Klarinet Archive - Posting 000261.txt from 2003/03
From: AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne Lenoir)
Subj: RE: [kl] re: anger and jealousy
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 14:14:09 -0500
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Dear Rebecca, Robyn and Christy,
This problem is never ending. I moved to Manitou Springs, Colorado
over a year ago and had high hopes of recruiting enough students from
the are to start a clarinet studio in my home. After I moved here, I
found that most of the high school students in Manitou Springs who
wanted to take private lessons were already studying from Ed Nuccio,
Mark Nuccio's (of the NY Phil) father. About 2 weeks ago, the Colorado
Springs Symphony went bankrupt, and I heard that our principal
clarinetist, Emily Singley, had gone up to Manitou Springs High School
to recruit students. At first I had a sinking feeling of depression. But
after I thought about it, I decided to call Emily and study with her.
She turned out to be a totally awesome clarinetist, and she has inspired
me to prepare a recital for this spring.
Yesterday I had my 57th birthday party at the TOWNHOUSE LOUNGE in
Manitou, and I kept thinking about how much fun it is going to prepare
my upcoming recital and to learn more about the clarinet from Miss
Emily Singley. ANNIE
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From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 08:17:15 -0600
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Subject: RE: [kl] re: anger and jealousy
Robyn, I really like what you're saying here. I just had piano student =
who
quit. She also took clarinet lessons from me last year and her Mom told =
me
this girl felt I compared her to another student I had. The fact is =
this
girl compared HERSELF to my other student and asked me questions about =
how
she played as well as she did. My answer was always, "she works and
practices very hard." If you don't mind I may print your post and send =
it
to her. She lives in a small town also and is sort of a "big fish in a
small pond." She loves music and is talented but hasn't had to work =
very
hard because she's already the "best in town." On some level, the =
student
knows this but has "blamed" teachers for the fact that she doesn't play =
as
well as she would like. I really think your thoughts might be better =
heard
from someone like you since you are a student.
Christy Erickson
-----Original Message-----
From: Robyn Brown [mailto:rjbrown@-----.edu]=20
Subject: [kl] re: anger and jealousy
Rebecca,
As a college student who is smack dab in between you and most (all?) of =
the=20
people responding to this thread (in age and experience), I feel =
inclined=20
to add my 2 cents to this discussion. First of all, I agree completely=20
that if you love playing, by all means, never, ever quit playing. I =
know=20
from personal experience with one of my good adult friends that quitting =
music would be something that you would regret for the rest of your life =
(and I know many of the responses have backed this up).
A little background: I am a clarinet performance major at a smallish =
state=20
school in Washington state. When I was in high school I was in much the =
same position you are now. I was fairly well known in the music scene =
and=20
took home a lot of the honors. I'm not the best at my college, but I =
would=20
say I'm near the top (however, considering our size, I'm not sure if =
that's=20
saying much). I started college with a double major in music =
performance=20
and music education (as a backup, in case the performance thing doesn't=20
work). I eventually dropped the ed major because I couldn't handle all =
the=20
pressure and wasn't getting enough practice time.
But here's the point of this rambling message (sorry, it's way past my=20
bedtime and I'm avoiding my homework for a bit)....I debate with myself =
at=20
least once a week whether or not I want to go into music performance. =
The=20
questions are endless, and are much the same as the ones you are asking=20
yourself now...am I good enough? can I make money? etc. I've flipped=20
through the course catalog numerous times looking to see if there is a=20
major that I would enjoy that would guarantee me a more solid=20
career. There never is. Also, I don't get a whole lot of support from =
the=20
people around me. Most say "there isn't much money in music" or "you'd=20
better have a back-up". These comments are frustrating, and I guarantee =
that you will get them. But for me, they have only served to strengthen =
my=20
resolve that this is what I want to do. Whenever I start to get down on =
myself and wonder if I'm doing the right thing, I remind myself that I =
have=20
to make believers of those people who don't support me. I don't know =
what=20
has happened in your life recently that has caused you to have a =
"reality=20
check" but I would say, think it over carefully, decide if it has merit, =
and if not, ignore it. Don't let it stop you. Allow it to strengthen =
YOUR=20
resolve.
I get very frustrated sometimes with what I'm doing and how I compare to =
others, and it wears me down. But...music feeds me so much. I'm sure =
you=20
know that there is nothing better than the (natural) high you get after =
a=20
successful performance (I am so hyper after band and orchestra concerts=20
;-) And that's what keeps me going. So, I apologize for the lengthy=20
message, and I hope my late night ramblings make some kind of sense. I=20
guess my point is that what you are going through is completely normal, =
and=20
(unfortunately) it will almost surely follow you through college until =
you=20
get out into the working world and land yourself an orchestra job or a=20
teaching job (assuming you do decide to go into music). At that point =
you=20
know that you can succeed (because you have). As for me, I'm in the =
middle=20
of that journey and I have no clue where it will take me. I must say =
it's=20
at the same time exhilarating and terrifying. So, for whatever it's =
worth,=20
there's my story. I think it's time for bed, before I get more =
incoherent.
:-)
Robyn
P.S. Don't be angry. Be inspired. Find those people who play better =
than=20
you and hang around them. Learn from them. Find out what they are =
doing=20
to be so good.
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