Klarinet Archive - Posting 000487.txt from 2003/03

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Anger / Frustration
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2003 12:08:51 -0500

Great message! I have always resented the comment "you are talented." =
I
think it's maybe 5% talent and the rest is persistence, practice and =
sheer
love of playing the music. The love of music and the drive to play, as =
well
as the persistence and the tenacity to learn to produce the sounds you =
wish
to hear are the most important qualities a musician could have. Band =
was my
favorite subject in school and I lived to be able to play music. If you
start thinking more about how the "other guy" is playing and are more
worried about who's better you would probably be wise not to choose =
music as
a profession. If you do hear someone playing "better than you" you will
have intense curiosity about how this player produces that sound if =
you're
truly in love with the music and you'll do what it takes to learn how.
For those of you who are high school students out there, if you find
yourself preferring to spend money on new clothing, or if you resent =
gifts
that are musically related, you're not interested enough. When you are
totally 100% invested in playing the music just about the only things =
that
matter are things that will help you learn more about music and to play
better than you did yesterday. Gee, am I obsessed or what? That's =
truly
what it takes though. When I get to a rehearsal or a practice session, =
not
much matters to me except how to produce the sound I want to hear. If I
play badly I've learned to let it go and do what it takes to improve the
next time. =20
I've had all types of teachers with many different personalities. =
They
all taught me something and had a contribution to who I am today =
personally
and professionally. There are some who are better at teaching and =
others
who play extremely well but aren't as good at translating what they do =
into
"English." Keep asking questions, show an interest, seek out =
information on
your own, listen to performances and then take the responsibility to put =
all
that information to good use. If you love music and you are 100% =
committed
to it you will find a way to produce the sounds you want to hear and no =
one
will stand in your way. =20

Christy Erickson

-----Original Message-----
From: Allen J. Levin [mailto:alevin@-----.net]=20
Subject: Re: [kl] Anger / Frustration

I think that we did. With hard work most players can be very good=20
performers. The "gift" of playing applies to only a relative few. I'm =

sure that we've all known musicians who didn't have to work at it but =
could=20
play the socks off of their instruments. The ability to teach music =
really=20
well is also a "gift" that often transcends the teacher's technical=20
accomplishments. In this group, we are fortunate to have a number of=20
clarinettists who can do both.

>Didn't we have this conversation several years ago--about how some=20
>less-than-great players (Leon Russianoff's name won't leave my head)=20
>nevertheless can be great teachers who "midwife" generations of great
players?
>
>Ken

---------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------