 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2008-08-10 02:23
I'm a beginner, and this might be a stupid idea, but please bear with me.
Has it ever been discussed here to possibly have a separate "Beginner/Intermediate (Clarinet) Forum" on Woodwind.org? This would be a place that the less advanced student could post his/her questions and hopefully, the more advanced people would respond.
Believe me when I say that I am so appreciative of the forum in its present form, but I sometimes hesitate to post my simple beginner questions on the same forum that discusses triple tonguing technique, vibrato, master classes, and you name it.
It is intimidating (to me at least) that I might be wasting a lot of very bright peoples' time (although, admittedly, every time I've ever posted, I have had nothing but positive, informative, and friendly responses to my questions).
On the other end of the spectrum, I'm sure that some of the more advanced students, pros, teachers, etc., might like for beginners/intermediates to have their own forum.
Just food for thought. Don't wish to make any waves. I'm sure there are pros and cons either way.
CarlT
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-08-10 02:32
Hello Carl,
First, monitoring another forum would probably make the moderators here just cringe.
Second, I do appreciate your point. As someone who reads the BB as his daily paper there are so many topics that are redundant (at least as many as are thought provoking!).
Paradoxically it is the newer members to the forum that arguably need to use the Search function before posting. The paradox is that if you're new to the forum then you probably aren't aware of the Search function and how to use it! (I have made this mistake before as well!).
My advice would be that you search first, and if the search doesn't satisfy the questions that you have, post second. You will be better armed (in every circumstance) to have read what has been discussed before and more readily able to understand and join in the discourse.
Good luck!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-08-10 03:56
Dear Carl,
I believe the only way to have input from the experienced players is to have the mix as it stands. Of couse some respondants get a little rowdy with their answers and that can add to the offputting aspect, but I find that it toughens your skin (as long as you stick with it!).
If there were a begginer's forum, chances are the advanced players would skip it altogether.
At any rate, some of the most musical questions have come from the student quadrant and it keeps everything fresh.
My two cents is that the truly fun part of the forum is the "current," "bloglike" flavor of it that makes it more exciting than just a static resource.
Oh sure, the same questions get answered over and over again (or worse, some of the better answers get drowned out), but this is the nature of the internet. If all our answers came from Jack Brymer's "THE CLARINET" or Keith Stein's "ART OF CLARINET PLAYING," none of us would really need the internet now would we.
.................Paul Aviles (perpetual student)
Post Edited (2008-08-10 03:59)
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Author: SVSorna05
Date: 2008-08-10 14:19
I agree with the above totally. As with the search function... I think that every now and then a similar topic should be posted from time to time even if it has already been discussed because of the new information that could be shared by newer members posting there experiences. Just a thought.
-Dain-
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-08-10 14:30
Carl...don't be intimidated, we all learn from even the simplest of questions. I'm sure that those who are "advanced" enjoy hearing from beginners since that's where we all started.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ryder
Date: 2008-08-10 14:53
Consider this...
What is one of the best ways to learn effectively?
Suround yourself by others who are more experienced and have more knowledge to spread!
If there was a beginner's forum it would be hard to learn because everyone is at or near the same level of profficiency.
So, this is the best way to learn and I assure you that the majority of the more experienced players on this board enjoy helping. That's why they keep posting!
I am relatively new to this board, about 8 months, compared to 8 years or more that some members have!
Tobin,
I too have made that mistake many times, but I am getting better at searching before posting. Chances are you can find what your looking for by searching first.
Another tip... Don't do like I did and litter the board with your responses. Let the more experienced members answer first, then add your input. I'm not saying you can't answer questions, but just think to yourself, "Do I really need to answer this, or is it already answered well?"
Have fun learning, I know I have and do.
____________________
Ryder Naymik
San Antonio, Texas
"We pracice the way we want to perform, that way when we perform it's just like we practiced"
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-08-10 15:08
Dain,
I am in complete agreement that old topics can be "freshened" by new discussion to the benefit of all involved. I'm glad I'm not a moderator, however, because I wouldn't be able to take the "which mouthpiece?" threads without a massive sedative (along with significant counseling)!
Ryder,
I'm just as guilty in the past! I also concur with your thoughts on the advantages of reading/participating in a pool of progressively more advanced members.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Fishamble
Date: 2008-08-10 15:10
I think one of the key considerations with regard to breaking the formum up into categories would be the amout of traffic. I find the current level of traffic to be ideal - the forum is very vibrant, and there seems to be be about a half-page of updated topics every day. I can get through that most days, and I consider not having to root though multiple categories a convenience.
If the traffic increased by maybe a factor of 4 or more, then I would be in favour of organising it into 'channels', and I think Carl's idea of a beginner's forum would be valuable.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2008-08-10 15:23
Fishamble wrote:
> I
> think Carl's idea of a beginner's forum would be valuable.
I've been a member of different online communities for well nigh 35 years now (back when "arpanet" and "bitnet" was it), and beginner's forums never work. They end up dominated by either beginner's teaching each other nothing - or worse - because the advanced persons don't have time to visit, or become essentially blogs dominated by only one or two advanced players with no dissention allowed.
This BBoard is far from ideal, but I've never found the ideal, either. I happen to enjoy seeing the mix and the arguing, as long as it remains relatively civil.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-08-10 15:47
Tobin wrote:
> I'm glad I'm not a moderator, however, because I wouldn't
> be able to take the "which mouthpiece?" threads
> without a massive sedative (along with significant counseling)!
That's why Mark and I are losing our eyesight and talk in our sleep. ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
...GBK
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Author: russjm
Date: 2008-08-10 17:14
Oh dear, and I've just started another "Which mouthpiece" thread.
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2008-08-10 18:33
Thanks to all who responded. I now agree that the forum left the way it is most likely is best for now.
BTW, for some of you beginners like me, I have a neat way of going back to previous pages and seeking out information that I might gain from.
Here's the way I do it. At the bottom right of the page that lists all the topics for that page you'll find "Older Posts". After clicking on that and reading the threads of interest on that page, I continue for as long as I like. Once I have read those and have gone back as far as I care to for that day, I will mark the last page I looked at on my FAVORITES so that I don't have to go page-by-page backward from current posts to get started again. I am now well back into 2007 by using this method. Of course, I've been doing this for several weeks now.
By using this method I can quickly get right back to the older (last) page that I have not fully read yet, and so on. I hope this makes sense; if not, just experiment. Always save the last page you have looked at to your favorites, then all you need do is scan the titles and pick the ones you'd like to read. A wealth of information for the aspiring beginner (I wish I'd done this BEFORE I bought my VD B45 mp that my beginner embouchure is not ready for!!)
CarlT
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2008-08-10 19:02
Carl wrote:
"It is intimidating (to me at least) that I might be wasting a lot of very bright peoples' time (although, admittedly, every time I've ever posted, I have had nothing but positive, informative, and friendly responses to my questions)."
I consider myself a beginner in comparison with most of the folks here. I have noticed how helpful everyone is here no matter how much experience they have. There is such a wealth on information available and I do feel that this forum is just right on all levels.
...Jim
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2008-08-10 19:14
The "search" works if you know exactly what you are trying to say. Sometimes I don't have a clue how to word what I'm trying to get across to the "search." Such as, why, when I play a certain note, do I hear nothing but air. Do I say air leak, note leak, or what?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2008-08-10 19:27
Carol Dutcher wrote:
> Do I say air leak, note leak, or what?
Does it really matter? A few combinations will bring back results, not all of which will be relevent. Take a new clue word from one of the relevant results, add it to the bottom of the search box (where your search terms are repeated), and voilá, there you are!
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Author: russjm
Date: 2008-08-10 19:37
One point I'd like to make, is that hopefully experienced players will be patient with us newbies when we keep dragging up old questions.
I'm an experienced bass guitar player, and use a bass forum regularly. We get new young (and older) players asking "dumb" questions all the time, but we are patient and polite and hopefully informative to them to help them out, because we were all beginners once, and when you've found a new hobby, you're enthusiastic about it and want to ask many many questions.
I've not been here long, but so far everyone has been great and very friendly. Long may that continue.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-08-10 22:53
This BB may not be ideal but it is as good as it gets......and it's easier to navigate than most. Yes, if you really want to advance and learn you don't just hang with beginners. Just jump in, Carl, the water's fine.
Bob Draznik
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Author: autumnsilence
Date: 2008-08-11 15:22
i do understand that sometimes it can be slightly intimidating escpesially since there are quite a few people regularly on this forum that have been playing since my parents were still in diapers, which of course makes me label myself as a beginner whereas before i found this forum i considered myself a little more advanced than that. (compared to everyone else in my area).
It is nice though to have a place to ask questions to people who actually 'do' play clarinet and have a great interest in it and have for years. I have more faith in the responses rather than asking someone (ex. old band director) who was just starting their first year of directing at a middle school who only picked up the clarinet to an extent as a college requirment or out of not much more than interest, among handfuls of other instruments. Its also a little discrouaging that only one of my band directors so far has been able to answer the 'which note/fingering is this?' sort of questions that often come from beginners without the response of 'thats what your music book is for'. But at least i know he was very 'into' his music playing as well after playing clarinet and sax professionally in the army band for several years before becoming a director.
anyway, now that im on a tangent, i enjoy the mixed 'expirience' of players and even if im not a beginner of beginners (just starting out) i always end up clicking on the "help, beginner questions!!" posts because i enjoy pitching in my two cents as have so many pitched theirs to me.
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2008-08-12 08:10
There is no such thing as a 'dumb' question, only basic ones. The fact that someone is asking an extremely basic question does not show they are dumb, but instead want to learn and are therefore intelligent. We were all rank beginners at one time and had to ask the basic questions. The 'dumb' person is the one who won't ask the question because they are afraid of being shown up. I am an 'experienced amateur', not a professional player or teacher, but reading the basic questions makes me think about basic technique. As I have limited playing time, this is a good thing. I have never seen anyone on this board ridiculed because they asked a basic question - it is the only way to learn. I have also learned not to reply to a thread if someone else has said what I would say - there is, imho, no point. I am just cluttering up the board. I do get fed up with the 'what instrument / reed / mouthpiece' questions repeated endlessly, but then, I don't have to read the threads.
Generally, I have found the forum to be interesting, generally courteous, thought-provoking, and I have learned a lot. Keep up the good work.
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Author: russjm
Date: 2008-08-12 08:15
I promise not to ask which mouthpiece is best then
I used the term "dumb" for want of a better one, but I agree with all you've said there.
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