Klarinet Archive - Posting 000275.txt from 2003/03

From: George Lin <george_s_lin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] The amateur's dilemma
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 17:43:32 -0500

Hi,

I may have missed the original thread, but I agree
with Diane's words. Playing music as an ensemble,
IMHO, is better than playing music alone. For those
who are not professional musicians, community bands or
orchestras for that matter, offer a venue for musical
enrichment. If you are fortunate to play with a group
of talented musicians and hopefully "good" people to
work with, it is even better. If you have a mix of
good and not so good musicians, it'll be a bit of
struggle in patience, but still I would say it is
better than being a singular musician.

Taking lessons, in my opinion, gives you more insight
and progress towards being a better musician at your
instrument than attending band rehearsals. You get
more one on one with a teacher where a band director
just doesn't have the time to do it. Also, not all
band directors are knowledgeable and have the
experience on the clarinet as a fine teacher would.
Plus, not all the band literature music is challenging
and motivating for you to progress. I'm taking
lessons now, and can say from my experience, it has
been worthwhile.

George Lin
Bb Clarinet - Kings Park Concert Band: Springield,VA
Bass Clarinet - Alexandria Citizens Band: Alexandria,
VA

--- Diane Karius <Dkarius@-----.edu> wrote:
> 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.
>
>
>
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