Klarinet Archive - Posting 000314.txt from 2003/03

From: "Raycraft" <raycraft@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Better Rebecca
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2003 11:36:13 -0500

Rebecca,
I just wanted to say that if it your teacher that makes you
feel like that intentionally, maybe you need a different teacher.
But sometimes it is a little "thing" that we do to ourselves without
even realizing it, and we can take other's comments the wrong
way. Don't be too hard on yourself! I think that getting into the
honor band IS an accomplishment, and third chair is GREAT!
<<<<<< ( insert BIG pat on the back for Rebecca here)>>>>>>
When I was seventeen, (after I had been playing clarinet for only
five months....I started late) I auditioned for the Northern California
high school honor band. At that point, I sucked at sight reading.
But if I had the music in front of me ahead of time, and practiced
like hell, I could play just about anything. I learned to play K.622
that way, which was of course the piece we were required to send
in for the initial selection process (our band teacher recorded me).
Well, I was accepted, but when I got to Chico State U for the actual
seating auditions, that was a different story. I tell ya, there's a LOT
of talent in California! I was nervous, nervous, nervous. And since
a big part of what they were looking for was sight reading
ability (we had two days to prepare for the concert).........well,
I ended up in seat #23 out of a total of 24 clarinets. But, you know,
I didn't have anyone telling me I wasn't good enough. Maybe
that was the difference. I was happy that I wasn't LAST chair!
I was very inspired to see how well some of those other
kids played, and it gave me something to work towards!
The next year, my senior year, I made seat #12, and I was happy
that I had made that much improvement. Maybe my situation was
a little different than yours, because I was still basically a beginner
on the clarinet at that time...I just really loved music in general and
I was a fast learner. i was taking private lessons, but my teacher
never once put me down.....(he corrected that things I was doing
wrong, but I never took that as a put-down.)
But like many on this list have indicated, there's always going to be
someone that plays "better", and there's no use condemning yourself
for it. Just try to use it as inspiration....
It's kind of like there's this big old ladder, and all the musicians are
on it, at different levels. As long as your on it somewhere, don't
worry about which "rung" your on. Just keep at it and do your best!
Your best IS good enough.
Sue

From: "Rebecca Brennan" <rjbrennan1221@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] Better Rebecca

I went to an honor band and made 3rd chair and it bothers me

> My teacher's goal is to turn me into a "monster" that is superior to all
> other "monsters". I wasn't told "good job" for coming in 3rd out of quite
a
> few clarinets, but I was kind of indirectly put down for it.

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