Klarinet Archive - Posting 000027.txt from 2009/04

From: Kliment Krylovskiy <kkrylovskiy@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Getting back into shape
Date: Sat, 04 Apr 2009 06:48:11 -0400


Hi Patricia,

May I humbly suggest Paul JEANJEAN's - "Vade-Mecum" du clarinettist -=20
especially the first three excercises to really get your fingers back in th=
e game. As far as the tounging, you can't go wrong with Langenus Method fo=
r Clarinet book three, page 22. Simple, short, yet tremendously effective.

Good luck!=20

-Kliment

Kliment Krylovskiy=20
www.ZODIACTRIO.com
Mobile:=A0+33 06 03 03 54 09
USA / FAX:=A0=A0+1 206-333-0896
=A0

--- On Fri, 4/3/09, Shannon McNeely <shannon.mcneely@-----.com> wrote:

From: Shannon McNeely <shannon.mcneely@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] Getting back into shape
To: klarinet@-----.org
Date: Friday, April 3, 2009, 9:16 PM

Patricia,
Congratulations on getting back to playing. There is nothing quite like it =
to satisfy that musical itch. I am answering you because I didn't play for =
15 years because of 3 young children, a mother who lived with us for 6 year=
s and had late-stage Alzheimer, and very hectic work schedule, not to menti=
on my very patient husband.

I picked up my horn and was able to play about 5 minutes to start. After a =
couple of weeks, I was able to play about 30 minutes without stop. At that =
point, I joined a community band to get back to playing with a group, sight=
reading, and all the other skills a group gives you. Gradually, over the n=
ext year, and without too much effort and without much consistency, I was a=
ble to play as long as I wanted. Certainly, I was not tired at the end of t=
he rehearsal.

I didn't overdo playing and just played the basic stuff from Baerman to get=
my fingers working again, plus some easy Rose etudes. The rest of the play=
ing came from the band. I found that not only did I have to regain my embou=
chure but I also had to re-teach my fingers how to move smoothly.

Three years later, I practice 2 hours a day and just finished an opera. Wha=
t a change from the 5 minutes!

You'll be fine. Just don't hurry the process and don't get frustrated with =
your progress. It's like riding a bike - your muscles remember what to do b=
ut just can't quite do it immediately. Take it nice and slow and enjoy the =
progress you make.

Shannon McNeely

On Apr 3, 2009, at 5:59 PM, Patricia A. Bandy-Smith wrote:

> I guess some of us go through this, but I thought I would put it out to t=
he list.=A0 At one time, I played professionally with the U.S. Navy fleet b=
ands, and did other gigs here and there.=A0 For the last several years howe=
ver, I have played very little, if at all.=A0 It is finally time to remedy =
this appalling situation.=A0 I put it to you all bluntly:=A0 What kind of p=
ractice routine do you suggest for someone who wants to get back into playi=
ng shape?=A0 I'm looking into the article "For the Part-time clarinettist" =
on woodwind.org, but I'm also interested in your opinions and experiences. =
The more specific the better.
>=20
> I work a nine hour day at a non-music job 8 days every two weeks (with on=
e 8 hour day and one day off every two weeks), so I don't have a lot of tim=
e right now if I want to get to bed at a decent hour.=A0 However, I definit=
ely want to put the work in on the horn, and would like your ideas as to ho=
w to best go about it.=A0 I don't know where this will lead, but I simply w=
ant to start playing for real again.
>=20
> Patricia Bandy-Smith
>=20
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>=20

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