Klarinet Archive - Posting 000610.txt from 2003/03

From: b1rite@-----. Rite)
Subj: Re: [kl] ICA Fest 2003
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2003 12:06:46 -0500

<><> Rebecca=A0Brennan wrote:
Do people my age go to clarinet fest or is this more of an adult
dominated thing?

Rebecca, my teacher brought a 13-yr-old student along with her when
ClarinetFest was held in Oklahoma. Several other kids her age were in
attendance from various parts of the country. Also a good number of
college students. Because of the expense, adults outnumber young folk;
but young folk --- especially college age --- are well represented both
in the audience and on stage. Now that you are in high school (aren't
you?), you will feel quite comfortable attending.

You asked "What do they do at ClarinetFest?"

It varies a bit from one year to the next, of course; but the backbone
is 8-10 hours/day of performances. Most people get 'zoned out' and
take some time off from the performances. Competing with the
performances are seminars, a couple of competitions, and display booths.
Therefore you must make choices about which things you want to do and
which things you want to forego. Usually there are a couple of
dinners/barbeques and tourist oriented activities. When it was in New
Orleans, they took a river boat while a jazz band played on board, and
they organized a 'pub crawl'.

The performances include classical, jazz, 'new' and experimental music,
sometimes hybrids of synthesized + acoustic, klezmer, folk music and
occasionally a bit of musical comedy. In one show, the clarinetist
pulled out a pistol and shot his accompanist

The display booths are a major attraction because the instrument
manufacturers have clarinets of all sorts standing on tables, waiting
for you to try them out --- A, Bb, C, Eb, bass, alto, big bore, small
bore, student, professional, wood, plastic, period instruments,
electronic. The mouthpiece manufacturers have similar assortments
awaiting your trial. Also dealers in sheet music, ligatures,
electronics, tuners, special gizmos, and all the rest of it. There's
much more merchandise to try out at ClarinetFest than any small town
music dealer has to offer. Although many manufacturers route the
paperwork through a dealer who may not be in attendance, you can buy
things at the display room if you wish.

Many of the adults and performers and vendors already know each other,
and they gather to socialize.

In summation, I would say that it's worth attending at least one
ClarinetFest if your budget allows. This year it's being held at a
university, and therefore the rooms & meals are likely to be less
expensive (school dorms during summer vacation, school cafeteria), and
the attendees and performers are likely include more youths.

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