Klarinet Archive - Posting 000749.txt from 2001/11

From: Tom.Henson@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Why Do You Play the Clarinet?
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 16:02:57 -0500

Hello All!

I hope everyone in the US enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday.

I have finally made it through all of the postings since last Wednesday.

I was really touched by the responses on the thread "so you want to do this
for a living".

I can relate to many of the feelings expressed in these replies. I don't
want to go into my experiences here as I am wanting to start a new thread.

I would also like to ask a simple question. There is no right or wrong
answer, and it is not a "loaded" or "trick" question. The simplicity of the
question belies the difficulty in giving a thoughtful answer.

Here is the question: Why do you play the clarinet?

I would imagine as many varied responses as there are people on the list.
But, this is not a question that can be answered off the top on one's head
so to speak. It must come from the heart.

I watched a DVD over the Thanksgiving holiday that really spoke to me about
music and why I love it so much. It is so rare to see a movie that has a
simple plot, yet so deep in the ways one can interpret and even learn from
watching it. That movie for me was "Billy Elliot". It was made in England
about a year ago. I feel that the English have a way in which they can
relate life and growing up in an honest and unbiased way. I will not go into
any details of the movie here, as there will be many interpretations of what
the movie is saying (that's what makes it a great movie). Suffice it to say
that you can watch this movie on many different levels and from many
different view points.

There is one scene in the movie where a simple question is asked of Billy.
Since the movie is about Ballet, the question was about Ballet. If I
remember the question correctly it was: Why do you like Ballet? The first
answer that the boy gives is typical of kids "I don't know". Then the
question is rephrased to: What is it that attracted you to Ballet? His
answer is simply "the dancing". Finally, he began to explain what he felt
when he danced. This must have been the answer the adults were looking for
as their ears immediately perked up. He went on to rivet their attention
with his answer, until they were awestruck and without words. His answer
came from the heart.

Since it would be unfair of me to ask this question of others, and not
include myself, I will be the first to try and put into words what for many
will be difficult.

As far back as I can remember, I have always loved music. Some forms more
than others. I think that I had an emotional connection to music before I
had a mental connection. I could feel the music in my soul and body. It
could make me happy, or it could make me sad. I could not explain it, but I
still felt the emotion of it. I was profoundly affected by the way music can
create an emotion. Many of us will listen to a vocal song and be moved by
not only the music, but the lyrics as well. We can identify with what the
singer is saying through music, and this can bring out a very strong emotion
in us.

I also think that I must be a frustrated singer. I love to sing along with
vocal music that I like. I can remember singing along to songs I listened to
on the radio (still do). Kids do that today. They know every single word of
their favorite song. But alas, God did not bless me with a beautiful voice,
so as I grew up, I longed for a way to express this emotion through music.

When I was old enough to start understanding the different sounds that each
instrument could make, I think I was immediately drawn to the clarinet. I
think the clarinet is one of those instruments that can resemble the human
voice. So for me, I could sing through my clarinet.

I love the liquid tone that the clarinet makes. I love the way it can
convey so many different emotions, depending on how you play it. I also
think the clarinet is one of the few instruments that can convey all of this
emotion all by itself, without any other supporting instruments. That is why
I think the clarinet is such a wonderful solo instrument.

For me to play the clarinet is a way of communicating on a higher plane than
thought. It can bypass the mind and convey pure emotion directly to the
heart and soul of the listener. I suppose there could be some scientific
reason why the clarinet is particularly good at this. Maybe it has to do
with the vibrations that are produced and the way they affect the human
body.

To play the clarinet is to bear my heart each and every time that I play it.
There is an honesty of emotion that comes through. It is saying, this is
what I am, what I feel. It is expressing the unspoken, the silent scream.

I always think of playing the clarinet as a way of giving myself. Of giving
that which is part of your soul, unencumbered by speech and reason. And in
the giving of this, I receive back the same.

I hope this thread will allow us to see how each one of us is unique in why
we play the clarinet, but also the same. For when we see ourselves in this
light, it can begin to answer the question of "so you want to do this for a
living". Just think of this when you are practicing and get discouraged at
your progress. Think of this when you are beating your head on all the doors
and not getting any answers. Think of this always as something you do for
others, but something you must do for yourself first.

Tom Henson

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