Klarinet Archive - Posting 000113.txt from 2007/01

From: "Nicholas Yip" <clarinets21@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] music students
Date: Sat, 13 Jan 2007 00:31:29 -0500

I thank this person for helping to get me where I am.

He has made a lot of good points here.

Klarinet Archive - Posting 000136.txt from 1997/07

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: clarinet playing
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 1997 21:31:56 -0400

I will follow the advice of Lawrie Bloom....that is....most of the people
who criticize others for the sake of their own egos tend to remain on this
web page. I don't see the finest performers teachers here...I see a group
who play for fun, a group who are striving to achieve (I hope Nick is in
this group), and a group who work to blather on and on to spread their
work. I place Neil in this group.....not persuasive.....but with a lot to
say.

If Mr Leupold wishes to continue his daily retoric .......that's ok by
me...but I have watched hundreds of college age students (check out Yip's
email) fail because they are unable to adhere to a discipline...they are
coddled and spoon fed...and they work at Kinkos....eventually going the
route of 90% of all clarinet "students"......students who had talent but
failed. Failure is the result of the student.....usually not because of a
single teacher...and in Yip's case....FIVE teachers!

Condesceding? No......realistic yes! Pedestal and tomatoes...?? I am
laughing at the ego that wrote it. Neil speaks to a person who is asking
for help....yet he turns away from it ......for many years. This is not a
person looking for an individual style...this is a student who is
searching for a teacher to tell him he is wonderful now. To mention
Marcelus, Mazzeo, Hadcock, Russky, Leister...etc...as examples....they
were never where this young man was...and they didn't switch teachers
every year in their 5th - 10th year....! Great speech Niel....but...not
helpful. Want to be a great performer/musician/clarinetist....etc....quit
looking for the perfect teacher and the quick fix.....find out what real
music is and imitate it. Spend 3-4 hours applying what your teachers ask
you to do...you won't need to ask the people on this web page....you will
discover for yourself...and if you can't do that....you won't achieve.

Neil's insight is as uninformed as it is wordy and romanticized. Take a
look around Nick.....Philosophy is fine...until you take the audition and
try to
compete against the folks who listened to their teachers. Nick is at
a point in his life where it is time to get into the practice room and
apply what he has been told.....the variations in instruction are not
that far removed. But.....wait for the luck and the perfect teacher, and
you will be 40 years old with nothing to show (musically) but
a...."gee...if only I had...." Thankfully, I avoided that.....Niel.....

Hmmmmmm..........superior intellect? Geez......I see it as superior
ego...nothing more.

I stick to my intial recommendation.......pursue the clarinet in a serious
way....accept your instructors and glean from them what you can without
making excuses. Otherwise...take up an instrument you feel you can
sightread on.......music is a serious business...not one to be piddled
with. If you can't get serious about it....leave the instrument in the
case until you are ready. And I mean at all levels.....

RGarrett

Dave vs. Carl: The Insignificant Championship Series.  Who will win?
http://clk.atdmt.com/MSN/go/msnnkwsp0070000001msn/direct/01/?href=http://davevscarl.spaces.live.com/?icid=T001MSN38C07001

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