Klarinet Archive - Posting 000934.txt from 2000/11

From: AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne Lenoir)
Subj: Re: [kl] thank you Anne Lenoir
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 09:17:44 -0500

Dear Terry,
Thank you for that fabulous traffic sign, "NO PARKING --
CLARINETISTS ONLY -- ALL OTHERS SCALED". It is now my prized posession.
I am taking it to Kinko's to have more made for my students. I did get
to see Mr. Weber and tell him about you. I showed him the sign and he
wanted it, but I refused to give it up. I told him that I thought it
would look great on his coffin. He's 87 now. Anyhow, he did laugh.
I would like to thank Tony Wakefield for bringing us together for a
clarinet lesson, Terry. Tony and I were having a healthy argument about
"decrescendo vs. diminuendo" while I was trying to communicate with you
about the value of long tones. This argument led to my arranging a
meeting in NY with Terry Sterkel to demonstrate how to use the long
tones and how to practice. By the way Terry, you have come a long way on
clarinet in the 2 months you have been playing. I am amazed!
I am enjoying the recent postings of Tony Pay. He must be a
terrific clarinetist. I will have to purchase his performance of the
Mozart Clarinet Concerto that is so highly rated by other clarinetists.
I would like to say to Tony Pay that I am also an advocate of
"ease" in playing, as Terry Sterkel will testify. My reason for feeling
this way is because my favorite clarinetists sound like a breath of
fresh air. I don't believe in tension or difficulty in playing. I prefer
to develop the embochure & tone with lots of long-tones and the
technique one step at a time, one finger at a time for beginners. It is
not fun for me to perform if I feel tension, induced by a flabby
embochure, improper breath support or fobble fingers. Or for that
matter, I can't see any use for slamming fingers down. For those of us
who don't have a natural technical talent for fast technique, we have to
work very hard at making all of this effortless so that the performances
are free and easy. This does not mean that I don't like emotion or
gorgeous phrasing. To the contrary. I feel that a persons odds of
achieving great dynamic contrast & expression in clarinet playing are
much GREATER if they have the endurance to play with ease.
Here in Colorado Springs we have a pop Jazz radio station called
"SAX -- stress free jazz", which I hate, because I feel that it is a
contradiction in terms. They play all this boring Kenny G stuff.
Anyhow, what I am leading to is that just because a person strives for
effortless technical perfection does not necessarily mean that they are
an advocate of "stress-free" music. I am not.
Anyhow, Tony Pay, wherever you are, I feel most fortunate that we
have you to "tell it like it is". I am going to go look for your
recordings today. I spent all my money in NY, but as soon as I get paid
on Friday, I will purchase your recording of the Mozart. ANNIE

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