 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: MandyCarlsson
Date: 2011-11-04 05:51
Hi all,
So, studying at the university level and practicing my butt off is really, really paying off. My playing has noticeably improved- my tone is much richer, articulation faster, varying styles of articulation are coming along, musicality is getting there, slowly but surely....
But, again, the frustration sets in. I was wondering if any of you experienced a surprise breakthrough of sorts. One week, you found yourself struggling, the next week, magic happened and playing became second nature and purely enjoyable.
Anyone?
I work a lot with a metronome and this has proven the most efficient way for me to conquer pieces of music that are difficult. It sometimes takes me hours to get a piece up to par and THEN I can concentrate on musicality. I have to listen to recordings of better clarinetists and I copy their style. I would love to have my "own" style. I'd also love to break my metronome.
Please remind me that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Relate your experiences? (Pleading tone... HAHA)
Thanks,
Mandy
Post Edited (2011-11-04 05:52)
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2011-11-04 11:45
I think most of us are not naturally born clarinet-superheros and what you experience is very familiar to the vast majority of all musicians.
Don't force anything, don't be frustrated. With time and practise you will notice there will be more and more good periods, and less struggling.
Regarding the relationship between technique and musicality, I strongly belive they are not separate things as many people belive. If you just try to sing a difficult part of the piece, and you find a good musical solution, it will be much easier to do the same with the instrument, and sometimes technical difficulties just disappear. This means for me that huge part of problems are only existing in our mind.
Keep practising, and good luck.
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2011-11-04 13:01
Disclaimer: You're waaaay ahead of me at the college level.
Although only playing 3 years, I have gone through periods that I was so frustrated I threatened to quit (probably more than four or five), only to find the next day or week to have a breakthrough. I'm convinced that perseverance pays off. Of course, one has to persevere properly (don't practice incorrectly), but "perfect practice makes perfect" as the experts say.
The progress graph is not a linear line, but more like a sawtooth line going from lower left to upper right.
CarlT
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2011-11-04 13:29
Mandy, I think you are headed in the right direction with your practice habits. Sonicbang is right that most of us clarinet mortals just have to slug it out over time to get where we want. Most of my surprise breakthroughs have been years in the making, not from one week to the next. I think the only time I have felt that way in a short period of time was when I got tired of it and just stopped caring so much. You might say I got a little too easy to please at the time.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: sdr
Date: 2011-11-04 14:42
You might take a look at this:
The Art of Practicing: A Guide to Making Music from the Heart by Madeline Bruser
-sdr
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Author: clairmusic
Date: 2011-11-04 15:43
the Russiionoff methods are are exclent. book 1&2. they have every thing one would need to play. from tecnique to style.
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Author: Elkwoman46
Date: 2011-11-04 16:41
Sometime ago a music store was passing out free magazines for older adults who were returning to music.
One thing that caught my attention, that I believe is worthy for consideration...is...
There was this article, therein, that talked about practicing correctly. It was simple actually...it was to start "slow" with any piece, I mean really slow, and just note by note focus on all aspects of doing it right without any bad habits going therein.
The stimulus of that article was not to continually practice while not breaking any habits that one wanted to break...each practice should be effective and not repeating anything that continually is a bad habit...hitting wrong notes, breathing wrong, doing this or that or whatever. So, the solution was to slow way down, and do it right, note by note, good everything. Then as one increases the pace, the object is to do it right, without repeating and enforcing any bad habits.
I thought this was great advice. It appears that one can practice for seven hours a day and get no where. A real plus is to progress ahead, not stay put in repeat mode...basically enforcing bad habits further...
I am so happy for you...it sounds like you are on your way!
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2011-11-04 18:05
There are a few famous quotes from Kalmen Opperman and I think they apply here:
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.”
"Practice and hope, but never hope more than you practice"
That being said there are a lot of very interesting slightly "out-of-the box" approaches to practicing, in particular breaking out of a "reaching a plateau period". At the heart of it, the take home message is that one must choose quality over quantity. Concentrate and focus all your attention on your practicing, when you are not completely there, you are at best not damaging your playing.
This website has some interesting ideas one can at least think about:
http://www.bulletproofmusician.com/
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-11-04 18:24
Surprise breakthroughs happen all the time.
For me, they usually happen right after I take a couple days (weeks, months) off.
What follows isn't quite a direct answer to your question, but it's something that came to mind at the moment and that I can't recommend highly enough.
"I work a lot with a metronome and this has proven the most efficient way for me to conquer pieces of music that are difficult. It sometimes takes me hours to get a piece up to par and THEN I can concentrate on musicality. "
Try doing it the other way around. Concentrate on musicality, THEN get the piece up to par. Different ways you can do this... try getting the piece to the point where you can scream it in pure joy while running across the hillside, like Maria in The Sound of Music. And I'm not being metaphorical. Actually go and scream it in pure joy while running across the hillside. Scare some wildlife. Doesn't matter if it's off key, get the spirit there. THEN take your clarinet out of the case.
"But that's embarrassing" or "what will people say" or "I don't like to sing" are not valid excuses, and actually I think are very valuable things to break yourself of as a musician. Shed that baggage, or it will always hinder you. A performer must completely own everything a musician does, sophisticated, refined, playful, foolish, or otherwise.
Try to get into the space, to cross the line, where the activity transitions from "I'm a fool running in a field because someone told me it's good for me" to "Running in a field is frickin awesome and I'm enjoying every moment of it."
The music needs to be something that lives and breathes independently of the restrictions of the clarinet. The clarinet is merely a tool that must rise to the occasion of the music you want to make with it. If the music only exists as some manifestation of notes that you've practiced, as a piece that you've worked up the parts of and combined into a whole, you've severely limited your possibilities.
This is my most intensive prescription. It requires you to take a plunge, but it is a plunge that can yield great rewards if you embrace it fully.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: ww.player
Date: 2011-11-04 18:43
The ascent to the top of the musical mountain isn't a straight up climb. There are many ups and downs on the way. Only those that persevere will make it to the top. And, when you're standing at the summit looking back, you'll realize that those obstacles that seemed insurmountable at the time were mere speed bumps on the way of your final destination.
In other words, some times you'll feel like you're banging your head against a wall and only getting worse for your troubles, and other times you will make enormous strides overnight. The journey isn't always a smooth one, but it's certainly worth the effort.
Post Edited (2011-11-04 18:45)
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Author: ww.player
Date: 2011-11-04 18:59
I know people say that you're always a student, which is true in one regard, but if you've been doing something for 40 years and haven't reached some degree of competency, then you've been doing the wrong thing. You should get to the point of being able to accomplish what you set out to do on an instrument eventually. Honestly, if you're going to take other people's money on the pretense of being able to perform, you had better be able to perform. At some point, you have to go from being a student to being a professional.
Post Edited (2011-11-04 20:41)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-11-04 21:47
Competency, yes. But if you think you've reached the top, that's the #1 sign that you haven't. There are too many possibilities available at any given instance of music to ever master it all.
As long as you realize that the summit of your mountain is the base of the next, you can avoid the peril of languishing there too long, underestimating the possibilities and setting yourself an artificial ceiling.
Having some notion of "perfection" is, in my opinion, possibly the #1 factor contributing to mediocre performances.
You say "You should get to the point of being able to accomplish what you set out to do on an instrument eventually." My complaint with that is that if all you do is what you initially set out to do, you've done very little indeed, and that you'll hopefully realize, when you reach that goal, that it was actually only a small part of the overall picture.
I realize I'm splitting hairs here a bit, but for me this distinction defines the difference between a technician and an artist.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: trebleclef
Date: 2011-11-04 21:49
check this out...this makes real sense..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf2q2FpKwsA&feature=related
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Author: Elkwoman46
Date: 2011-11-04 22:17
THANK YOU for posting that video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE IT!
So encouraging...
Thank you again.
How is Dusseldorf today? I have relatives there!
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Author: MandyCarlsson
Date: 2011-11-04 23:56
BLESS you... haha. This video is amazing.
I actually do practice in a repetitive fashion already. I was always taught to take music a measure at a time, master the note or phrase before a new measure and then play the first note of the new measure. DO this over and over again until the transition becomes second and then focus on the next measure. (Does that make sense?!)
Of course, I only really do this on difficult areas. I incorporate the metronome into the equation and try to get the passages up to speed. It is VERY time consuming, but it generally pays off.
I have a dream (ha) of just sitting down and playing, sight reading without snags.
Post Edited (2011-11-05 00:04)
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Author: MandyCarlsson
Date: 2011-11-05 00:30
Alex,
I watched some of your videos on youtube. I can totally see you running through the hills, singing at the top of your lungs. Love your style- very fun.
:) My private instructor always tell me I need a stiff drink before lessons. Maybe... maybe... and a top hat (may I borrow yours)!
Take care
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-11-05 01:35
Mandy -
Congratulations. Everyone who has talent has this experience, and it's a great feeling. Put it in your psychic bank account and remember it when you're in the doldrums.
Ken Shaw
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-11-05 08:50
Hehe, thanks. I'm still only about 90% of the way to screaming on a hill with reckless abandon (but I also think I historically have FAR more inhibitions than the average population)... I have little doubt that I'd be much better off if I just did it now, though. Mainly, I don't want to feel contrived like some romantic comedy, and I don't want to be creepy like Tom Cruise on Oprah.
You're welcome to borrow a top hat some time. I have two (a short one and a tall one). And lately I have more casual gigs where I'm wearing a sleeveless biker shirt (with a bass clarinet loch ness monster on the back) and a bandana.
The screaming run is like ripping off a band-aid, and I should probably just do it. But baby steps will also get you there by venturing out of your comfort zone as often as possible. I upped the ante with my death metal growls on Tuesday and almost lost my voice. Still, I have that unproductive inhibition, and I think that I will never be completely free as a musician until I do that screaming run through the field. I encourage everyone to get there as soon as possible, and to relish it.
I wonder what some Korean middle schoolers' parents would say if I had them screaming in the parking lot during clarinet lessons...
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-11-05 15:56
I've had a few breakthroughs, but really, my biggest "aha!" moment, was this year I am playing some music for the holiday concert that I also played last year. And it is MUCH easier than I remember it being last year. My tonguing is faster and more relaxed at the same time, my tone is more stable, and I attribute that to a year of MUCH more solid practicing.
Day by day I hadn't seen it. But this music got me a little stressed and I really needed to work on to get it "decent" last year. This year I read it the FIRST time better than I "performed" it last year. And it didn't stress me at all.
I have had some immediate breakthroughs, but they're few and far between and it's nice to see positive results of the daily grind.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-11-05 17:56
Learning the crap out of a piece, then leaving it alone for several months, tends to result in a far superior performance of it in my experience also.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Maria P
Date: 2011-11-06 02:11
I had a 'breakthrough' today!!! I am a returning player after 20+ years - and now been playing again for a couple of months. I've been having music lessons with two other people, but I've really been thinking of joining a music group/training orchestra etc.
Today I spoke to my music teacher and she convinced me to stay back and see what the clarinet ensemble was like. So there I was, ready to watch - but I've finished up joining in and can't wait to go back next week!! We're now practicing a few pieces for the Christmas concert in 4 weeks!!!
Maria
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Author: MandyCarlsson
Date: 2011-11-06 16:56
Maria, AWESOME!
You will have so much fun. I felt like myself when I returned to clarinet and ensemble participation.
I know you will find yourself smiling more! Have fun.
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Author: Maria P
Date: 2011-11-07 02:09
Thanks Mandy. I must admit I was a bit nervous at first - but it feels so much better playing with other people again. And another plus is that my friend (an old work colleague and friend socially) is also in the same ensemble so it's good to have something else in common.
Maria
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Author: clarinetist04
Date: 2011-11-07 02:48
Absolutely. To echo others and relate one of my favorite epiphanies, while not an epiphany of sorts, I remember noticing my improvements the second go-around with Holst's Hammersmith - the solo part. The piece is an exercise in articulation (in certain spots) and the second time I played this was about two years after the first and, my goodness, was it much easier to play! I wasn't struggling through it, trying to keep up.
But the same idea with technique goes for musicality. In a different section of that piece (the adagio part - whatever you might call it) I received a kind compliment from the conductor regarding my expression and musicality. Equally important, maybe more, than the improvements in articulation I noticed.
Not quite cresting the hill with my wings in the air, but maybe I reached a narrow landing of the mountain at that point of my life. It does feel good and there are always more struggles and blizzards awaiting as long as we are ALWAYS learning!
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