Klarinet Archive - Posting 000274.txt from 2003/03

From: "Diane Karius" <Dkarius@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] The amateur's dilemma
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 17:15:18 -0500

I'll add another reason for the community band - very often, there's at
least one person there who is playing in other groups and can point you
in those directions. I found out about an audition-only group (mix of
professional and "accomplished amateur") through some friends of mine in
another community band. The audition-only group is one of the most
musically rewarding I've ever played in (and far better a group than I
ever imagined I'd be able to play with).

Another suggestion (should you be so crazy): Start taking lessons
again. It's another connection in.

Diane K.

Diane R. Karius, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Physiology
University of Health Sciences
1750 Independence Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816)-283-2219
dkarius@-----.edu
http://courses.uhs.edu/physio/index.htm

>>> dleigh@-----.org 03/06/03 03:04PM >>>
On 3/6/03 3:47 PM, "Trish Mendenhall" <trishm@-----.com> wrote:

> First of all, ditch the notion that all community bands are "like
going back
> to high school". There are some pretty good community bands out
there, and
> they're good because good musicians chose to get involved. The band
is only
> as good as the group wants and strives to be.

Hey, some high school bands are very good, and so are some community
bands.
I wasn't questioning the quality. It's just that our local community
band
practices at a local high school, and I think that the high school
band
director also conducts the community band. Flashback!! LOL

> Other opportunities:
> Musical theater! If you're flexible, enjoy playing a variety of
styles at
> the drop of a hat, and even better, if you double on other woodwinds,
there
> is probably at least one community theater in your area who could use
you,
> maybe even several shows a year. Some are purely volunteer, some
will pay
> expenses, and some will provide some sort of small honorarium. If
musicians
> are scarce in your area, it's possible the orchestra even gets paid a
bit
> extra :)
>
> Community Colleges - a number of these have bands that are open to
skilled
> non-students. You usually have to pay a usage fee of some sort, but
it's
> usually pretty reasonable. In general, the caliber of musicians is
pretty
> decent - often you're filling out a band that otherwise consists of
cc
> students, some of whom are intending to go on in music at the
university
> level. It's certainly worth checking into.

Hey, those are excellent ideas! Thanks.