Klarinet Archive - Posting 000145.txt from 2002/04
From: "Robert" <LetsReason@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] A few newbie questions
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 13:51:08 -0500
<<I should first introduce myself; I am not a musician by any definition
of the word. I am the father of two very talented teenagers whom are.>>
Welcome. I'd like to introduce you to the list...to your left are the
Tonies and clan. You will find a plethora of interesting and comprehensive
replies from this group. To the right are the Shaw family/clan who are
particularly conscious of certain expletives appearing in the list that may
offend or be inappropriate for their children (understandable...not making
judgement here). And in the center you will find a number of people who
find themselves posting like a pendulum gone awry, like myself. (I find
myself almost unable to respond to the recent thread concerning the use of
expletives in public forums because I end up arguing with MYSELF as to the
validity of the last statment I had just written! Sounds like a personal
issue I need to deal with...off list. ;-) )
One thing I will say is that you can definitely look to the list as a great
resource for everything clarinet (whether you think it is "clarinet related"
or not). You have the young kids in highschool who think they have it all
figured out to the old man who know's he doesn't but tells you anyway. You
have literally hundreds reading in the dark corners of the list without a
peep and some of the absolute top professional players in the world popping
in (or regularly for that matter) to offer their ideas for begginers to
budding professionals.
<<I subscribed to this list to try to learn more about clarinets for my
daughter.>>
I would suggest that you be very aware that while great moral dilemas are
solved on this list, it is not done without the use of expletives. As you
may have noticed, the use of expletives has been a dominating issue itself
recently. If it would bother you for your daughter to see words like "damn"
and "shit" with somewhat irregular regularity (oxymorons RULE!), then you
might want to continue as you have stated...YOU learn more FOR her, here.
<<I have seen several mentions have people having "a set of Buffets" or "a
pair of Selmers" Do serious clarinet players need to have more than one?>>
The phrase "set of..." does indeed refer to more than one clarinet (whether
by brand or whatever). I think that generally the answer to your question
is yes...as a professional, she will most likely need a minimum of two
clarinets in two different pitches. Currently she plays on a Bb clarinet if
she is playing in band (of course, she could be transposing like a
mutha...oh wait...can't use that phrase here). ;-) Most common is
university level players obtain an A-pitched clarinet to go with their Bb
that they've had all along. Some solo pieces and a number of orchestral and
chamber works at this level are for the A-pitched clarinet.
Could your daughter become a fabulous professional player only ever owning a
Bb clarinet? I'm sure anything is possible. It is just not the way most
people do it. So, expect that when she goes to college or plans to get
heavy into chambermusic from the likes Brahms or Mozart, she will be talking
about getting an A-clarinet. There is a whole family of clarinets commonly
used, but, personally, I'd let her earn the money for the Bass, Eb and
C-clarinets. ;-)
<<My next question has to do with the recent thread on transposing. I must
be missing something here, as both of my kids transpose "on the fly".>>
To mind, two things could be going on here and both I have seen before:
1. You misunderstand what people are talking about or what your kids are
doing. (I doubt this from what you have added.)
or
2. I liken transposing "on the fly" to learning a new language. Kids who
grow up and are taught more than one language as a matter of course tend to
pick up others rather easily (studies have proven this). It can become a
matter of normal life to merely switch back-n-forth between languages as
naturally as we speak a single language. I believe the same is true of
transposing, among many things. If children are taught without preconceived
ideas of "how things are", then they will make the "how things are" in their
life to include a much larger spectrum of possibilities. If your children
have been taught or allowed to transpose properly from the beginning, then I
have no doubt (though some awe and envy) that they can do it as normally as
I read music on the page in key.
But I think you may be a little surprised to realize, the VAST majority of
American players were brought up NOT transposing and having to learn it at a
later stage of development...which can make it excruciatingly difficult for
some.
Again, Welcome! I hope the list can "filter in" some good and useful things
for you.
Robert
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