Klarinet Archive - Posting 000116.txt from 2009/03

From: Michael Whight <michaelwhight@-----.uk>
Subj: [kl] Trinity Teachers
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:31:02 -0400


Hi Everyone I was alerted to a thread on the BB about Trinity teachers and =
read with some amusement how we are all being evaluated. I'd like to point =
out that just because players like me sit in an orchestra most of the time =
doesn't mean that we can't play solos! In fact we have more musical contact=
with great musicians than many clarinet 'soloists' who spend most of their=
time teaching and producing a few CD's. Let's face it, these days anyone c=
an make a CD and market it from their bedroom...it's no big deal.

I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with this kind of niche marketi=
ng but the process of making and selling CD's doesn't IMHO make you a 'bet=
ter' player than 'only' an orchestra player.

One other thing. I am not teaching at Trinity this year because I am too bu=
sy and, yes, I am playing with Concertgebouw but only the odd week here and=
there. That's not the cause. Having said that I am available for private l=
essons so if anyone is interested then please get in touch. Check out my re=
cording of Mozart Concerto on RPO records or come along to Cadogan Hall, Lo=
ndon on 7 April where my performance will be taken live for a DVD. Alternat=
ively I recorded the Stravinsky Ebony Concerto with he Philharmonia and Rob=
ert Craft some years ago which has become a bit of a rarity now but can sti=
ll be had. I think Naxos have bought it and may reissue it sometime.

It saddens me that choices for teachers are be determined by networking and=
other business matters. Where did scholarship,artistry, hard work and meri=
t get lost in all this?

Michael Whight

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