Klarinet Archive - Posting 000782.txt from 2002/04

From: "Ralph Cromer" <cromerrc@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Feedback -- Playing in Orchestra vs. Band
Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 21:54:04 -0400

I too have the same problems described by Karl Krelove. I joined a
community band last year after 15 years of not playing. Typically it's
difficult for me to hear myself and this indeed causes problems for me in
certain instances. I really need to find another outlet for my playing -
the band just isn't working for me.

Ralph Cromer
----- Original Message -----
From: <MVinquist@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Feedback -- Playing in Orchestra vs. Band

> Karl Krelove says [various snips]: >>When I'm playing alone, I react to
> everything that comes out of the clarinet. When I am playing in a small
> ensemble, I can hear most of what I'm doing enough to be able to react and
> adjust. Playing principal in an orchestra, I get less aural feedback
though
> still quite a bit, playing second even less, and so I must rely
increasingly
> on tactile/kinetic feedback to achieve any level of control over tone or
> anything else. Playing in a band brings the lowest level of aural feedback
> and requires me to try to react almost exclusively on the basis of "feel."
Am
> I alone in finding that my tactile (auto-kinetic?) sensitivity in ensemble
> situations is often completely unreliable? Sometimes what I'm doing
"feels"
> fine until my part is suddenly exposed and a quick adjustment of my pitch
or
> tone becomes necessary. I don't "feel" rhythm in my fingers nearly so
> accurately when I can't also hear the result. 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.<<
>
> Karl -
>
> That's my experience also, and I think that of most people. Particularly
in
> bands, where (except in the very best) everyone plays loud all the time,
it's
> nearly impossible to hear what you're doing. Also, when you play as part
of
> a large clarinet section, the goal is to blend -- not to stick out. In an
> orchestra, you play with a couple of other players on your part, and in
> chamber music, it's one on a part. You certainly have to blend with the
> other instruments, but you also assert the character of your instrument,
as
> well as your own personal sound.
>
> When I was in the West Point Band, I studied with Alexander Williams. He
> said that he had taught many band players, and most of them had a dull
tone,
> probably from having to blend in as part of a large section. Also, even
in
> the West Point Band, the section players were not as good, or individual,
as
> successful solo and orchestral players.
>
> I've always had to work hard to put resonance and individuality in my
sound.
> I don't play in bands any more, simply to avoid losing what I have (not to
> mention avoiding the din:-).
>
> Best regards.
>
> Ken Shaw
>
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