 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alyra
Date: 2004-05-07 04:35
I have a problem with playing in a concert band.
You see, as much as I try to keep an eye on the conductors beat, I can't. I have very bad eyes (very very short sighted, my lenses have to be ground down just to get in the glasses! Coke bottles!) and have a very bad lazy eye. I just can't read music and watch out of the corner of my eye at all.
So, it seems I compensate by listening to the rest of the band. This is probably a bad method, but I just can't do it the other way.
The biggst problem is...seeing as I haven't played for 5 years, and before that, mainly played Bass Clarinet, I'm a 3rd clarinet. (still a long way to go to 2nd I think). There is another 3rd clarinet player. Shes an ok girl, BUT SHE DOESN'T PLAY! She fingers..but you barely hear a note out of her an entire song. It's very confusing for me. And the problem is, since I am usually stuck sitting to the left of her, she's all I can hear off, and she is not playing, so it makes it a lot harder for me to figure out where the band is etc.
What do I do? Tell the conductor? Turn up early and sit on the other side so I can hear the 2nd clarinet player ?(heck, once when it was just me and the 1st clarinet, I got through it fine - I just need a clarinet melody to hear!)
It's a very annoying predicament. I am the 'newbie' compared to her in terms of being in the band, and I don't want to cause trouble, but I left halfway through band practice the other night as it became too frustrating and left me with no want to play (That, and the father playing rock music through his walkman so loud you could hear it).
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2004-05-07 09:08
Hello Alyra, how's the new clarinet?
It sounds like you have a great method of dealing with it. Wish I could get my kids to listen to the rest of the band.
I haven't had time to give thought to any solutions, but can I suggest that, from what you say, there doesn't seem to be a musical problem? Unless your playing is causing problems in the band's sound, I think you're doing fine. The only drawback I can see, which you hint at but don't specify, is that it might be mentally (and maybe physically) difficult for you to have to concentrate in this way. I'm not sure if you mean this.
If you think it necessary to make the conductor aware of your eyesight, I'm sure he'll understand. Otherwise, if you're having fun, keep doing what you're doing.
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-05-07 12:44
Alyra,
Perhaps you could ask the other third clarinet if she would change seating positions with you permanently.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-05-07 14:41
Do you have any periphal vision at all? I've sort of "developed" mine by making a conscious effort to notice things while not looking directly at them (such as colors of people's shirts, cars while driving, etc. Almost "trained" myself. I guess I was very bored in a previous period of my life.)
What I do is make sure I have a clear view of the conductor, then raise the stand so that the conductor's arms are JUST above the top of the stand. That way he can be as close to my focal point as possible (right words? Maybe . . .) Perhaps you don't have your stand in a great position. I also am very nearsighted. Maybe not as much as you, but more than others.
Maybe this will help, maybe not but it's certainly worth the thirty seconds of effort to try it one day! ESPECIALLY if it does help.
As for going with the rest of the band, that's perfect. The times you're going to get into trouble though are during any gradual tempo changes (accelerando and deccelerando and ritards, etc. etc.) That's when you really REALLY need to rely on the conductor and can't trust your ears. Because you can't anticipate when the next beat will be. Only he/she can tell you.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-05-07 16:40
Good advice, Wm the Conq!, Hans and Alexi, others just now posting comments! In the concert last nite, during the flute solo, I paid closer attention to the soloist than to the conductor, playing my bass cl's harmonic long notes coordinated with her attacks, until the band's "intervals", then to the conductor, naturally! As to cooperation with other cl'ists, I suggest frank discussion, at least with other 3rd's, encourage louder/balanced playing, your parts are IMPORTANT . With my vision [now ARMD !] problems, I [and others in our band] have my own music stand and parts, so that I can focus them at a bit greater than average distance AND focus the conductor, with a special pair of single-vision glasses [of intermediate focus between the usual bifocal lenses]. This seems to work fine for this OLD cl'ist !! Will reread your thread to see if I can suggest more. Much luck, KEEP AT IT ! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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