Klarinet Archive - Posting 000091.txt from 2009/07

From: "David McClune" <dmcclune@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] doublers - help!
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:36:47 -0400

I get to the hall an hour or more early and assemble each instrument and =
move them to the stands. The warm up of the body happened at home earlier =
that day and at the hall I am simply checking each instrument to make sure =
there are no mechanical glitches. Since doubling implies playing on cold =
horns anyhow I do not worry about compulsivly warming up each horn. =
However...I do put the top joint of the oboe and the barrel on top joint =
of the clarinet down my shirt. I let body heat warm up the instruments =
to reduce the risk of cracking!

As for the '20s music, play long tones in the key and chord structure of =
the music. I tend to ignore idiot directors and do what is professionally =
required of me. If they continue to be a pain, I just do not play for =
them again.

Dave

Dr. David McClune
Professor of Woodwinds
Director of Bands
Union University-1862
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305

Office-731-661-5294
dmcclune@-----.edu
www.mcclunemouthpiece.com
>>> MICHAEL MARMER LINDA MARMER <mlmarmer@-----.net> 07/20/09 7:01 AM =
>>>
Maybe the performing group could perform the pre show 1920's music?

Mike
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "Walter Grabner" <grabnerwg@-----.com>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 9:52 PM
Subject: Re: [kl] doublers - help!

I have played many shows where it was difficult getting into the pit,
past the other instrumentalists, and avoiding tripping all over the
wires for the stand lights.

Trying to walk in all at once, carrying say, a clarinet, a flute, a
tenoro sax, and a bass clarinet, is a prescription for disaster.

I have usually arrived early, set up the instruments in place, stored
all the cases backstage, then warmed up quietly, and be ready fifteen
minutes before curtain.

I do agree that extended practicing, playing cadenzas, etc. are out of
place in front of the audience.

Anyway, that's my objection to warming up backstage.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com

On Sun, Jul 19, 2009 at 6:05 PM, Karl Krelove<karlkrelove@-----.net>=20
wrote:
> What the director isn't getting is the extra complication of multiple
> instruments. The singers undoubtedly *do* warm up - backstage - while =
the
> twenties music is being piped in out front. No doubt in a community =
show=20
> the
> director may not be especially aware of any problem he's causing. The=20
> brass
> players, assuming they aren't doubling, probably don't feel the problem =
as
> acutely, either.
>
> You say in your original post, "Our conductor has received more than his
> share of grief from the director and says that he has to 'choose his
> battles' and that in the long run he'd lose this one anyway." Does =
this=20
> mean
> that the issue hasn't even been brought up to the director? Before =
anyone
> considers quitting over this, the director needs at least to be aware =
that
> it's a problem.
>
> In the end, if the issue has at least been brought to the director's
> attention without getting a workable accommodation, you have two choices =
-
> find a way to live with it or don't play. If the director refuses to =
work
> with you, he (she?) won't be the first community theater director who =
has
> overplayed his authority and damaged a community organization's=20
> cohesiveness
> (from the sound of it, he/she has already made the pit conductor feel
> disrespected) in the interest of showing his/her more elevated sense =
of=20
> art.
> Maybe next year's director will be more sensitive to the world that =
exists
> beyond a foot away from his nose.
>
> Karl
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: josh stein [mailto:jstein53@-----.net]
>> Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2009 3:49 PM
>> To: klarinet@-----.org
>> Subject: Re: [kl] doublers - help!
>>
>> of course musicians need to warmup like the singers in the show. if
>> the
>> director does not understand that one needs to warmup before they start
>> playing the real thing, than the director is a moron.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Rich Gordley" <rgordley@-----.net>
>> Subject: [kl] doublers - help!
>> >
>> >>OK gang, I need some opinions on a ridiculous situation.
>> >>
>> >>I'm currently playing a run of "Hello Dolly!" with a community
>> >>theater. This is a volunteer gig which means the musicians get
>> >>treated worse than usual. Last night we were told that we can no
>> >>longer warm up in the pit because the director wants to play 1920s
>> >>(?!) music over the speakers in the auditorium while the patrons are
>> >>arriving.
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

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