Klarinet Archive - Posting 000488.txt from 2002/12

From: "Age E.Smies" <asmies@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] problem
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 10:53:15 -0500

Regarding taking lessons from a non clarinet player, I would think that a
vocalist would be a great idea. They read single line music, they must
concentrate on phrasing and interpretation etc. Of course we know that many
vocalists don't have the best knowledge of rhythm but so what?
----- Original Message -----
From: "CBA" <clarinet10001@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] problem

> Rebecca,
>
> First of all, even if the teacher is one of the most world
> celebrated teachers, you might not have good chemistry with him.
> My suggestion is to stop going to him, even if you do not have
> another teacher to go to. Better not to CREATE stress for you
> when the audition will do that by itself.
>
> What about the Clarinet Teacher at Marshall University? You said
> you took a lesson there with that teacher. Could they help you
> out with another lesson or two in the next two weeks? What about
> a teacher in the closest big city? Could you get a lesson there
> at a major university? I am not sure exactly where you are, so I
> can't recommend a place in particular.
>
> As far as taking lessons from a NON-clarinetist, I have done
> this on MANY occasions. I find it to be a really good
> experience, because, like singers who go to vocal COACHES for
> musicality, and vocal TEACHERS for technique, and they are
> totally separate, by going to a NON-clarinetist, you can get
> musical ideas without the teacher maybe saying "it's ok" when
> going over the break isn't the smoothest. A NON-clarinetist
> doesn't care about the limitations of clarinets in general. They
> just want to hear music from you. I also find that my MOST
> critical lessons have been with NON-clarinet players. I would
> suggest a wind player first, a string player second, and only in
> a very desperate choice a vocalist or pianist, as they are not
> used to playing single lined instruments, and would be a little
> too far removed to help out with phrasing. Be sure to have
> completed learning the technique for the pieces you are playing
> before going in for a musicality lesson, as the coach doesn't
> want to hear you play wrong notes. They are there to help you
> project the music through the notes.
>
> I would relax about the audition, and enjoy it. It is way too
> early in your career to stress about auditions that will most
> probably not make a difference to your college and professional
> career later. You will have PLENTY of auditions to be stressed
> about that WILL make a difference in your career later on...I
> promise!
>
> Kelly Abraham
> Woodwinds - New York City
> --- Rebecca Brennan <rjbrennan1221@-----.com> wrote:
> >
> > Lately I have been getting vI need to rant and get a bit of
> > advise.
> >
> > I have my regular private teacher that I went to and plan to
> > go back to
> > after the new year, but right now I am seeing another teacher
> > because I will
> > not see my teacher until after my all-state audition because
> > she only
> > teaches the one day of the week that both the winter concert,
> > snow,
> > Christmas, New year, and everything else has seemed to fall on
> > this month.
> >
> > On my all-state pieces I have has 5 professional opinons on
> > it. My private
> > teacher, my band director, an army band commander, and the
> > clarinet teacher
> > from Marshall University who all say I do an excellent job at
> > it. Then there
> > is that guy I have been going to. Every measure I play he
> > stops and says
> > something. To three of the people I just listed I cross the
> > break very
> > smoothly on the Rose study, but to this guy he says it sounds
> > like I am
> > chopping it to death. It could be that every time I have a
> > lesson with this
> > guy that I have a nervous breakdown and cry my eyes out and
> > can't play for a
> > day or so. I get very nervous around him and everything just
> > goes blank and
> > it is like I forget everything I know because he was so harsh
> > on me at the
> > first lesson. He also puts down my private teacher who plays
> > with the West
> > Virginia Symphony and whom is a very good teacher. Then today
> > I learn that
> > he doesn't even play clarinet at all.
> >
> > ery winded after a few minutes of practice and I can't do it
> > anymore. I sit
> > there and sulk because I CAN NOT practice. I don't know
> > exactly what is
> > wrong, but I constantly think of the comments I get from him.
> > When I told
> > him how I felt and that I didn't want to take lessons with him
> > anymore he
> > called me a baby.
> >
> > Does it sound like I am acting like a baby? I think in a way I
> > am, but I
> > really can't help it because I am so tore up over it. I have
> > two weeks until
> > my audition and the last day of school is tomorrow, so this
> > means that I
> > will be on my own. Is this a wise of me? I really do think
> > that I should
> > stop, but what if I am just a baby? I did make it on my own
> > with no private
> > instruction at all last year, would that make it safe this
> > year?
> >
> > I don't know what to do! I try to talk to my band direcot
> > about it but all
> > he says is that it is because I am his best student and he
> > tries to push me
> > by insulting me.
> >
> > -Rebecca
>
>
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