 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Phillip
Date: 2003-10-24 09:45
I have read serveral posts from returning players who perhaps played in high school and years later are returning to rekindle a neglected passion. I, however, can only imagine at what level I would be at had I started playing at a younger age. I was first introduced to the clarinet a few years ago when I registered to take a introduction woodwind/brass class at a community college. The school provided me with a plastic Yamaha for the semester and I took to it rather well. The theory portion of the class was easy as I had taken piano lessons in my childhood, and I had such an enjoyable experience playing in a group that I registered for the intermediate level the following semester. The school rented me an intermediate Buffet model to use. While I was one of the better students in the class the first semester, I was playing catch up in the second. There were two other clarinetists in the class, straight out of high school who had obviously been playing for years, and I was just getting over the break. It was an enjoyable class, however, in which we were even required to conduct.
After that, I didn't play for about a year until I acquired a used Vito/Leblanc clarinet. The bell and barrel are plastic but the upper and lower joints are wood. It seems to suit my needs fine enough.
I am interested in becomming serious about the instrument and taking lessons but cannot afford them at the moment. I realize that I am probably reinforcing bad habits by playing unsupervised, but I really don't play all that regularly. While I can read music, I also enjoy sounding out a tune that is in my head whether it be broadway, rock-n-roll, or punk. I love the sound of the instrument. It has such a range both dynamically and in pitch.
I am currently enrolled in an electronics associate's program at a technical school. Once I graduate and get a decent job, I am considering either private instruction or pursuing some sort of a music degree. I realize that I will most likely not be able to make a career in music so I have the electronics to fall back on. In all honesty though, I really have no idea what I am going to do with my life.
On another subject:
What's the deal with jazz and the clarinet. I love dixieland jazz and big band stuff where the clarinet is quite prevalent. This new trend in jazz is just making me feel disdain for the saxaphone. How many of you would prefer to play the clarinet but are forced to play sax to make a living? Just wondering.
I do seem to hear the clarinet alot in advertisements these days, both on the radio and television. Who is playing in these ads? Is it just a handfull of privelleged people, or is there a big market for such a thing? Sorry about the length of the note. I am new here.
- Phillip
What would you do with a brain if you had one?
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2003-10-24 10:16
Phillip wrote:
"What would you do with a brain if you had one?"
Try doing a Google search on brains and recipe, you will find plenty of suggestions.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-10-24 14:13
Phillip,
Re: your "I realize that I will most likely not be able to make a career in music", that seems like a realistic attitude at this point. Playing clarinet is a wonderful hobby so that you can't really lose either way if you don't make it to professional status.
I play sax (alto & tenor) as well as clarinet and I like all three. Don't knock the sax (disdain???) until you've learned to play one.
Hans
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-10-24 14:56
There are many of us who've returned to the clarinet later in life, after education, kids, and so on. By all means, go for it. Take lessons, but perhaps after you've finished your education. Even if you take one lesson every second week, the lessons will help you focus and to progress step by step.
At first it's hard to get into a regular practice schedule. But try to practice at the end of the day, for example, for 1/2 hour. Set your timer for 30 minutes. When the timer rings I'll bet you'll feel like continuing - so keep on going. If you can only do 30 minutes, then you have the satisfaction of having progressed a little bit that day and every day thereafter.
I am completely convinced that the REAL musicians are those who can play by ear. Knowing music theory will only benefit your playing, and getting lessons will teach you how to better use the tools (your instrument) that you need in order to make music. I know of a couple people who can play only with music in front of them, but cannot sing or even play their instrument by just listening to what they're playing. You have a very special skill! Go for it, and when you can, definitely take lessons in order to improve your abilities to play the music that's inside you.
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Author: reed_squawk
Date: 2003-10-24 15:45
>>I do seem to hear the clarinet alot in advertisements these days, both on the radio and television.<<
I have noticed that as well...kind of strange as there is practically zero cl in popular music currently, but I am hearing it all over the place in ads etc...at least that's something!
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-10-25 00:33
The prevalence of saxophone music on the bandstand is in the charts.
No reason you can't double, is there?
Without benefit of lessons, practice long tones and LISTEN to your sound.
Working through scales, with a metronome will sharpen your skills.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-10-25 03:58
Awesome! I'm glad to hear that you've joined us! If you haven't yet gotten one I'd like to be the first to suggest getting a good quality student mouthpiece. Clark Fobes Debut would be my recomendation (my little sister has one and it seems to be very good fro my point of view!). There are plenty of books out there that will teach you the basics for learning clarinet, one of the more popular ones being the Complete Klose (do a search, you'll find more information).
I know it's hard to afford lessons, but depending on what level you are, maybe you can find a "cheap" teacher and go there once every other week. A "cheap" teacher in my eyes would probably a clarinet major in college or graduate school, or a teacher who plays a multitude of woodwinds and clarinet isn't their primary. I'd assume this person to charge less for clarinet if their main instrument is, let's say flute or something like that. My teacher that I'm going to have to start going to next semester is 30 dollars an hour. That's not a bad price at all. And he's primarily a clarinetist but is also excellent on saxaphone and flute.
I would think a teacher would be important in the beginning to make sure you don't inadvertantly start up with bad habits. They can help you to correct your embouchre, finger placement, and offer one on one advice on breathing techniques (VERY important in clarinet). Also, they can provide goals for you to work on between lessons.
Also, I'd start practicing the scales/arpeggios. Slowly, slurred, then slowly tongued and progress with the speed when you feel you are ready to. It's not what I did when I started and now I regret not doing them. It's harder in my opinion to concentrate on scales when all I want to do is play play play my time away. IMO when you begin you are more open to the idea of learning basics instead of going back to them.
And lastly in my long shpiel (spelling?), I think it's more fun to have a buddy to play with! Try to find another clarinet player in your area that's open to learning with you or just open to playing with you. Get yourself a duet book (Rubank duets for beginner/intermediate for now or some other one) and go toot along with him/her every now and then!
That's it. I'm sorry to have gone on so long but I haven't posted that much lately so it's all spilling out at once. GL and don't sell yourself short for playing out! You can learn a lot if you dedicate some time to it.
Alexi <--- who has a goal to play in a wedding band in about ten to fifteen years when he feels he better have proficiently learned clarinet and sax by then.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: deepriver27
Date: 2003-10-25 13:14
Lots of clarinet on TV/movies etc. One thing that bugs me to no end is the Law and Order theme - great clarinet line. But you listen closely and realize it's done on a keyboard. What a waste.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-10-26 05:13
I knew that things had turned around in 1979 when I used my clarinet in its low register, and my soprano sax in its high register primarily for imitating synthesizer parts. That's the breaks.
Playing sax professionally is nothing undesirable, even for a clarinetist. I find that I can enjoy my clarinet in a healthy variety of amateur activities. Tonight, for example, I played bass clarinet in a woodwind quintet.
Allen Cole
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Author: Renato
Date: 2003-10-26 14:30
Hi, welcome
About teachers, considering you can't afford private lessons on a regular basis right now, I think you'd benefit from even an occasional check-up with a good teacher to see how things are going in your playing (embouchure, breathing, scales, intonation, and so on) and prevent bad habits.
I'm studying the clarinet on my own, by the way. Lots of reading, lots of listening, observing, getting tips from players and teachers here and there. I intend to get a teacher to evaluate my progress and give me some pointers. I'm doing fine, making consistent, thoughtful progress.
Can't you try a public music school? Do you have one in your area? I'm studying the flute at the local public school (the fee is less than $10 a month) with a good, sensible teacher, and it makes a lot of difference.
Whether or not you can, or want to be, a professional clarinettist, the great thing is that you enjoy it a lot and will always have it present in your life.
About the clarinet, I've noticed more clarinet on ads and movies these days than until recently. The saxophone is all right, but there should be more clarinet being played and heard.
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-10-26 22:19
It's always a delight to hear of pre-loved clarinetists coming back from the void ... welcome to a very honourable club!
diz, Sydney
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2003-10-27 02:54
Welcome to the late bloomers. I played alto sax in high school and picked it up about a year ago again after forty years and have loved re-learning it again. Suddenly I started noticing c larinet music and decided that I would like to play that to, which I never had. So I got a clarinet and have been studying that too. I spend more time on the clarinet than the sax right now because I have so much work to do to get to play that as well as the sax, but I really enjoy it. It has so many beautiful tones. It is more of a challenge than the sax because of having to keep the holes covered, but I really practice diligently and it's starting to pay off. So stay at it, get a teacher as soon as you can and good luck.
Leonard
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