 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rockymountainbo
Date: 2004-02-11 16:25
I had to stop my clarinet lessons back in April of 03 and promised myself after 3 months of lessons that I would continue to practice on my own. Well, that lasted for about 2 weeks. It is now Feb of 04 and I need some motivation to get back to playing without the lessons. Any encouraging words?
Here's my prob...I have a 19 month old and another gestating at 22 weeks right now. I'm going to be a busy busy man in about 4 months. I live in a tri-level townhouse and the only time I can practice is after the little one gets to sleep. The only place in the house I can practice where I won't bother others is in the garage. Since I live in Denver, and winter lasts about 6 months, playing in the garage makes it hard on the fingers and the lips. In addition, with 2 cars in the garage, there really is nowhere to practice.
If anyone has been in a similar situation and has found solutions to this problem, let me know. I am dying inside just thinking about how far along I could be now if I hadn't stopped. Basically, I am looking for encouragement and a solution to the noise problem. Is there a muter on the market I can put at the end of the horn to limit the volume?
Thanks ahead.
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-02-11 16:47
Why don't you just play FOR the 19 month old? When my kids were smaller I would practice with one of them on my lap. Even now at 6 and 2 I let them mooch around in my practice room and they enjoy listening. I just keep the reed knife closed and the fragile stuff out of reach. I live in a townhouse, too, and it works out just fine.
And by the way, don't quit the lessons. That is part of what keeps you motivated. I grew up there, so if you need the names of a couple top-shelf guys who can really get you fired up, email me.
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Author: bkmorton
Date: 2004-02-11 16:49
I had a similar problem in the sense of trying to practice after I got out of school and it never really worked. I found myself being too tired to play after work, practicing for 30 minutes maybe at a time, and any excuse to get out of practicing was taken. Anyhow I decided that I needed to study privately in order to keep the momentum going. I understand you have a time constraint and possibly a money one because of the little ones, but nothing is better than having a teacher once every 2 weeks or so give you some stuff to work on. Its kind of like having a personal trainer at the gym....you have to go if you have paid and if someone is working with you personally.
I would also recommend waking up early OR going right after work and going to the community college or university that probably has a 24 hour music department (I don't know about Denver schools) and going to practice over there. I usually set a "no matter what comes up" time where I can not plan on doing anything else aside from practicing at that time. Also find an accountability partner that will keep bothering you by saying "did you practicie".
I started lessons up after taking 2 years basically off from playing regularly and I am loving it because I feel more complete now. I am also guilted into practicing because I want to be able to play well for my lessons because they are expensive:) Anyhow
Good luck and play songs for the babys to go to sleep
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Author: rockymountainbo
Date: 2004-02-11 16:55
I wake at 4:30am, work at 6am, return home at 3:30pm and then my night is reserved by the family until about 8pm.
thanks for the words of encouragement.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-11 19:20
Perhaps you could be one of the people that could benefit by leaving their clarinet assembled on a stand all day. When you wake up, you can assemble it and put it in a safe place (aside from reed of course). Then when you get home, if you find you have a few minutes or your children are busy watching Sesame Street or otherwise occupied for fifteen to thirty minutes, you can get some long tones and scales in. And when they go to bed, you can go right back to playing it for a short while before you go to bed.
Perhaps you could invest in some sort of heater for the garage. You could put it on a half hour or so before the kids go to bed so that it is warm before you go in there for a little night practice.
Also, make sure you make good use of your days off!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2004-02-12 21:47
Why not practice inside the car? It's got to be roomier and more comfortable than most practice rooms.
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