Klarinet Archive - Posting 000671.txt from 2003/05

From: "Buckman, Nancy" <nebuckman@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] FW: [kl] something a little different for marching band...
Date: Tue, 27 May 2003 10:52:14 -0400

Rebecca has some choices to make. She is obviously talented enough to =
wear different hats. But only she can decide what hats to wear. Her =
"dictator" can only dictate so much. If she chooses another path his =
dictates are for naught. Children (and everyone else, for that matter) =
have the right to choose what they want to play. When you remove the =
"choice' factor and tell them what they "must" do, they will often balk. =
It is one thing to make children brush their teeth because "I said so". =
It is another to force an instrument on a child who wishes to play =
something else because "I said so". =20

While I have learned to play almost all of the instruments, my first =
choice was piano. If I had not been allowed to learn piano, I would =
have quit and never studied anything else. As it was, after 2 years of =
piano, I wondered what it would be like to play a clarinet. I sneaked =
my brother's clarinet, which he hadn't touched for a year and taught =
myself a few scales in a matter of days. My mother heard me and asked =
if I wanted lessons. I said yes and my musical adventure was well =
underway. It has been one instrument after another and I still play =
most of them off and on. I am getting ready to make my first real =
violin purchase. I have bought a good bow and am now seeking the =
perfect violin. =20

I have a house full of instruments and never asked a music director if I =
could play any of them. Actually, when I wanted the opportunity to =
play, I found a group that didn't know me and told the director I played =
whatever and asked if I could join. When I wanted to play eefer, I =
found a beat up old Selmer Paris for sale at a pawn shop for $200 and =
bought it. It sounded awful, but I practiced on it until I had =
reasonably good facility and then bought my R-13 and lied to the band =
director that I had years of experience on it. I was welcomed into the =
band and learned the ropes on the sly. I think the director caught on =
after a short while, but by then I had been there too long for him to =
change his mind.

The only way for Rebecca to learn what she will and will not continue to =
play is to try them all and see. I, for one, will encourage her to try =
any and everything she wants. Variety is the spice of life. She seems =
like the spicy sort to me. Who knows, maybe she will start the first Eb =
clarinet choir or alto clarinet trio, etc.

Nancy

Nancy E. Buckman, Technical Assistant
School of Health Professions, Wellness and Physical Education
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, MD 21012-1895 USA
Phone 410-777-2316 Fax 410-777-2233
E-mail nebuckman@-----.edu

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