 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tenorchick
Date: 2003-12-29 19:27
Here's the deal: I am a sophomore in high school, both a clarinet player and tenor sax player. I know that music is my passion, i love playing and performing, i want to learn to play about a million different instruments, etc, etc. In simple terms, i am a serious musician.
In the past i have always figured i'd go to college, get a degree in something that wasn't music, but play in a college band and perhaps minor in music. Recently though, i've wondered about becoming a music major, more then likely a performance major.
What i'd like to know from all of you older and wiser people out there, what does it take? What should i be doing now as a 15 year old that will benefit me? The college that i want to go to has a fabulous music program i know, and i'm setting my sights towards the top. What areas are there besides performance and education that i could specialize in?
Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Also, how much of a benefit in the performance world is it to be able to play multiple instruments?
Post Edited (2003-12-29 19:28)
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-12-29 20:06
tenorchick,
Your enthusiasm for music is wonderful and I applaud your aiming for the top.
I would like to address just one facet of your decision; i.e., what you should study in college. From what you have written, music looks like the most logical choice, but it would be wise to have a good second choice - as the old saying goes... "don't put all the eggs in one basket".
Often in life things don't go as planned: careers in music can be precluded by, among other things, unforseeable physical ailments or accidents over which we have no control.
Best wishes for a stellar career in music,
Hans
Post Edited (2003-12-29 21:17)
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Author: Burt
Date: 2003-12-29 20:27
Music performance is a tough way to earn a living. It takes talent, hard work, connections, and luck. Do you have any interest in being a high school band or orchestra director? Many of them also play in a dance band, concert band or orchestra.
Many other part-time professionals have careers outside of music.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-12-29 21:46
If you're serious about being a musician, you need to take lessons. A priate teacher will be able to hear what you're doing wrong, give you individual guidance, and assign both exercises (scales, arpeggios) and performance pieces that you will need to master to do well in college.
If you're not yet decided whether to be a classical or jazz player, it would help to study both. If you become a professional musician, you will probably have to play both kinds of music, in addition to many other popular styles. This will equip you to play many different styles and will also let you find out what you like best.
Another great thing to do is summer music camp. This lets you meet people who are like you, and also lets you measure yourself against others to find whether you have what it takes to be a pro.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-29 23:07
You're in a similar situation as me. Except I'm a fourth year college student now wondering whether he'd like to try to become a professional at some point (not a senior, but it is my fourth year of college!![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif) ) . Good thing you caught it earlier! So my route at this point is to get my teaching degree, and teach for a while. All the while taking lessons and improving my technique. Then I'll go back to school parttime for a music performance degree (no sense in rushing cause hopefully I'll have tenure and not have to worry about getting it quickly in order to feed my starving children and dog). Hopefully I'll have good technique and skill by then (I'm guessing about 7 or 8 years from now is when I'll be set to go back) and will already be playing in some semi-pro ensemble(s). Be it a very good volunteer community orchestra or just small paid gigs here or there. Then I will continue until I get my pension, retire, and try then to "make it" as a musician (all the while my bills being paid by 401k, pension, and hopefully smart investing)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: tenorchick
Date: 2003-12-30 04:49
Thanks for responding, all of you.
My response to your responses:
I completely understand what hans said about not only studying music. If i were to major in any type of music, whether it be peformance, education, etc, i would strongly consider double majoring, likely in something along the lines of English, which has been an idea of mine for some time.
To what Ken Shaw said about private lessons:
As a matter of fact, i do take private lessons, been with the same teacher for almost five years now, and she has helped me come so far in my abilities on the clarinet. I am also currently petitioning my parents to let me attend a music camp this summer at the college that i hope to attend.
Thanks for your help guys!
If anyone else reads this, i'd still like to know how much of an advantage it is in the performance world to be able to play mulptiple instruments.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-12-30 10:55
Hi Tenorchick,
In answer to your question about "how much of an advantage it is in the performance world to be able to play mulptiple instruments."
Let me give you three examples.
Level 1. Larry Combs: Clarinet with the CSO but also a fine sax palyer. Had a jazz group in Chicago that played around. Teaches college students in performance.
Level 1 A: Eddie Daniels: Julliard Masters degree. Great clarinet and sax player (probably plays a lot of other stuff as well). A benchmark.
Level 2: John Moses: Julliard as well. Plays tons of shows on broadway as well as many, classical gigs in NYC area. Exceptional player. Doubles all over the place. Teaches students as well.
Level 3: Yours truly HRL: Good player, music education degree and advanced degrees. HS and college teacher. Doubles on all woodwinds but not at as high a level of expertise as those above. Always able to take any call whether it is the circus, a show, weddings, club date with big band or small group etc. Taught a lot of students. Located in a mid-western city with a metropolitan area of 1 million. Kept my day gig. There are better players that specialize on one instrument in the area but the ability to play a lot of instruments is my big edge.
For you, it depends what you want to do. For me, music education teaching has been wonderful. I have always had to work hard. To make it in performance like the people above, takes a whole lot more effort though.
I made my choice about my junior/senior year in HS. I knew then that I did not want to do what it would take to be at Level 1 or 2. I have never regretted that decision.
HRL
Post Edited (2003-12-30 10:58)
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-12-30 11:04
Serious musicians tend to concentrate on mastery of their gear - so it does not get in the way of their expression.
Tough to do this when you have lotsa horns to play.
- or a drawer full of mouthpieces
-or a shelf full of reeds ("The right one is in there!")
If music is a reasonable course of study for you (and why not) don't slight composition, small combos and preparatory courses for teaching.
There are LOTS of good paying gigs nationwide for qualified teachers at the secondary (High School) level, but you must be prepared to instruct the performance of instruments outside your interest.
My Sax teacher is retiring from 25 years teaching strings!
(And you thought beginning flute players sound bad...)
*******
It makes some sense to make your University education, well, Universal.
Broad exposure to mathematics, science and history pay off - they really do.
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-12-30 11:13
There is also the area of music therapy which you may want to look into. It may be a different way to use your musical skills.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2003-12-30 12:44
At your age, I had role models in 2 camps: straightahead jazz guys, who usually specialized in one instrument, and New York studio pros--and all the studio guys doubled, so I pursued doubles: all the saxes & clarinets, flute, etc. But I would have pursued the doubles anyway, because I enjoy them. I haven't been sorry.
Are you asking about doubles because you think you *ought* to play them, or because you WANT to play them? If the latter, go for it. If the former, take your time about it. Your sense of the labor marketplace you're heading into will grow & change as you study & network with other musicians--as well as your awareness of your OWN special gifts you have to offer the world. It may include doubles, it may not.
Teaching seems to be a must for working musicians. I don't know of any, literally, who don't teach.
Also, the service bands, though highly competitive, are a pretty cushy setup. Check into them for your own information if nothing else--at their best they provide a good living, guaranteed wages & benefits, lots of diverse playing opportunities, and some freedom to do other things.
Good luck!!
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Author: William
Date: 2003-12-30 14:14
Point of Order!!
Burt wrote, "Do you have any interest in being a high school band or orchestra director? Many of them also play in a dance band, concert band or orchestra"
I may be a bit "touchy" this AM, but could you please include middle school band directors as well. I taught at that level for 34 yrs and loved almost every minute of it--and I played countless gigs on the Friday evenings when my collegue high school band directors were fronting their pep and marching bands for varsity sports events. In fact, most high school band programs would not exist (in the larger cities, at least) if it were not for an excellant and productive beginning band program, run by their middle school band directors. So please, music education is not just about high school and beyond. Also consider a somewhat hectic--at times--but ultimately rewarding (and very important) career teaching eager young middle school students about the joys of music through small and large group performances.
Thank you for allowing me to "vent" a pet peev, and Happy New Year!!!
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Author: Burt
Date: 2003-12-31 03:03
Sorry, William. No offense intended.
As a matter of fact, I know several fine musicians who are middle school band directors. Some prefer middle school because the band doesn't have to play at football games.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-12-31 11:33
I think there is a famous "Kids in the Hall" scene where a marching band director finally cracks after all the Umph-pahpah paradiddling...
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Author: Greg
Date: 2003-12-31 18:47
Hello,
I'm currently an electrical engineer, but former Marine Corps musician.
I can testify to the fact that at your age, you need to be doing everything possible to better yourself musically if your career goals are in music. You sound motivated and seem to have a positive attitude.
This is not to discourage you in any way. My enlistment with the Marine band found a good deal my fellow band members with at least a bachelor's degree in music. Why did they endure fourteen weeks of hell at Parris Island? Many were very talented musicians but couldn't find work in the civilian community. Others, many former band directors, saw music shut down in their school and had no other skills besides music. This isn't a joke! Many also recieved a bachelor's degree but didn't invest enough time in practicing.
I wasn't cut out nor prepared for the music program and decided to go to Georgia Tech for engineering after my four years were up.
This is a testimony of how well prepared one needs to be. It might also be helpful to obtain a minor in computer science or math along with music. You may need that.
The service bands aren't a means to an end, but offer steady pay, tuition reimbursement plans, 30 days paid vacation, and travel.
Best of luck and stay motivated!
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-12-31 18:59
I'd advise a major (or at least a strong minor) that's non-musical in nature. From my vantage point it seems that music (what we clarinetists consider to qualify as music, anyway) has become less and less lucrative over the last 20+ years. If you want to teach you're probably OK, but if your only desire is to perform, you'd better be DAMN good and DAMN lucky and work DAMN hard (pardon my language, but the emphasis is real). Even if you meet all these requirements it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a 'fallback position'.
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Author: clarinetmama
Date: 2004-01-01 00:04
What's the expression for performance majors? Do you want fries with that?
Personally I think if you are really good and hope to play for a living do you really need a degree? This is a hard way to make a living. I would recommend another more "practical" music degree. Music marketing, education, etc.
We have several students where I just got my MA that are getting performance majors and to be honest they shouldn't be. They simply aren't that great.
If you plan to perform get into one of the "name" schools. I agree with one of the above who mentioned the military. I wish my parents had sent me that direction. At 44 I would be retired already. There are some great musicians in the military. I was just at Midwest in Chicago and was very impressed with their recruiting efforts. Often these bands are on tour and you can see them for free. They also give out a lot of free CDs. Check their websites.
Good Luck. You are young. Lots can change in a few years. Keep your options open. And don't try too hard to plan out your future.
Jean
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2004-01-01 04:31
Other things to do to prepare...
If you have any kind of a voice join the school or church choir to help develop your ear.
Take piano (or even guitar) if at all possible to begin learning chords.
Take music theory if your school offers it (at the A.P. level if possible.)
Go out for all-state or regional bands to become familiar with auditioning.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2004-01-01 06:09
If you have a passion for an alternate field, it might be good to go both ways. I did that and never regretted it at all. It was said that Jascha Heifetz's favorite oboe player was the late Dr. Donald Leake, Dental Surgeon. You could have twice the fun. Good luck!
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