Klarinet Archive - Posting 001088.txt from 2000/01
From: MUSIC43@-----.com
Subj: [kl] [k] Why??
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 09:52:59 -0500
Bryan asked why someone would chose clarinet for an instrument to learn.
Well, let's see - I wanted to do something in the summer between 5th & 6th
grade and I decided to pick an instrument. I had already taken piano lessons
from 3rd grade up. So, I decided to pick clarinet (my first name is Johnette
and clarinet rhymes with it! Crazy thinking in 5th grade!!!). My main
reason for picking clarinet is because my parents were always playing music
from the 40's, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Pete Fountain, actually they were
always playing all types of music. Lots of Big Band era stuff plus they had
taken us to a few concerts - Philly Orchestra, the concerts at Longwood
Gardens, etc. I had alsos heard the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra since I had
lived in Lansdowne, PA at the time.
I started in summer school on clarinet. Lo and behold, they gave out
the infamous 2 piece clarinet - the silver one piece one with a mouthpiece.
I had 2 clarinets that summer - my little sister tried to give the first one
a bath in the bathtub! Naturally, it didn't work too well after that.
Fortunately, my parents started purchasing on the time-payment deal a
nice plastic Buffet Evette. I started taking lessons during school in 6th
grade. Was put in the high school marching band in 7th grade because they
needed instrumentation. (Our high school was 7th to 12th grade). Loved
every minute of it. Took clarinet lessons and piano lessons for a long time.
Stopped piano after a while - 10th??grade.
I always liked playing clarinet because everyone said it was one of the
harder instruments to learn because you can play a lot of notes 2 different
ways. My brothers and sisters would tell me to go practice in the basement,
the street, the attic, etc. Paid off to practice in my bedroom because I was
1st chair, 1st clarinet in 10th, 11th and 12th grade. Made district band,
etc. My parents both played piano, recreationally.
To play an instrument is fun. I always think, dream, challenge myself
to play an entire piece perfectly, etc., while playing. It also teaches you
to master your nerves - if you are nervous, you will most likely squeak.
Music opens many doors. When I went to Europe once for 6 weeks, I took the
clarinet with me and played with an Oompah band in Germany - music being the
universal language - we just jammed - I didn't know any German unfortunately.
That was really a lot of fun. After high school and college, I met many
people and many forever friends from being in different bands, orchestras,
Mummer String Bands (Philadelphia), etc.
The other question that popped up about how many people in the community
band used to be 1st chairs in school, etc. I have been in a few assorted
community bands. Some people never were 1sts. One clarinetist in particular
played well, BUT, was never exactly in tune. However, we had a 92 year old
playing clarinet who had played violin all his life. He constantly arrived a
rehearsal and we kept an eye on him to see if he was okay - he lived alone.
I have played when I was pregnant both times and on stage while pregnant.
Both my children are now playing instruments - one on sax and one on
clarinet. They have loved music from the start. I played beside a man who
played clarinet to put himself through medical college - he showed me many
little tricks, ideas, etc. Mainly, he made me challenge myself more so I
would move up from 3rd clarinet to 1st clarinet and then I replaced him as
1st, 1st when he had a stroke. We all played at different levels in that
community band, but, it was like seeing family once a week. That band has
disbanded since and I sure miss it after 14 years of a 45 minute drive one
way and playing with those people. Then, I joined a community symphony and
that was a challenge for me (mainly remembering to count out 102 measures
before I played again!!! Those darn violins steal the show from the
clarinets!!!!) Also a challenge to read the manuscript instead of the
printed band parts.
I have also found that once I became an adult, picked up my clarinet and
started playing again, had experienced different things like jobs, college,
getting married, having children, etc., it is very relaxing to play and to
get out to go to rehearsal. My playing has taken on new passion due to
experiencing life more and really enjoying the chance to play and the talent
to play, etc. Especially since I am a mom, I enjoy playing and feeling that
I have accomplished something, given it my all and actually completing
something. Raising children, you never really get to complete anything
because you won't see all your efforts completed until the children are grown
up.
So, these are the reasons why I play music and why I chose clarinet.
Also, I just remembered that I was always thinking when I started on piano,
that I wanted to be able to play piano better than my mother who usually
played a little something everyday. Mom still didn't say much when I became
a better player than her on piano. So, I decided to go further and try
clarinet. So, that proves that you shouldn't really praise your children
constantly like some parents do - getting praise once in a while might be a
better idea!!! So, 23 years after high school and lessons, I invited my
parents to a big concert I was in (a concert band) at a regional performing
arts center and had them listen to what I had accomplished since high school.
They were rather amazed that I could play to that caliber and loved the
concert. Nice to know that all the money they spent on lessons paid off!!!
Johnette Halpin
MUSIC43@-----.com
Ocean City, NJ
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