 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: LarryS
Date: 2003-03-03 13:36
I am probably like many who visit this site-played a lot years ago, stopped, started up again. I've been fairly diligent with scales, exercise books, etc.
Joined the local community band, which has some but limited satisfaction. What opportunities exist for adults? Do local colleges sponsor programs?
I feel teachers mostly only interested in taking on young students. I live in southern Connecticut, and would really like some suggestions on where to look next.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: FrankM
Date: 2003-03-03 13:55
A piano player friend and I have been playing nursing homes in my area for several years now.The people are very cool and extremely appreciative..... And if you like to play swing era tunes and ballads, you'll find a ready audience....(.we do this strictly for the enjoyment...no money changes hands.) I think you'll find this generation of people remember the clarinet from a time when it was a "pop" instrument. Where else can you play the first several notes of "Begine the Beguine" and have your entire audience start grinning in recognition of the tune? Give it a try. Call one in your area and tell them you'd like to play....We've NEVER been turned down.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-03-03 14:13
My local community college, which has a respected music school, opened up its orchestra to the public (though they were limited in the number of wind players they accepted -- luckily I got in. Here's a plug -- http://www.caller.com/ccct/local_news/article/0,1641,CCCT_811_1553114,00.html). See if your local schools do something similar.
You can also check church choirs. Churches are often willing to accept instrumentalists to encourage participation. As they say, if you sing (or play) in the choir, it's like praying twice.i
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chuck
Date: 2003-03-04 03:25
Compliments to FrankM. I have been playing duets or trios with some of my contemporaries at several convalescent homes for the past couple of years. Taking music to shut-ins is its own reward . . and the price is right for those people charged with caring for their wards. Audience appreciation, for some reason, always makes a reed play better. Chuck
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Nate Zeien
Date: 2003-03-04 04:00
Playing at nursing homes is most always fun. I've not had so much time for that in the last few years, unfortunately. Also for fun, polka seems to be a blast. I've played in a few of them. I even started a polka band up at my old college. This was fun until someone stole the drum set. That spoiled our plans for future performances. In regards to community bands not being so fun, I have had mixed results. It depends on the size of the band, what kind of music they play, and most of all, the people. My favorite community band plays mostly waltzes, polkas, and marches. There's quite a variety of people in the group as well. The one clarinetist has been with the group for about 70 or more years. (kind of leaves one feeling like a newbie for a long long time...) One trumpet player has a 2 hour drive to get there, yet comes every week.
Anyhow, trios, duets, and small groups are always fun, too. The advantage of being at a school with music is the possibility of "random jam sessions". I even did this with medieval recorder music in high school.
The main thing is to be creative in finding or creating groups. There are other community bands out there, too, if you're willing to drive to them. -- Nate Zeien
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
