 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetmaniac101
Date: 2005-11-07 00:22
Hey board,
I am considering going to North Carolina School of the Arts, and I was wondering if any of you have postive or negative responses to Igor Begelman's way of teaching. Please be honest just because I am considering going to such a school of stature I really want some input on what people think about Igor Begelman's teaching. Thank you so much for your input and your responses. Please again be HONEST!
Rashad
*clarinet
Post Edited (2005-11-07 00:23)
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-11-07 01:10
Try next door at Western Carolina U. Prof. Shannon Thompson.
'cause I don't know Igor.
Bob Phillips
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Author: clarinetmaniac101
Date: 2005-11-07 01:37
Hey Bob,
Sorry I didn't clarify, but i'm going to be entering the NCSA for my 11th and 12th grades, but thanks for your help.
Rashad
*clarinet
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-11-07 12:02
Rashad,
Igor is a fine musician and a good person. The absolute best thing you could do would be to go take a lesson with him and formulate your own opinion. Music instruction is a very personal thing, and one player may thrive under a certain style while another languishes.
Mark
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2005-11-07 20:49
Begelman played for me years ago in NYC. He's a monster Clarinetist! His technique is awesome, his musicianship is first class, and he has some amazing Klezmer chops.
As a teacher, he may be great, just listening to him play would be quite a lesson, indeed! Give him a chance by playing for him, you'll know right away if he's right for you.
Good luck,
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2005-11-07 20:52
You asked about Igor Begelman's way of teaching. I don't know anything about that, but I did hear him playing in a few international music competitions.
He was by far the best "clarinetist" at both of these competitions, in my opinion. What he was able to do on the instrument was just better than everyone else. So I'm sure he must be able to teach a lot about how to play the clarinet.
But he didn't win either competition. Impressions of people that I heard speaking about his playing ranged from bordering on the edge of what is stylistically acceptable (at best), to vulgar exaggerations and manneristic playing.
I won't give my own opinion about that here. But I will say that what bothered me was his continuous circlular breathing, which he did almost all the time, even when it wasn't necessary. Sometimes one heard more rapid sniffing than clarinet tone! I hope he doesn't teach this bad habit to his students.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2005-11-07 23:27
I agree- take a lesson and see what works for you. There is no other way to know . It is such a personal thing, what works or doesn't work for someone else may not be the same for you. That said, Igor does have monster chops, but that does not mean that he (or anyone else) can necessarily pass that on to you. Only you will know.
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Author: Gardini
Date: 2005-11-08 00:04
His circlular breathing bothered me quite a bit too. You could really hear his spittle as well as his sniffing. He said he didn't stop to clean out his clarinet between movements, in order to not affect the flow of the music. Frankly all I could think of was the flow of his spit and the fuzzy, bubbling of his sound. I took a master class from him, he sure knows his stuff.
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Author: Ashlee
Date: 2005-11-10 22:57
Hi Rashad,
I think I spoke with you this summer about high school at NCSA. I'm a senior in High school and I've studied with Igor Begelman for two years. He's amazing...I saw that someone included a link to one of his reviews this past week. I attended his 4th concert of the tour which was here at NCSA (which BTW was amazing). Yes, he circular breathes, double tongues, etc. Yet, this should not be a determining factor for a prospective student when I tell you that he only introduces and doesn't "inforce" these qualities in the studio. There are only two (myself included) clarinetists out of twelve who circular breathe in his studio. It is up to you whether or not you want to add these techniques into your playing. Alot of clarinetists are against these techniques; yet with contemporary music becoming more strenuous and difficult, these techniques may be required in future repertoire.
To talk more about his teaching approach, he is wonderful! I can't express how much I have learned from him in such a short amount of time. Just two years ago, I was a beginner learning and performing etudes in front of the NCSA professors. Just this past month (two years later), I toured as a soloist with the North Carolina Symphony orchestra at the age of seventeen. Speaking of which, talk with your teacher (asst. principal in NC Symphony) and see what he has to say about my playing. It is one thing to look at an artist through his own playing, but to understand how well he communcates and teaches others, talk and listen to those who he has inspired and regularly teaches. Some clarinetists may be great virtuousos, yet they may not be able to communicate or teach you to to follow in their footsteps. In addition, take a lesson yourself. Your opinion may be contrary to mine or anyone elses. I personally believe that NCSA is a wonderful community and having a wonderful artist such as Igor Begelman makes the experience more enjoyable.
Ashlee'
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2005-11-11 06:12
Great to hear from one of Igor's students! I would listen to Ashlee's advice and take a lesson with him yourself.
Ashlee, I've got nothing against teaching circular breathing. It's an important tool that we need to learn. But just like flutter tounging is an important tool- I wouldn't use it all the time!
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