Klarinet Archive - Posting 000676.txt from 2002/03
From: tianshiwushendu@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Alto clarinet and clarinet music majors; was Vito Alto Clarinet
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 11:51:10 -0500
I have to admit, yes, that the Alto Clarinet is something of a royal pain
in the arse on the bad days.. however the more I get a chance to lock my
self away into the practice room and work, the easier it gets to work out
the quirks and annoying trivialities of our poor school alto.
You see.. I;m one of these people who starts one instrument, and tries
the rest. Alto Sax, Tenor, flute, bass flute (of which you can find
absolutely positive no sheet music or solo's for) picc, violin,
clarinet... and even harp which I still play to this day.
I trying to get experience on all the instruments in my current "family"
, because I'm just crazy like that.
Seriously though, I think all clarinetists should at list take a try at
Alto. Some instruments may not be all that great, but I guess you learn
to work with it.. Like my first bass clarinet :)
Just my swing on things,
D
On Sat, 23 Mar 2002 09:18:14 -0500 "Patricia Alison Smith"
<pattiesmith@-----.net> writes:
> Bishop L.D Jackson wrote:
>
> I'm interested in what you have to say about the alto clarinet
> because I
> hardly find any posts about it in this list.
>
> Patricia:
>
> That is because alto clarinets are evil and need to be destroyed -
> ALL of
> them. ;-)
>
> Seriously, to be honest, Mr. Jackson, I think the reason the
> instrument is
> not utilized any more than it is, is because it is constructed so
> poorly.
> There are myriad intonation problems, making it difficult in the
> extreme to
> play in tune with itself (much less with other instruments).
>
> Secondly, there are other members of the clarinet family that cover
> that
> range oh so much more nicely - the bass clarinet (someone on the
> list
> recently pointed out that it is not REALLY a bass clarinet, but more
> of a
> tenor or baritone clarinet - I would have to agree) covers the lower
> part of
> its register) and the Bb clarinet covers the upper part.
>
> The sometimes maligned basset horn also has that area covered.
> However, I
> will leave discussion of it to those who are a GREAT DEAL more
> learned than
> I - Mr. Leeson comes readily to mind.
>
> A bit of advice to the young people in high school who are
> considering
> taking up other members of the clarinet family than the Bb: I
> suggest
> skipping the alto, to be completely honest. You will find
> developing your
> tone and technique on the bass clarinet a much more worthwhile
> endeavor.
> Also, you will find that all that hard work will also be needed for
> your Bb
> if you are even REMOTELY considering becoming a college or
> university music
> major. You do NOT major on the other clarinets - your major
> instrument is
> the Bb - and the others you practice when you are done working with
> your Bb.
> You may not like that reality, but that is the reality. I hope I
> have not
> been too brusque; however, this is how it works. And it is best to
> find it
> out here - rather than in your auditions for college when you are
> not ready
> for them!
>
> Also, to be blunt and to the point:
>
> Find yourself a GOOD teacher and get cracking. You cannot prepare
> yourself
> to major in music without one. It is not possible, no matter how
> talented
> you are. It is worth the extra expense, and it is worth cutting out
> some of
> the other partying and other extracurricular activities you are
> involved
> in, IF you like music that much. If you have only a cursory
> interest in
> music, don't expect to be accepted into the music programs on that
> level.
> There are too many other people who are willing to go the extra
> mile.
> Again, I am not being mean. I am being honest. The people on this
> list who
> have seen me post know I am not a mean person. They also know -
> especially
> the few who know me personally - that I am also a kind and
> concerned
> teacher - whether you play for a hobby or are serious about a career
> in
> music. I am one of those teachers who teach both kinds, and do not
> expect
> everyone I teach to "major" in music and become a symphony player
> or
> soloist. There is a lot of room for all in this world.
>
> Also, be aware of your own limitations. If you are a nervous sort,
> you may
> not wish to become a performer. You may be better suited to working
> in a
> field in which you get to work with music, yet are not performing
> all the
> time. There will always be a need for music teachers, and the field
> of
> music therapy (which I intend to go into, once my children are a
> little
> older and I can devote the time I need to devote to it) is growing
> by leaps
> and bounds in the larger urban areas of the U.S. I cannot speak for
> the
> U.K. and other parts of the world, but I hope other members of the
> list from
> those places will speak out.
>
> I was one of those kids who had a really hard time figuring out what
> it was
> *I* wanted to do in life, rather than what it was other people
> expected of
> me or what it would be that I could do that would impress them the
> most. It
> took me a lot of years, and a lot of twists and turns along the
> road. When
> I can assist young people in deciding how they can best make the use
> of
> their musical talents, whether it is as a music teacher,
> professional
> musician, a classroom teacher, a church musician, as a hobbyist
> player after
> a long day at the office or whatever, it means a great deal to me.
>
> I apologize for the length of this post; however, if I can be of
> service to
> young people who are making career choices, then I want to do so.
>
> Patricia A. Smith
> pattiesmith@-----.net
>
>
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