 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Meri
Date: 2003-12-19 19:59
Many musicians seem to have their magical moments when they are performing, teaching, or practicing.
What are your "magic moments?" I'll begin with a teaching one.
Two of my students, both who are in grade 7, one studying with me for a little more than 2 years, and the other for about 2 1/2 months, are auditioning for all-city ensembles in January, which are open to students in grade 7 and 8. During this last week of lessons before the holidays, both of them played their required excerpts with the most exquiste tone I have ever heard from a student their age (both are 12, though one just turned 12 on Monday!). And so expressively! Hearing them blind, one would never guess they were that age.
What is even more amazing is that the student studying with me for 2 1/2 months, in terms of her music reading skills, went from essentially non-existent (she was writing in the note names) to one of my best readers. Perhaps she has a good dose of natural talent. (the other one had to develop it via work ethic!) Even their parents were amazed that it was them playing the excerpts. (I teach in the student's home, no choice)
Meri
"There is a difference between being flat and sounding in tune, and being in tune but sounding flat. The first I can live with; the second I cannot."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2003-12-19 20:50
When my daughter received a First Division Award at our State Solo and Ensemble Festival for her rendition of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto 1st mvt. (having received the same award for the Mozart way back when I was in HS, it was, for me, a "magical" moment)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lisa
Date: 2003-12-20 00:35
My clarinet teacher made Pennsylvania All-State band in 1947.
My uncle made it in 1967.
I made it in 1987. (And now ya know my age! )
I thought it was neat to have perfect 20 year increments.
As far as magical performing moments go, I've had some, but wish I've had many more. THANK YOU for putting up this post. I wanted to start one of my own on this topic, but wasn't sure how to word it.
I have magical moments when I totally put myself into the music when performing. I played this klezmer solo with a children's choir to a packed church a few weeks ago. (I posted about it here, and am sorry to go on about it.) It was truly magical for me in that I was playing so much more than the notes, rhythms, dynamics, etc. I was finally communicating the music.
This may be a corny example to people who hate this song, but our quartet plays Clarinet Polka. It's one of the few songs they let me play first on. I'm happy on 3rd mostly, in supporting roles, as opposed to solo or featured parts, especially in a quartet situation. Anyway, there have been times when the reed, tempo and momentum have been just right, and and my trills are coming out really tight that I have my magical moments.
***Advice on how to be able to feel magical moments when practicing alone would be greatly appreciated.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-12-20 02:30
Mukashi, mukashi ...
Playing bass in a jazz band, good club, appreciative audience, four of us in a groove, listening to the music ... stopped playing for a moment because I didn't think it was me I was hearing laying down the foundation, 'cause I couldn't play that tight.
Found out I could ...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rick Williams
Date: 2003-12-20 11:44
In late May my wife broke her femur and was in the hospital for 5 days. She had mentioned that one of the things she was missing was my practicing (she's the only one...g) so the following day I brought in my clarinet, closed the door and played as softly as I could. After about 20 minutes an RN stuck her head in and I thought oh-oh...too loud, but instead she said some patients had heard me and wondered if I'd play for them. So a nursing assistant took me room to room to play.
The last room I was taken to I noticed that the pt had an Anchor on his forearm so as a former sailor myself I did Anchors Away and Eternal Father. The aid told me he had had a stroke and hadn't spoken to anyone in 3 weeks. His daughter was sitting there and listened in.
I had been back in my wife's room about 30 minutes when a nurse came in and told my wife they needed to borrow me. I should mention my wife has been a nurse at the same hospital for 30 years and everyone knows her. The nurse takes me back towards the room with the sailor and the daughter is standing in front of the room crying. My first thought is the guy had died and somehow I had done it! Instead the daughter throws her arms around me in a hug and then I find out that after I walked out the fellow started talking again. His first words evidently were; "that was nice, who was that fellow?"
Applause is nice, but this was better.
Best
Rick
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-20 21:23
Wow Rick. That is a powerful story. That's exactly what I'd like to do with my music one day. I intend to practice and hopefully find a group of people with other fulltime jobs who wouldn't mind travelling to libraries, hospitals, orphanages, and other places to play for fun and to entertain and hopefully make someone's day a little brighter free of charge. Then I'll be able to post LOADS of stuff on this thread.
But until then I have to worry about going to school and getting that fulltime job.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
