 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Janey
Date: 2003-04-19 14:35
Hello! I've been playing clarinet for almost 4 years and I'm a freshman in high school.
I'm extremely dedicated. Being a very good clarinet player is extremely important to me and I've made quite a lot of progress. I've worked on such solos as the Weber concertos, Weber concertino, (oh, Mozart and Stamitz of course but I learned those awhile ago), and the Rabaud Solo de Concours. Many of my competitors hate me and consider me a “freak” because I’m better than all the upperclassmen. I've gotten pretty good...but my problem is that there is now so much PRESSURE involved with my clarinet playing! I'm always so stressed to learn a piece or perfect my music or simply to play beautifully in band class every day! (I'm in the first clarinet section in my high school wind ensemble---the school's top performing band) I practice extensively for long stretches at a time. I don’t know for how long…just that I only stop when the pain in my hands and mouth simply becomes too much for me to bear anymore. And then I take a short break and come right back again.
Even when I hurt and I want to stop practicing I can’t because my drive to achieve perfection is so great. Now that I've acquired the skills there's so much work for me to do! And I can't let myself get by with just being a "good" clarinet player.
So, the main problem is that I no longer enjoy playing clarinet. Being a clarinet player is a task I must complete, a huge obstacle I must overcome. I no longer feel satisfaction when I perfect a piece or perform well--only slight relief, anticipation of the next piece or performance, and most of all, anger and disappointment in myself for not playing perfectly.
I double on bassoon but am not nearly so dedicated as I am on clarinet. I have noticed that I enjoy playing bassoon much, much more than clarinet and feel much less pressure as a bassoon player even though my bassoon playing skills are considerably inadequate. I am happy when I learn something on bassoon. I need to know---how can I put this feeling back into my clarinet playing??? And have I gone too far as a clarinet player? Have I made music an obsession whether than a love? Because I want more than anything else in the world to spend my life playing clarinet---playing it beautifully and perfectly but it seems to be a far more painful goal to accomplish than I anticipated…
I’m sorry for being so wordy…I hope someone out there can help.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2003-04-19 17:11
Dear Janey, I have been where you are now.
I'm pretty sure I can help you.
Due to the sensitive nature of my response, I will send you a personal email.
Dan
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-04-19 17:42
It sounds to me like your motivation lies in the wrong area. You mention other clarinet players as "competitors". Why can't you see them as fellow students, or colleagues? You may be better than them, but you can still learn from each other.
You should want to play as well as you can to serve the music, not to play better than somebody else. Even the best competitive sportsmen are only trying to achieve their personal best.
>>"I practice extensively for long stretches at a time"
>>"I want more than anything else in the world to spend my life playing clarinet"
If you continue practising in the way that you are doing, you will have a short career as a clarinetist. If you are feeling pain, you should stop playing immediately. You will achieve far more from your practise sessions by practising for shorter periods, and taking regular short breaks during your practice session.
If you're not enjoying it, then you're definitely overdoing it. All of the great performers that I have heard seem to enjoy performing. It's because they are enjoying it that the audience enjoy it too.
Relax. Develop a sensible practice routine. Think about why you are making music. And good luck!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-04-19 17:56
Get outdoors more. Enjoy the sunshine.
Head to the beach. Marvel at the ocean.
Playing clarinet should not obsess your every waking moment.
Strive to be your best, but don't keep looking over your shoulder. It's not a competitive sport.
The world is not presently clamoring for more clarinetists. As much as we love the clarinet (few can love it more than I do), the general population has different musical tastes.
Even Richard Stoltzman is not playing to full houses...GBK
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2003-04-19 19:37
I'm a firm believer in woodshedding (that's practicing for you clasical players) but not to the point of physical pain. Many clarinetists have developed permanent problems in their right wrists and thumbs (particularly the wrists) from over-practicing. You might consider using a neckstrap for long practice sessions. My WW/BW catalogue shows a device, made by B&G I believe, that attaches to the center ring of the clarinet like a marching lyre. It has three notches for the strap hook with the furthest notch about two inches from the body of the clarinet (as far as I can tell from looking at the pic). This might be a comfortable set-up. I haven't tried it myself since my clarinet has the articulated G#/C# mechanism and won't accomodate the B&G device. There are other devices available too that relieve strain on the right wrist and thumb. There's no need to suffer any discomfort in the hands at all (much less injure them permanently). As far as sore chops (lips and mouth for you classical players) go, the main problem seems to be the lower teeth cutting into the inside of the lower lip (sharp lower teeth can do this even if the player doesn't "bite"). This can be cured by placing some type of shield over the bottom teeth, such as a bit of paper (cigarette rolling paper works well) or possibly something devised by your dentist. With the proper equipment it should be possible to play or practice the clarinet sixteen hours a day (you've got to sleep sometime) without any physical problems. As far as stopping and smelling the flowers--yeah, try to make some time for that too. But number one--eliminate all physical pain and discomfort from your playing.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2003-04-20 03:46
If you are not enjoying it, find something that you can enjoy, and do that instead, life is too short!
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-04-20 04:50
A very wise man -- John Candy in the movie "Cool Runnings" -- said (referring to winning an Olympic medal), "A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you're not good enough without it, you'll never be good enough with it."
Gotta learn to love who you are and what you do without the tangible symbols of your accomplishments.
________________
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
Post Edited (2003-04-20 05:52)
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2003-04-20 08:18
I know what you're going through.
I went through high school 'competing'. I was the 'freak' who could sight-read everything while they practised it over and over.
Come college, I was quickly cut down by better players, in my eyes. It took me a long time to learn that these people were musicians, and they weren't competing, they were striving to be the best that THEY could be. They played for themselves. There was no-one to compete against because they weren't in the race. I soon realised that they were BETTER than the race.
If you want to be a good clarinet player, then don't aim to be one. Just aim to play music, be faithful to composers, and do things for yourself. If you're serious about music, you can't be a 'competitor', you'll need to co-exist with other musicians, no matter what they play.
Don't learn this lesson too late - learn it now. Let compliments roll off - pay no attention to them, a great musician won't bask in self-glory. The other clarinetists in the section might feel that you play 'against' them rather than with them as part of the section. So play WITH them, and you'll get that buzz out of music again.
On another note, have you tried improvising? Just sit with your clarinet, and just play anything, really express yourself. You'll find this will relax you and you don't feel any pressure this way.
Best of luck, email me if you want to speak further.
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Author: bobmi74
Date: 2003-04-20 19:08
I'm like you kinda, in the sense that I'm the best at my school. But I haven't let it become a competition with the rest of the section, mainly because there is no competition. Even at honor band and all-state, I don't let it become a competition. I just go do the best that I can. Everyone in my band knows that I'll sight-read anything the rest of the band can handle, and then some. So they don't say anything about it. Very rarely do I get compliments, unless someone new hears me, then I just let it roll off, and think about how crappy i'll be next year in college. I love playing clarinet, especially bass and contrabass, but I haven't let it become an obsession. I know that I would just die if I can't play, but that's not obsession, that's life....which is why i'm trying trumpet. hehe. Hope I've helped.
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Author: Dawne
Date: 2003-04-21 04:38
My first love is the clarinet. When I was in high school and college, I doubled on alto sax, and played in the Jazz band. It was alot of fun, a great stress reliever. It also came in handy later as I played in pit orchestas to be able to double and triple on other instuments. Now, when I am having a "bad reed day"...or my clarinet practice is just not a perfect as i want it, and I am frustrated, I get out a more open mouthpiece with a softer reed, and play some old jazz etudes and play them on my clarinet...or some swing, blues play-along cd...and I find I stop taking myself too seriously...attitude adjustment time....
The world becomes a nicer place, and I know tomorrow I have another chance to practice my clarinet....
Dawne Morgan
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Author: dfh
Date: 2003-04-21 04:50
Hey -
My first word is that if it hurts (physically) STOP IT put the horn down, or you bodywill stop you when you've gone to far! you're too young to have serious pain! Put after playing a few hours, your lip should hurt!
It is important to put in a lot of time practicing, but it is more important to enjoy (most) of the time you spend practicing. And just because you are not enjoying it now doesn't mean you won't ever again. I've been around the whole circle more than once! I'm sure every serious musican at one time or another has found no joy in playing. But you can get it back if that's what you really want. Part of that for me was letting go of perfection. I've heard some amazing musicians make some amazing mistakes and still really loved every minute of thier performance. The less I worry about every note, the less wrong notes I play. It's about the spirit, and that is easly lost in classical music because it's so technically demanding. (the advice on imporvising was great - it's done wonders for me. just play what comes out of you because it can't be wrong!) It's a process.
I went through the competitive *stuff* in High School. It's sucks, but you can work through it. And in the end, the "real world" is very competitive, and I am now able to deal with it because of the terrible time I had in High School, and am almost thankful for it! It's part of the process (not that that makes it hurt less.) Plus, i didn't play half of the stuff in High school that you have, and I now make a living playin' my horn - there's no rule that says you have to know all the rep. by the time you're 20, 'cause then what?
Go outside and enjoy the spring and rest yourself - IMO GBK is right on. (as are all the others who posted!) Good luck!
dfh
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Author: psychotic_clarinet_chica
Date: 2003-04-21 14:28
I'm a junior in hs and have had the same deal as you. I feel like there is an incredible amount of pressure. Keep doing what you love, but learn some other instruments, too!
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-04-21 16:44
Once a top position is gained in a group, it's natural to want to defend it. To do so to the point of pain is not productive.
Several strategies -
1. If the competition is that stiff at your school, it sounds like you need to befriend some of your stiffer 'competitors' and get into some chamber music. Playing in a trio or quartet will benefit all of you better than too much raw woodshedding. You'll also find that the friendship and synergy will enrich you all.
2. Consider spreading some of that practice time to other instruments. Mastering the flute's embouchure or the saxophone's palm keys would provide you some variety and extra reward.
3. Consider widening the scope of your education. As GBK said, the world is not starving for concert clarinetists. But a flexible player who can work with their ears, and meet a wide variety of needs can generate other playing opportunities. Learn some theory, train your ear, and get more analytical with music itself. It might not be that hard to write some of your own. I know any number of great clarinetists who are unemployed. I also know some fine ones who are more well-rounded and can play sax in jazz or rock bands.
4. Get out and have a life. If you want to see where obsession, and hiding behind the instrument leads, read one of the recent books on Benny Goodman. He was an obsessive practicer and competitor, and obviously one of the greatest players out there. But the personality that he developed nearly torpedoed his career in the early 1930's.
5. If your playing opportunities at school are too narrow, consider trying to get involved in an adult group. You may find a faster pace and new influences. Just remember to check your ego at the door.
Allen Cole
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Author: Amy
Date: 2003-04-21 21:12
I agree with the advice about learning a couple of other instruments. I double on alto sax and when I'm getting frustrated with my clarinet I can switch to sax and carry on playing music but not get annoyed with that same mistake I keep making.
You might not enjoy playing the clarinet now but it might just be a phase you're going through. I went through a phase when I had been playing for about a year when I would only practise the night before my lesson and the rest of the time the clarinet would stay in the case. Now I can't get enough of it!
Someone suggested taking a break from clarinet. Maybe it's a good idea. If you don't think you can give it up completely for a while, just cut down on your practice sessions.
Good luck!
Amy
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