Klarinet Archive - Posting 000242.txt from 2001/11

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: clarinetist's block
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 17:33:59 -0500

In a message dated 11/6/01 4:12:31 PM, klarinet-digest-help@-----.org
writes:

<< As a teacher, I used sometimes to feel bad if I couldn't get all my
students to practise and prepare as much as they should. Even though I
tend to be enthusiastic and inventive myself in lessons, some people
seemed to need more than that: they needed, and even wanted, to be
bullied. I knew other teachers I respected were tough with their
students, but couldn't summon it up myself.

Nowadays that doesn't bother me so much. I figure that if I look round,
I'm not especially struck that what's needed in the world is *larger
numbers of professional clarinet players*. I have doubts myself about
the worth of what I do, and the last thing we need is players who, in
addition, really don't want to do it.

Let them give up playing the clarinet, if they're not committed to it.
Perhaps they'll find something more useful and important to do.

That has perhaps some bearing on the argument about 'success' in the
profession being a function of instrumental ability rather than musical
talent; or even, heaven help us, a function of efficient self-promotion
and self-aggrandisement rather than musical talent.

I don't say that musical talent can't be nurtured, and that someone may
not turn out to be a much better musician than it looked as though they
would be when they started out. Nor that I don't do my very best, this
side of bullying, to have that happen for my current student. (It's
what I'm being paid for, after all.)

Just, that we need music to be played *well*, which means more than
simply efficiently; and that may not necessarily be going to be done by
the person we're dealing with, if we encourage them to go for 'success'
*at any price*. >>

Again, this all is excellent. I don't believe in bullying either. I do
believe in the naked truth when necessary, though.

I agree completely that we don't need more professionals or pre-professionals
who don't love playing and especially don't need ones who don't really love
the music. However, I wish we had millions more who would like to be fine
amateur players.

I would never suggest to someone that he quit because it might not be
possible for that person to someday make a living. But I think it is only
fair to tell that person what it will probably take for him to achieve real
success.

The ultimate goal of a large number of clarinet players who are studying in
schools and conservatories is to play in a major symphony orchestra. In order
to achieve that goal, it is important to understand what the artists who
currently fill those positions (I am talking about the USA since I understand
it best) put themselves through to get where they are. With very few
exceptions, they worked their asses off.

It is also important, in my opinion, for folks who play the clarinet at any
level to have respect for the profession of music making, partly because it
is so difficult. There is nothing easy about what we do, although we work
like dogs to make it seem easy.

It is a great paradox that the better I get both as a clarinetist and a
musician, the more I realize how hard it really is. I am still getting
better, of course, and I hope I continue learning and becoming better until I
start fertilizing something.

I say this because I didn't always have the great respect for the profession
that I now have. It took a few years and some eye-opening experiences when I
was younger to make me realize that this isn't a game. If anyone is
interested, I will relate an experience I had which shook me up and made me
realize what it takes to really do this.

Let me just say that most musicians I know have one of two feelings about the
practicing they did when young. Most (like me) wish they had been more
serious at a younger age and practiced more. A few wish they hadn't wasted
their whole childhood (or adolescence) practicing. The second group is
sometimes a very sad and messed up bunch, but they usually play great. . .

David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com

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