Klarinet Archive - Posting 000122.txt from 2011/02

From: "Stephen Robb" <stephen_robb@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mozart
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 12:15:04 -0500

Dear list,
I have been lurking on this list for many years, I feel it is time to make a
contribution, so here goes.
I have been a private clarinet instructor for more than 20 years since
finishing undergraduate and graduate degrees in performance. I would like
to make some random observations.

1) Kathleen, when some like Dan Lesson actually bothers to make an effort
and respond and write a long detailed critique about someone's playing like
he did with you about your youtube videos when they are under absolutely no
obligation to do so or even care, they do so because they actually hear
something valuable, wonderful and important in your playing that makes them
want to give their unsolicited advice and help you. You should not view this
as a critism, but view it as being the exact opposite; your being viewed as
someone that is worthy of receiving a critique. It is a gift actually, and
you should view it as such. I would also bet there are bunch of other
clarinet teachers on this list who read your comment and thought "wow, I
have taught a student just like that". I know I have, your response is kind
of typical, it has to do with where you are in life, your current
experience and your age. Based on my own experience with students, it is
sort of what I would expect them to think, though in most cases their
thoughts would be private, not public. Though that comment is a generational
thing, many of my colleagues really value their privacy and so are mute on
public forums and the internet. So we don't know what they think, and that
is probably a loss to all of us. Please, I am not criticizing you, I am
just stating I think I know where you are coming from... and us older folks
on the list, well the truth is we have all been there (if we are willing to
admit it.)

2) Thank you for sharing your recordings! The incredible power of the
internet- in my generation as a student and as a younger player there is no
way someone like Dan would even know I existed, let alone get to hear me
play and make a comment about it. We used to hear about the "global
village", well now we are standing around the "global watercooler" and
sharing a moment of connection that in a wifi free universe would never
happen. The social experiment of web 2.0 continues, how it will turn out, no
one knows...

3) I for one really appreciate Dan's comments (thank you Dan!!!), and Tony
Pay, and many others on this list who incredible insight into some of these
questions derived from many years of being 'out there' living the life day
in and day out.

4) I am going to open up another really big "can of worms" that has been
opened on this list before. Out of reason of circumstance beyond my control
(because of where I grew up and the universities I was able to attend),
almost all of the clarinetists I happened upon in first 25 years of my life
were students in one way or another of Robert Marcellus. We all learn the
Mozart concerto, as it is on every orchestra audition imaginable and for the
first 25 years of my life every clarinetist and teacher I met wanted me to
play it exactly like a certain recording from a certain orchestra - and you
can all guess what recording I am talking about. I am also certain I am not
alone in this experience. Dan - thank you for your comments and for taking
the time to write them. Through your efforts and other academic research and
the whole early music movement, the world has moved on to a whole different
set of ideas around the high classical style than the ones I was originally
taught. Our art form is not static, it is forever changing and evolving in
one way or another. And Yes there are many great clarinetists lurking on
this list, many average ones, and many students of all ages (hopefully we
are ALL still students, I know I haven't figured it out yet, I doubt I ever
will.)

Remember, the spirit of this forum is about clarinetists helping other
clarinetists. That is why we are all here.

Cheers,
Stephen

Music director
Delta Community Music School, Delta Youth Orchestra.
(south of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

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