Klarinet Archive - Posting 000992.txt from 2000/01

From: bob shaw <theshaws@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Professional Clarinetist Skills
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2000 21:06:42 -0500

Gene,
Though my performing career is part time (I also teach in public schools
and run a clarinet studio) I have had some experience in chamber groups, solo
playing, and I play 2nd clarinet (sometimes principal) in the North Arkansas
Symphony.
I don't believe that most musicians are able to specialize in just one area of
performance. I believe that the same skills are needed for all types of
performance and every clarinetist must be well rounded, being competent
technically, musically and skilled in playing both in tune and in balance with
other musicians. Sight reading is also another skill that is very important.
I have had times that my second clarinet parts were just as technically
difficult, or maybe more difficult than the principal clarinetist. One great
challenge for me is to always match the pitch, tone and phrasing of our
principal. Most times we need to play as one unit, and not 2 individual
soloists.
I have also had a chance to play a couple of operas. 2 years ago I played
principal for Otto Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor. The part was
technically difficult, but I also had some beautiful expressive solos. One very
difficult aspect to this opera was the fact that most of it was written for C
clarinet. Because I did not have access to a C clarinet, I had to transpose the
part (Sorry Dan!). It took a lot of concentration and hours of practice on my
part.
Last year I was a part of our University Wind Symphony because I was
working on my Masters in Clarinet performance. I was able to play a variety of
styles including the solo at the beginning of Rhapsody in Blue, the solo in Blue
Shades, and I was featured soloist for Weber's Concertino. I think that the
skills for all of these pieces of music were very basic.
I believe in fundamentals. I play my scales and other fundamental
technique excercises everyday. I also play long tones and work with tuner as a
part of my daily practice. I hope this sheds a little light on what can be
expected of a professional (though part time) clarinetist.

Deborah Shaw

Gene Nibbelin wrote:

> To our senior and experienced professionals:
>
> Since Klarinet seems to be wandering afield a bit, here is a topic that I
> haven't seen discussed here in the last several years and it is one that I
> have often wondered about.
>
> Granted that many professionals concertize, play in chamber groups and play
> in both symphony and opera orchestras, which skills, in the opinions of you
> learned clarinetists, are more important or less important for each of
> these?
>
> Which is the toughest gig?
>
> There is really no answer to this, but some may have opinions: Which of the
> above require the best musicianship and which require the most technical
> skills?
>
> In addition to satisfying my curiosity, a discussion of the above questions
> may be helpful to our younger students and aspiring professionals.
>
> Gene Nibbelin
> Cape Coral, FL
>
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