Klarinet Archive - Posting 000163.txt from 2001/11

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: clarinetist's block
Date: Sun, 4 Nov 2001 10:59:34 -0500

There has been some good advice on this subject and some crap as well, but
let me add a few things based on my own experience.

Becoming a great player (as opposed to a good or decent one) doesn't come in
logical steps and getting there is a much longer and more frustrating road
than most people either know OR are willing to completely follow.

The other thing to realize (and this is MOST important) is that the better
you get, the harder it is to keep improving. I don't mean a little harder, I
mean EXPONENTIALLY harder at every step.

For instance, consider the amount of practice it takes to get from the 50
percentile level to the 85th precentile (basically from a good high school
student to a decent conservatory freshman level). To get to, say the 91st (a
decent conservatory graduate), it will take several times as much practice as
that first gap. To get up to the 95th (basically an average professional)
will take MANY MANY MANY times more practice that getting from 85 to 91. And
every percentile above 95 will take a massive amount of work.

I write this because it is important to realize as early as possible that the
amount of work you did your first two years of college (or whatever) during
which you feel you improved may no longer be nearly enough!

My personal advice: start with three books, Baermann/Hite Book 3, Jettel
Klarinetten Schule Book 2 and Stark Arpeggio studies. EVERY DAY do 45 minutes
of Baermann, 45 of the Jettel and 30 of the Stark. Do it in that order, use a
metronome and don't set the tempos too fast! You can also use some of this
time with the Hamelin book or the Jeanjean Vade-Mecum if you want.

I also highly recommend the Stark Practical School of Staccato playing. Since
articulation is so important, it is crucial to spend at least 20 minutes a
day practicing it. Be sure to utilize prepared finger/stopped staccato
technique (read Bonade Compendium).

Once you do this, you can start practicing other things (another 2 hours at
least). Break this up throughout the day, of course.

Tape yourself today and tape yourself in 6 months, listen and then write me.
I bet you'll hear a difference.

No cheating.

Does this sound like a total drag that you could never do? Maybe you aren't
meant to be a performer! I am serious about that too.

As always, happy to answer follow up questions.

David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com

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