 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: n_hanson12
Date: 2004-07-06 05:41
I used to love playing the clarinet, now it's almost like a burden to practice. I took some time off, thinking that when I went back, it'd be fun again. Wrong. I'm away for the summer and I made my teacher some big promises about what I would get done. I'm way behind... and I hate to disappoint him. However, I don't want to play for him, I want to play for me. I feel like giving up, but I don't want to regret it. Any thoughts?
~Nicki
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2004-07-06 06:31
It sounds to me like you might have set your goals too high, especially regarding the "big promises" that you made to your teacher. A good way to get motivated is to set realistic goals. Summer should also be a time to relax and get your energy back for the coming year, so you shouldn't plan to do TOO much work durig this period. All professional sports players know the importance of taking proper breaks.
Here's what I would suggest:
1. Set yourself a daily practice time. Make it much less than you planned originally to practice. Something like half an hour or one hour a day. Do this practice every day. Don't skip it, but don't practice for longer than the time that you have decided to do. If you can stick to this plan for a week, and if you feel like it, then add an extra half an hour to your practice time. Try to do this practicing in the morning, so that you have the rest of the day free to enjoy yourself.
2. Figure out a plan for what you are going to practice for the week. Don't take on too much. Your teacher will be much happier if you can go back after summer playing some of the piece well, rather than all of the pieces half well.
3. Make sure that when you've done your practicing you spend some time doing stuff that you really enjoy, going for walks, watching movies, hanging out with friends... whatever it is that you like doing. It might also be fun to do something music related. Go to a concert, buy a CD, read a book on music, or spend some time fooling around on another instrument.
We all lose our motivation from time to time. Don't feel bad about it. Just go easy on yourself and have fun. Life is short! Hope this helps. Good luck!
Post Edited (2004-07-06 06:32)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-07-06 11:50
Nicki,
Weren't you planning a college major of music education recently? What's with that plan?
Sounds like you have reached some sort of crossroad.
HRL
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-07-06 12:51
Nicki, before you throw in the towel, you have to ask yourself why you find it a burden to practice. Is there something you'd rather be doing? Have you hit some sort of technical wall that just leaves you frustrated when you do play? Do you not enjoy the work? Is it possible that you lost some of the love after you started to seriously think about this as your future and not just something that you enjoyed as an extracurricular activity?
I don't completely agree with Liquorice saying the Summer is a time to relax, particularly if you are serious about music as a profession. I did my hardest work and playing during the summers, and ask the same of my students, because it is an opportunity to focus on the music without the distractions of homework, marching band, school dances, etc.
From afar, I can only give you the same counseling I give my own students. Step back and really explore your motivation for doing this. If that motive isn't enough to keep your fire stoked, don't quit the instrument, just rethink what your commitment to it is. Either you'll discover that this is what defines you and your future, or that it is something you enjoy but shouldn't dominate your life.
Best of luck with it.
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2004-07-06 13:28
Nicki--I think it is normal not to really want to practice when the weather is gorgeous and your friends are calling. However, I always found, and I point out to my students, that summer is a great time to make some good progress because academics and other activities are less demanding. Think about how you spend your days and what time of day you are normally more free to practice. For example, around here it is super super hot in the afternoon, so I would go have fun in the morning and practice in the heat of the day.
Another thing about summer practice is that you could do something to make it different from what you are doing during the year. In addition to working toward the goals you set with your teacher, explore a style of music you have always wanted to try, noodle around on a different instrument, or get a friend or two together and play some duets or trios. Above all, remember that whether you decide to pursue a career in music or not (which is a totally different question) you can still become a fine clarinetist and enjoy music throughout your life.
Good luck!
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Author: Ron Jr.
Date: 2004-07-06 14:14
Nicki,
I know about the fear/dread you have when you have high expectations for yourself and you want your teacher to see progress. Unless you've practiced every day for a week, you don't feel ready to play for your teacher. You know they have high expectations for you and when you feel that you haven't put in the time to really see progress on a piece of music, you don't want to play for the teacher.
After spending several years of your life playing clarinet you have achieved several highly admirable goals:
1. you've mastered music theory - an extremely difficult area of inquiry for most people.
2. you've developed the ability to practice long hours.
3. you've developed a sensitivity in your hearing that very few people have.
As kids the reason why we study algebra, chemistry, and physics is primarily to exercise the brain. And secondarily, there is a remote possibility that we study these topics to become mathematicians and chemists.
Perhaps you can view your study of the clarinet in the same way. You've strengthend your mind and developed a wonderful skill. Now is the time to study something that that will allow you to enter a career that will make you enough money that you can have a level of comfort that will allow you, and your future childeren, not to merely exist, but to excel. I know too many professional musicians who can't afford the instruments they play on. I also know many former professional musicians who have moved on to make more money. For them, it was important that they should not struggle just pay the rent.
It takes a lot of money to give ones children more than just the bare essentials of life. I encourage you to be dilligent in your chosen course of studies. You obviously have the brains necessary to excel.
Ron Jr.
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2004-07-06 15:02
I heartily second the thoughts of the above writers. We can get too much of a good thing and work too hard, and then it's not fun anymore.
As was stated before, try getting the instrument out for only a small amount of time each day. Maybe 15 - 30 minutes is all you should allow as a goal and then see how you feel. Work on some fun stuff, some popular music or duets, whatever you feel happy experimenting with. Apply the things you've learned to this music. Maybe promise yourself to practice 1/2 hr a day EXCEPT for weekends. Reward yourself with a visit with friends, rollerblading, hiking or some other outside activity after your 1/2 hour practice. Just keep you foot in the door and keep your embouchure from getting flabby over the summer. If you really love making music then the love will resurface.
Some of those who have posted here say how much they regret having left off playing music. It's not a small thing if you were born with that love. So it could be that you've been working too hard and for the wrong reason - to please someone else. Although wanting to please your teacher can be a positive incentive and work is definitely necessary in order to improve, you cannot do this for very long if you come to dislike the activity. As others have mentioned you may need to take a look at the direction you want to go with this, or you may simply need more exciting and varied clarinet activities to keep your interest stimulated, or be around other people who share your enthusiasm more often.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-07-06 15:24
Nicki wrote, "I don't want to play for him, I want to play for me."
That's the key, and *that* is what it is all about--your own enjoyment. For me, I have never practiced "for" any teacher, but rather to become a good enough clarinetist to play the music that I wanted to. The teacher was just a guide, the real goal was the performance. And that is still--after 45 yrs of professional playing--my rational for practice. It's hard work that I don't always enjoy as much as I used to, but if don't practice, I will not be able to play as good as I want to--simple as that. And I love playing--and the recognition that I get via applause, etc--enough to "suffer" the long hours of practice that it takes to maintain my personal level of performance ability.
Join a community band or orchestra, and make it your goal to perform the music on your stand as best you can (or want to). Clarinetting is much more fun when done with others. Consider the excercises your teacher recomends (requires) as goals toward your performance and enjoyment outside the lesson room. Always worked for me. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-07-06 16:49
Please allow me to tell you what I tell both my students, Nicki...
"You're practicing too much. Stop it!!! Limit yourself to no more than twenty minutes a day - preferably every Other day."
Repeat it to yourself a couple of times every morning, use the twenty minutes to play only what You Want to play to warm up. See how far you get following 'my' advice 
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
[P.S. = I forgot to add "... and if I isn't fun, why do it?"]
Post Edited (2004-07-06 17:43)
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Author: n_hanson12
Date: 2004-07-06 16:51
Yes, I was/am still considering a music ed degree; but it has become a crossroads. Maybe you're right, perhaps I have put too much pressure on myself because I thought I needed this music to make a career out of. Hmm... I'm going to try to practice at least once a day, but only a short amount of time. AND I'll do it for me, even if my teacher is disappointed when I get home. Thanks for the suggestions and the support.
~Nicki
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Author: williamainsworth
Date: 2004-07-07 20:15
I am a mediocre clarinet player who took it up late and find my ambition to be able to play competent third clarinet in a concert band to be slightly out of reach, so sometimes I feel like giving up too. Then I take time away from scales, arpeggios and the band music and play from my books of standard jazz tunes, listen to myself and play as melodiously as possible. It really gets me back on track. But you've had some good advice in this thread, chances are I would give a lot to be able to play as well as you.
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Author: 'nifer
Date: 2004-07-08 03:08
Reading through this, it reminded me of a time that i had my sophomore year of college. the 1 thing that i started to do that revitalized my interest in performing was that i started to go to more rock concerts and shows. I started to enjoy music that was not classical and listen to things that had much less relavance on my musical education (but now i can argue in the opposite way regarding this). I found that it took much of the work out of listening to music in general and i found myself much less "sick" of doing the whole classical thing. THe other thing that helped my interest greatly was working with very beginner students. It is the time of year when many band directors are just starting their newbies or will be in about a month or so, if you are friends or even acquaintences with a band director, give them a call and ask if they need help (they will!!) and volunteer to help out, it can give you a WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE on teaching and the whole music scene in general (a long note competition with a very beginner (who can hold an open g longer) can be an absolute blast) just try to find ways that you can enjoy music again, and let yourself listen to and enjoy music that is much less "academic" and much more fun for you, think of the relationships to your career later, have fun today!
'nifer
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-07-08 08:17
Just talked to my adult 'student' tonight (not a 'lesson') and he admits to playing about an hour or so almost every day. Earlier in the week when I visited my young 'student'... well, it's summer - vacation and all that - and he's been going at it for an hour or two almost every day, playing at assisted living and convalescent place facility, sometimes with piano sometimes without - either way, doesn't matter, just loves to play.
So, you see how much clout I have around this town. Sorta reminds my of the tune, "Mama Don't Allow No Music Played In Here..."
:)
- ron b -
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Author: kdennyclarinet
Date: 2004-07-09 06:17
At the end of a hard year, it is difficult to stay on track over the summer. I always gain inspiration and some kind of new outlook on my own playing by going to the OU Clarinet Symposium every summer. I always get new ideas and hear new music that sparks that inner desire in me once again. See if you can find some kind of clarinet conference or summer workshop/camp to attend. You'll not only experience the above mentioned benefits, but you can meet a lot of interesting people (who go through what you are going through on and off throughout their lives).
K. Denny
BME, MM, DMA
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Author: DevilStick
Date: 2004-07-10 19:31
Nicki,
Everyone has given you some wonderful advice about how not to burn out. I went through exactly what you are going through when I was a sophomore in college and I actually DID quit playing the clarinet for almost 3 years (I got a degree in Psychology). I have started playing again within this year and am going back to school in clarinet. I NEEDED that time off. I feel brand new, and I am ready to work for what I want, because I have some idea of what I want to accomplish. I don't regret quitting - it made me step back and fall in love with music all over again. Seriously, I HATED music so much I didn't want to listen to it or go near any music building at any institute of higher learning. My clarinet teacher was my worst nightmare.
I am not telling you this because I recommend "quitting" the clarinet, but it seems like it is a good time to either a) go full steam ahead and put the thought of quitting out of your mind or b) consider why you're really doing it. But don't take yourself seriously all the time. Have fun playing, play for the right reasons, work hard, and don't forget that your talent is a gift from God and He will find a way to make you use it!
Those who expect to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, expect what never was and never will be. - Thomas Jefferson
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-07-10 22:52
Hi Everyone,
Let me put a different spin on the thread. Today, I celebtated my birthday and am happy that I am still availble to use the SS checks :-).
When you are young, you can "quit," "take time off," or "go to the mountain to find your inner self." However, when one is looking at completing yet another decade, time is much more precious.
So, my point is one never knows how much time he or she actually have to find their true calling. IMO it is not prudent to squander any time ever! While you may get away with it now, one never knows when......
HRL
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Author: n_hanson12
Date: 2004-07-10 23:11
Thanks everyone for their advice. I believe I am putting too much pressure on myself because I feel like this is something I want to base my career on...
I've been playing once a day now for a week, but only for about 1/2 hour or so. It's been fine. I'm used to practicing 3+ hours a day, and then I just quit practicing altogether at once, so I'm nowhere near where I was. I hadn't been playing for over 3 weeks when I started this thread, but I think I know why I felt so overwhelmed. Thanks again, and I hope to be coming here and playing for a long time to come.
~Nicki
P.S. You didn't think you were going to get rid of me that easily, did you? Hee hee!
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-07-11 23:45
Nicki,
Sounds like you are ready to Suck it Up and get the job done! That's the kind of spirit that will provide you with the little extra edge when the going gets tough.
Excellent recovery and I am happy that we are not getting rid of you so easily :-).
HRL
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Author: n_hanson12
Date: 2004-07-12 21:08
Hee hee. Thanks Hank. Now I just have to figure out what to audition on! Ahh. I'm a senior now and thinking of teaching/performing in college. Oh, what to do... what to do?
~Nicki
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Author: psychotic lil clarinet girl (don't as
Date: 2004-07-14 07:27
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM!!! wow... yeah, I REALLY LOVED PLAYING THERE FOR A WHILE!!! Just check out my user name... haha... But then summer came, and now it's a dread to practice... I'm busy talking on AIM to my friends and stuff... But, my conclusion was that I didn't have too much of a life, and I needed to take a little time away from my clarinets to get one... I'm starting to come back to them, little by little now... I would suggest playing something that's fun and entertaining to play, just get some practice time out of it... That way, when you get back, you won't be rusty... Think of your favorite tv show, and sound the theme to that out on the clarinet... Entertain yourself with it, as if it isn't entertaining enough, making me frustrated.... hahaha... lol
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