 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clay
Date: 2004-11-06 03:27
Hey
It seems like all of a sudden, my love for clarinet has left!! I no longer appreciate practicing or listening to the clarinet and I don't know why!!! I have picked up the trombone this summer and am doing well and was wondering... should I switch?? I am a junior in high school and I want to major in music in college, so is it too late to go from clarinet to trombone?? Should I just tough it out, buck up, and practice, or change and play something I am more passionate for???
Thanks in advance!!!
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Author: Kev
Date: 2004-11-06 04:03
Well, a clarinet board isn't a good place to ask if you should stop playing it . I'd say to follow your passion, as long as you're sure it's not a "passing fad."
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2004-11-06 04:04
The question is whether you can reasonably expect to be at audition level on the 'bone in 14 months or so. Your teacher can help answer this.
Majoring in music is hard enough,don't do it on an instrument you don't like.
Are you sure that you will continue to enjoy playing the 'bone?
Think about it!
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2004-11-06 04:33
Question: What do you call a trombone player with a cell phone? Answer: An optimist.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-11-06 12:47
....certainly an easier instrument to do smears on......
Bob Draznik
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Author: 3dogmom
Date: 2004-11-06 12:56
This is actually funny to me. As a beginning musician in elementary school, I wanted to play the trombone. My parents said that the trombone was no instrument for a girl and urged me to pick something else. I picked the clarinet, obviously, and stuck with it, aside from playing the oboe almost exclusively for a year in high school. My daughter, an excellent horn player, has taken a sabbatical from it and is now a vocalist. She still does play the horn on certain occasion, mostly at my urging, but I think she still does enjoy instrumental playing. I think it's normal at your age to realize that you have a music inside of you and there is more than one way to express it.
My advice is to continue with both. If you want to play the trombone, and don't, you'll always wish you had done it. Only time will tell what's the best instrument for you.
I once read a book by Harry Ellis Dickson, former assistant conductor for the Boston Pops under Arthur Fiedler, entitled "Gentlemen, More Dolce Please". He described how many of the instrumentalists of the orchestra had a love/hate relationship with their instruments, and that one horn player vowed that when he retired, he was going to fill his horn with dirt and plant things in it. And he did. The grass is always greener...
Sue
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-11-06 18:01
Clay,
By all means, switch to the instrument that makes you want to play the most - that's all that really matters isn't it?
Regards,
Hans
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-11-06 20:26
I switched to clarinet from flute (granted a less drastic switch) my sophomore year of high school, and am now playing in probably too many good college ensembles for my own good. If a switch leads to more musical encouragement, go for it! Also, if you still pick up the clarinet once in a while, doubling is always a plus. A friend of mine played clarinet, trumpet, and tenor drums through high school.
It depends on what kind of music major you're going for. If you're hard set on going to a top prestigious "name" conservatory, you might have a hard time getting in. However, in my opinion, there's plenty of room for prestige in grad school, as long as you go for undergrad somewhere with good professors. If you're not planning on pursuing a high-caliber performance career (perhaps music ed, composition, history, musicology, or something entirely different), you're probably fine. In any case, I think college is the place where most performers really rise to the occasion, having seen many students who play less than delightful when they begin college and become extremely competent.
Don't go for anything, especially in an arts-related field, unless you enjoy it, for those are usually the only people that can make it work.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-11-06 20:36
With respect to the love/hate relationships with our chosen means of expression:
My college clarinet prof (Larry McDonald) always said he had met many many people who "used to play the clarinet." He always said he himself couldn't wait until the day he, too, could say that...
Katrina
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Author: Woodwinder
Date: 2004-11-06 21:07
I think some people resonate to high pitches and are happier on melody lines, and some people love to make low vibrations. You might be one of those low kind of guys.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2004-11-06 22:35
Nope, I'm sorry, you made your choice, and Rule #3 in the Manual of Life says, "Suffering Builds Character!" I mean, unless you get some crazy idea you're supposed to ENJOY life or something (just think where we'd be if THAT idea caught on!!)
Seriously, you answered your own question. You're "more passionate" about the trombone! Nuff said.
Shall I press a couple of names on you? Bob Brookmeyer! Passionate, lyrical, the foremost jazz valve-trombonist probably in the history of jazz, go listen. Scott Robinson!! Plays all the reeds, AND the brass as well, with authority and soul. Bob Enevoldsen! Studio and TV staff musician doubling tenor and valve trombone in the 50s and 60s!
You could always double reeds & brass, or just focus on the trombone. It's a gorgeous instrument, with a world of brilliant players to listen to and be influenced by. All the musical vocabulary you learned studying clarinet works on trombone too.
Have fun!
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-11-06 22:41
I hate music, so whydaya think I play clarinet?
Honestly though, after a while one looses the intial romance that we started with...gradually it becomes something like a job you enjoy.
Hardwork, patience, and the joy of doing something is as big a part of getting to the goal!
David Dow
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-11-07 00:39
If you are losing enthusiasm for an instrument at which you've become accomplished, beware of the euphoria of starting a new one. If you're on the career track for music, you have probably reached the point of diminishing returns on clarinet. Each new improvement is smaller and more costly in terms of practice.
So, you go to Trombone and your learning curve is steep and exciting. This is going to level off as well, and with brass instruments you have additional burdens in terms of chop upkeep. This could cause trombone to become even less desirable than clarinet seems right now. What you're undergoing now, may be a microcosm of what awaits you as a college music major.
You may need to relax a bit with your clarinet, but don't get too rusty until you know you're going to abandon it.
To me, the bottom line is that you and your clarinet are like an engaged couple who are starting to have issues that dampen their enthusiasm for each other. Before that marriage takes place, they need to to talk it out, shout it out, or whatever. You must investigate three possibilities.
1. You really want marriage with the original partner and are willing to do what it takes.
2. This partner is unsuitable for you, but another has come along who might really fit the bill.
3. Your partner is not an issue. You are not ready for marriage in general.
i.e., you are either 1)having normal love/hate with the clarinet, 2) you were really meant to play trombone, or 3) your love for music itself may not be strong enough to weather all the non-fun things that come with the professional package.
Do your best on both instruments and see where it takes you in the next few months.
Allen Cole
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Author: chicagoclar
Date: 2004-11-07 01:19
I find that I sometimes enjoy playing every instrument besides the clarinet. This usually lasts a couple of months and then I find the love for the clarinet again. I end up spending a few weeks to a couple of months a year concentrating on an instrument other than clarinet. Last summer it was flute and bassoon. Sometimes it's saxophone, sometimes flute, once it was piano, and I have a feeling if I had access to any other instruments, they would get practiced. The key to doing this successfully is that I always play the clarinet some, even if it isn't as much as I should. Eventually the love comes back.
I'm not saying this is the case, but it might be, so try playing both for a while and see what happens in a year or so.
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-11-07 02:40
Do you really want to go through life being called a tromboner? </badjoke>
Honestlym, I can't stand to play clarinet. The music that clarinets are given bore me to no end. So, I switched to bass and contra-alto. And then a few loose windows later and I enjoy making music again. I still wish I could play something else during marching band, though.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-11-07 02:45
Allen Cole -- LOVE your analogies!
And I think I can add another situation to your list. How about if the original attachment was a "marriage of convenience", or something arranged by your elders, when you really were in love with another?
That's my case -- I never wanted to play the clarinet in the first place, and in all honesty, never particularly liked anything about the instrument. But my parents chose it for me, and various band directors wouldn't let me switch. (If I've heard . . . "Oh, but we NEED you at clarinet!" once, I've heard it a dozen times -- most recently, last summer, when I advised the community band director of my intention to play oboe next year -- the band needs one of those, too.)
So after 45-plus years in a "bad marriage", I'm playing the oboe now -- and I am past-passionate about it. It just feels s-o-o-o-o good. Should have done this years ago. So, Clay, if you're going to switch, I'd advise doing it sooner rather than later.
FWIW.
Susan
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-11-07 06:08
"You have probably reached the point of diminishing returns on clarinet. Each new improvement is smaller and more costly in terms of practice."
With just the right teachers (thankfully I've found a few that have pointed me in the right direction), you can stave off the point of diminishing returns considerably. I thought i'd hit that point about four years ago. Thanks to a certain teacher, each practice session is incredibly productive, and playing even the most mundane passages can be very fulfilling.
There's a lot to be said about new perspectives and environments. This can be easily achieved by switching to a different instrument, initially, but there is always more to do within the instrument you're currently on, if you can find the right situation and/or people.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: dummer musiker
Date: 2004-11-07 13:54
Hi! Im new to this forum. I really wanted to post on this topic...
After playing the clarinet since 4th grade, I started playing bassoon my senior year of high school, and it was just an instant love with the instrument. I decided that same year to become a music ed major in college, and was faced with auditions. At this time I wasnt playing at a high level on bassoon, so I auditioned on clarinet and had that as my primary. Now, as a senior in college, I have completely lost my desire for clarinet. I cant wait for my graduation recital next semester so I can be rid of the thing.
I wish I had gone with my passion, instead of worrying about not getting into the bassoon studio. You have to do what you love, or its just not going to be satisfing. I spend the majority of my practice time wishing I was practicing bassoon...
"There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats."
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Author: anson
Date: 2004-11-07 17:34
This is a very tough question,... and I am sure more reed players suffer periods of hate for their instrument purely just from those stupid pieces of cane. I know that if I dont have a great reed that is the right weight, I don't get the "response" back from the instrument. Have you recently switched reed strengths, brands? Have you changed mouthpieces? Maybe you are playing on too heavy a reed?
I started off as a trumpeter and made a career in my early education of switching to every instrument possible. For me it was an intense love of seeing what every instrument could offer musically. In high school I ended up playing principal clarinet in my high school wind ensemble, Asst. principal clarinet in my city's youth orchestra, lead trumpet in my high schools jazz group, and 3rd (French) Horn in my high schools Brass Choir. Ontop of that I played the 1st reed book (sax, flute, picc, clarinet) in many shows. Once I got through most reed instruments I even got on to playing cello, which I consider the string equivalent to the clarinet, and listening to Jaqueline DuPre is a musical inspiration to anyone. Any instrumentalist can learn so much from listening to her. I would bet my life savings on the fact that she was the definitive "communicator" of the power of music. It is simply the best. Anyways, While I never got around to playing trombone, I was a Euphonium player in middle school. Just to give you ideas of my playing levels, on secondary instruments I have performed the Haydn and Hummel trumpet Concertos, The Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1, The Mozart Flute Concertos in G and D major. I switched to clarinet in eighth grade after hearing the clarinet section play a beautiful low legato melody. I was hooked on the clarinet, and I knew I had to play it.
I have found that the clarinet is the most "complete" of the instruments I have played. It offers so much in the was of tonal colors, playing in different styles, fun tricks( smears, glisses, multiphonics), and above all has such a unique and lovely color when done right. The instrument really does offer the most "bang for your buck".
What setup are you currently playing on? Do you really know how to work on reeds? Personally, with a reed knife I can guarantee certain death to my reeds. I am horrible with a knife. I used to pick the one reed out of the box that would work and carve the rest into mangled pieces of ----. And I had fantastic teachers that taught reed working very explicitly and well. I am just not someone that uses a knife well, and will admit it readily. I have found with that new Vandoren glass resurfacer and reed stick, I am able to work on the reeds and get about 8 in a box to work pretty well, (at least feel good and articulate well). So my life has been much calmer of recent.
Your current dislike of even listening to clarinetests might just stem from association to your current playing funk. If I am having a bad reed day and then listen to some of my cd's, I zone in on how that soloists reed is playing and start nitpicking everything apart, rather than just enjoy the performance. I tend to find many cds of clarinet soloists that are rather dull. I think a majority of players play too dark, not the right balance of chiaro/scuro. That is the balance of bright and dark. Take the time to check out some different solo artists and see if they offer something that speaks to your musical mind. Personally, I love listening to Emma Johnson. She has a tendency to go too bright a lot. But when she is playing very well she gets a lovely balance in her tone. It really makes the music have so much more forward momentum, plus a legato that lacks that sense of one crapping themselves just to support their labored tone. That could be why she is so popular as a soloist. I also enjoy Kalman Berkes and Richard Stoltzman cd's. I think they have a good balance of sound. Stoltzman's Aria cd is fantastic in exhibiting just how much a "singing" quality the clarinet can have. I hope this helps and good luck with your musical journey.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-11-07 19:10
What a simple question! And there is a simple answer, too. Clearly, you should begin playing trombone full-time, abandon the Clarinet totally, and offer your Clarinet to me for $15 or so (presuming you have a top-of-the-line Big 4 instrument), so that you will never be tempted to ease back into playing Clarinet.
I eagerly await your email.
Regards,
John
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2004-11-07 23:06
My humble opinion is maybe you can play both for a while. Back in my high school days, I played clarinet or bass clarinet in concert band and trombone in marching and jazz band. Neither instrument suffered from playing the other. I enjoyed them both.
Currently, I play the clarinet, sax and flute.
If you decide to be a music ed major you'll need to learn them all at some point.
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