Klarinet Archive - Posting 000047.txt from 2002/01

From: "Robert" <LetsReason@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Luck or Other?
Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 16:38:00 -0500

How about this? Is it luck or is something going on?

The Air Force, Marine and Army DC bands all had openings in the clarinet
section with auditions in January. I was hyped to be able to get the chance
for any of these bands since I am 32 years old and not likely to get another
shot. I went to Roanoke to visit my family for the holidays and what
happened?...simply biting a little piece of chapped skin off I got a rather
painful sore on my lip, just off-center. The little SOB would NOT go away!

It has just healed enough to play (at all) and I have about eight days until
the auditions begin. Add on top of that, I have a concerto competition to
play in the very next week after the auditions. Things just are NOT working
out at all! [Money situation makes repairing my poor
clarinet--maintenance--nearly impossible before the auditions and
competition.]

So that is one situation. Last March I was put in a position to make an
effort to continue teaching for a longer contract or to stop and return to
school to get my DMA and move to university level teaching. Considering how
late I was getting started, it did not seem likely, at the onset, that I
would be able to return to school. But WOW, everything worked out and with
ease. I was able to audition, make the program and secure the funds for the
transition. I left the school on good terms and I am now teaching an intro
to music history class (two sections) and a field experience class for music
ed majors [just a start...but a start nonetheless].

I had mixed-feelings about quitting my middle-school teaching gig, and
everything just flowered to make the move into college. I so wanted to win
a spot in one of the DC bands (odds are I would have--insider prospects) and
everything seems to be stopping me from even having a chance.

Luck or something else?! [I have recently come to acknowledge that I am
agnostic. Interesting events though.] Maybe this all for the best in the
long run, around the curve I cannot see ahead of me yet.

Robert

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