Klarinet Archive - Posting 000184.txt from 2002/06

From: "charles willett" <cwilltie@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Majoring in Clarinet Performance
Date: Thu, 6 Jun 2002 01:19:58 -0400

Annie,

I agree; we would be better off just worrying about our own futures/careers,
rather than dwelling on what we perceive to be the weaknesses of others. As
you pointed out, they often fare better than we ever thought they would,
maybe even better than we have! I actually worry more about young people
who have obvious talent and potential; I went to college with a couple of
the most talented singers you will ever run across in your life, and I don't
think either one of them is doing much singing anymore. Such a loss!

I'm happy to report to you that your old friend Tim Foley is one of the most
skilled, sensitive, and insightful musicians I have ever worked with. By
the way, he is now a full Colonel (not Lt. Col); his last promotion ceremony
was officiated by the President of the United States, in the Oval Office.
Pretty good success story, I'd say!

Congratulations on getting your license to become a Street Musician; sounds
like fun!

Chuck

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne Lenoir" <AnneLenoir@-----.net>
Subject: [kl] Majoring in Clarinet Performance

> Recently there has been some talk on the list about the "incompetence"
> of music educators and clarinetists. I want to make the point that you
> can't always predict what the outcome of one's choices will be. I
> remember years ago, when I was a performance major at Oberlin, that I
> had two friends that I felt really sorry for because they sounded so
> bad. One was Larry Guy, who had transferred to Oberlin from Capital
> University in Ohio, and I used to spend hours trying to "help" him with
> his tone, and trying to teach him to articulate correctly. My sister,
> Jane, who was (& still is) an outstanding flutist, used to worry about
> what would happen to Larry once he graduated. We should have spent more
> time worrying about our own careers, because as it turns out, Larry is
> doing much better than either of us. If I could take any of you in a
> time machine back to the year 1967, I'm sure all of you, (& Larry too)
> would agree with me. Tim Foley was another clarinetist that I felt sorry
> for, because his tone was so bad and he played so unmusically. Somehow
> Tim got a gig with the Marine Band in Washington, D.C. and he is now LT
> COLONEL FOLEY, conductor of the President's Band. Both Larry and Tim had
> great personalities and knew how to get along with people and how to
> learn.
> Anyhow, in 1967 we all went to NYC to perform with the Oberlin
> Orchestra in Carnegie Hall. I played principal clarinet on PETROUSHKA,
> Tina Ward played principal clarinet on TCHAIKOVSKY'S 5TH, and I can't
> remember who played 2nd. I think Larry did. I will be meeting up with
> Larry at the Oklahoma Clarinet Symposium this weekend, and he was kind
> enough to "consult" me about teaching articulation to a couple of his
> students from NYC that he will be bringing to the symposium. Tina, who I
> despised at the time, went on to play 2nd clarinet in the St. Louis
> Symphony for the past 30 years or more.
> I, on the other hand, am very proud to announce to all of you, that
> I did get my licence to be a Manitou Springs Street Musician for the
> summer. I had to audition my "single act" in front of the Chamber of
> Commerce to get this gig, and I believe it is the only audition I have
> passed since Oberlin. The gig pays $30 per service, plus all the CD's
> you can sell or tips you can get.
> So you never know what the future will bring. If people are
> incompetant, maybe it's better to just let them be incompetant and just
> worry about your own career. ANNIE
>
>
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>

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