Klarinet Archive - Posting 000267.txt from 2002/06

From: Jeremy A Schiffer <schiffer@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Teaching the 'students' of today
Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2002 11:19:24 -0400

On Fri, 7 Jun 2002, William Wright wrote:

> Our community band limits membership to "50 years or older." Tony Pay
> posted that the school where he teaches in the summer requires "under
> 30".
>
> I suppose that each of these limts is an effort to gather players who
> are more likely to have a similar point of view.
>
> Good? Or bad?

One of the worst ideas I've ever heard, to be honest. When I was in high
school, my band director also happened to be the conductor of the Arizona
Symphonic Winds, a very good community band. Several professional players,
and most high school band directors in the city of Tucson play in that
ensemble. The director also brings in his top students, when he feels
they've earned the right to play in it. I spent two years as a member of
the ASW, and it was one of the best musical experiences of my life. We
played incredibly challenging repertoire (Strauss _Don Juan_ in
transcription, for one) along with the standard march/show tune fare. Not
only was I introduced to some great literature, challenged on a regular
basis, and forced to practice harder than I ever had before (let's face
it, high school band literature isn't the greatest, especially when
you're an advanced player), I also got to meet and interact with an
amazing group of people. I sat last chair in the 3rd clarinet section, a
few seats over from a renowned heart surgeon, and right next to a
veterinarian who used to wow me with his stories of Italian ski
vacations... Had I not been given that opportunity when I was 16, I would
probably not be as serious of a player as I am today.

Nowadays, my classical playing outlet is through the Columbia University
Wind Ensemble. This is a group that was just started about three years
ago, after a long period (as I understand it) with no serious concert band
at Columbia. There were not enough interested students to fill all the
sections (though each year there are more students), so there are many
members of the community in the band. Folks like me, who work full time at
the university, freelance musicians just looking for another musical
outlet, and several dedicated amateur wind players. The ages range from
18 to well over 60, and we have a great time. After rehearsal, many of the
non-students (at least, those over 21) go to a restaurant for dinner and
drinks. So in addition to two hours of playing, it turns into a wonderful
social event where everyone has a great time and gets to meet new people.

These two ensembles have provided some of the best experiences in my
musical life. I've made great friends at times, and just had opportunities
to meet people I otherwise wouldn't, because the directors of these
ensembles were smart enough not to implement any kind of age restrictions.
As long as someone is mature enough to practice, arrive on time, and
behave during rehearsals, they should be allowed to play in a group
(assuming there's an opening in their section, of course). Having an
opportunity to sit next to someone two generations away from you can be
an invaluable experience, both musically and personally.

It would break my heart to be denied the opportunity to make music just
because I'm not the right age, whatever that is deemed to be.

thanks,

-Jeremy Schiffer
1st Clarinet, Columbia Wind Ensemble
Clarinet, Columbia Klezmer Band
mp3s of both at http://www.columbia.edu/~schiffer/music.html

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