Klarinet Archive - Posting 000775.txt from 2002/04

From: "Tony Wakefield" <tony-wakefield@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Embouchures in general
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 14:10:38 -0400

> As a consequence passages that I can play perfectly
> competently when I can hear them can become befuddling
> and hard to control
> when I can't hear them through the din around me.

Din?
Might I suggest that if you hear the surrounding accompanying music around
you as "din", then you shouldn`t be playing a musical instrument at all -
certainly not in "din" situations. This is a very harsh opening line for me
to direct at Karl, and I`m sure he didn`t really mean this as dogmatically
as how it was actually phrased. But what Karl <actually said> does have a
direct bearing on the problem he refers to. If the surrounding music is not
being fully understood, both aurally and mathematically, i.e. understanding
the timing, phrasing, tempi, maybe because of a certain amount of bad
playing elsewhere, then this is always going to affect one`s own control in
these same areas in one`s own performance. This may not be Karl`s problem,
but it`s worth mentioning.

It will not be because of a lack of one`s own efforts in keeping one`s own
part in order. Karl could, here, perhaps think more about what`s happening
around him <during> the performance, rather than aiming for feedback about
his own playing <after> it`s all over. Karl sounds to be pretty confident of
his ability to play his own part in an out of context situation. But when in
a group situation, I feel he should aim to advance his confidence in
integrating, knowing full-well beforehand that his part <is> prepared fully.
The question of not being able to hear one`s own playing IS FULLY a question
of knowing one`s own ability and amount of positive confidence, to be able
to make this work in difficult situations, like in big loud ensemble
passages, where individual sound is not important, only part of a whole
bigger text. The task is obviously to play "as one" with all other members,
but the other members` responsibilities must also consider Karl`s function.
So, perhaps in the end, it is a simple case of the different sections
needing to talk to each other more.
What a din <I> make what?
Best,
Tony W.

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