 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Irwin
Date: 2003-07-29 01:08
My goal is to be able to sight read first part in just about anything my community orchestra throws at me. I know exactly how to get there - continue devoting not less than an hour EVERY day to playing my Rose etudes as well as the assorted other pieces my teacher puts in front of me, and keep working my scales and arpegios.
I've been taking lessons for about two and a half years. When I look back at where I started, I can scarcely believe the distance I've traveled, but of course realize yet how far I've got to reach my goal.
What motivates me to meet my goal, other than simply having the goal, is my teacher. There are plenty of nights I come home from work, beat and wanting nothing more than to veg out in front of the tube. But I force myself to wake up and do my work because of an intense desire to hear him say "well done" each week when I perform the lessons he gave me the week before.
Alas, my teacher having lost his job playing with the Florida Phil when it folded is moving out of town. I knew this would happen eventually, but still I was taken aback when he told me Sunday he'd be gone by Christmas. I will search for another teacher, but I'm not optimistic I'll find one who lives in my county - much less one that is capable of motivating me in the manner I described.
So, the question is one of regaining motivation when my teacher leaves. No doubt he'll set me up with a list of etudes and pieces that I can play for the next 10 years, but without having to play for him, how will I motivate myself to play them nonetheless?
Surely there are people on this board who have a regimin of daily practice without taking lessons. If so, I'd appreciate hearing from you and where you find the motivation to reach your playing goals which I assume aren't dissimilar from mine.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-07-29 08:37
I can't speak from experience of self-motivation, cause I don't use these, but here are some things that might work . . .
1) Record yourself playing an etude in the beginning of the week (sight-reading probably). Record yourself again after a week of dedication to it. Then compare the two. The difference should be enough to keep you wanting to improve.
2) Buddy-up. Find someone else in your community band that's as dedicated to their instrument as you are (doesn't have to be the same instrument) and keep tabs on each other as to whether you've been practicing each day. Kinda like "workout" buddies, but for your instruments.
3) Change the time of practice (if possible). Maybe it'd be easier for you to practice before work. Or come home from work, relax for a half hour or hour, then practice. And keep it the same time every day if you can. This helps to form the habit.
4) Pick a piece that you like, buy it, and learn it. And do what you need to learn it. If it has a diminished seventh scale in it, that'll motivate you to learn your diminished sevenths in order to play that piece. Or you may have to practice learning a different key in order to learn it.
5) Try to find someone to play with. Even if it's not a teacher. Another clarinet player for duets. Or a piano player for any clarinet/piano piece. It'll motivate you to learn your part cause they're gonna be learning theirs.
Don't know if this will work. If not, just grunt and do it every day whether you're motivated or not. After a few months, it WILL be habit and you'll feel incomplete if you've gone a day without it.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-07-29 12:35
Ask your teacher for recommendations for another teacher. While you might not find someone quickly who will motivate you as well as your current teach, if you start making the network, you may stumble onto someone.
And sometimes I practice in front of the tv. LOL!!!
Katrina
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Author: GilliganGirl
Date: 2003-07-29 21:45
Sometimes, listening to recordings of the pros motivates me. If they can play so amazingly well, why can't anyone else?
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Author: Irwin
Date: 2003-07-29 23:22
All good suggestions. And Alexi, I plan to print out your suggestions and tape them to my music stand! Thanks.
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