2 Ricos and seemed to prefer
rubber bands and chewing gum to springs and pads.

And diet? Well, just imagine squat, smudged glasses filled with 100
proof Raki (Armenian/Turkish form of Ouzo)... yes at fourteen they
had me drinking this as if I were a new born suckling mother's
milk... along with a steamy bowl of "Pacha", a gray colored stew made
from lamb's head, tripe and GARLIC!!!

Of course the crowd was frenetic and ear-busting loud, there was more
cigarette smoke than air... and the booze soaked floors, broken down
furnishings, sputtering light bulbs and body odor reeking and mixing
with the smoke, beer and anise (from the Ouzo and Raki) was the
ambiance. But man! It was FUN, incredibly HUMAN and later on, was
the way I paid for my college education.

Great memories. The kind that would've pasted a smile on Paul Bowles.
John V.

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