 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Katie
Date: 2000-01-28 03:07
Hi there, I've been a bad person and haven't seriously played any of my instruments in a couple of years. I would really like to get into it again, and was wondering what you're ideas would be for the best way to get started. I had never had lessons before, so I don't know if I like that option. Any suggestions? I would appriciate email...Thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2000-01-28 03:20
Lessons are a great way to start back up. If you've never had any before, you will be surprised at how much you can learn even if you are an advanced player.
Another great way to get back in the swing is to go ahead and join community bands in your area.
I would also advise setting up a regular practice schedule if you can. Even a few minutes a day is helpful.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Willie
Date: 2000-01-28 03:33
I agree with Dee. My wife and I were both away from our instruments for over 20 years when we started back up again. Its one of the best decisions we ever made. However we did go and get some lessons because we had both perfected some bad habits in our learning years that came back to haunt us both. Mine was tounging. I learned wrongly and I still have problems with it, but with leasons, I feel I'm doing much better. Anyway, welcome back and have fun.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron
Date: 2000-01-28 07:08
Hi, Katie -
First of all - you don't sound like a bad person.
Many of us who visit here have, at one time or another, put away our instruments for much longer than a couple of years - and we're not bad people. I did, more than less, for thirty years or so and I'm not a bad person for it, just a lousy clarinet player. You, on the other hand, I'm sure will bounce right back to where you were in a short time.
A couple of questions come to mind:
1.) Do you have a horn and, if so, is it still in good working order?
2.) When did you start playing and how far did you get? I mean, were you in a band, orchestra, any kind of group - school or other?
When I've been away from playing for a while I find that long tones for short five minute periods, up to 15 to 30 minutes a day is about as good a way as any to get your chops back in condition. BUT, as soon as you begin to strain - stop, then come back to it later. Gradually increase the time over a month or so. That way you build up some endurance so you can play tunes all the way through without straining too much. Above all don't rush back into it - keep it in the area of a fun activity.
You might want to at least consider a few lessons. But maybe not, that's really difficult for anyone to comment about without knowing where (beginner, intermediate etc.) and what (kind of music) you were playing when you put it on hold; whether you read sheet music or play by ear or... ?
You seem to imply that you play(ed) (an)other instrumen(s). That would be helpful to know, too, since playing another instrument, as some of us do, string, brass, other reed inst. or percussion etc. is most often (in my opinion) an asset.
I personally wish you well and hope to see posts about your progress. Pretty soon you'll be offering us advice! This is a great place to exchange ideas of all kinds and encourage one another.
Above all, make it fun!
ron
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Pam
Date: 2000-01-28 15:53
I think you've received a lot of good advice. I also just started playing again in December after not playing much for the last 20(!) years. I decided to take some lessons to help polish up my skills again and improve from there. I have also begun practicing with a small (30-40 people) church orchestra and will get to play in the Worship Center next week.
I have found that the lessons help as orchestra music generally has more "interesting" key signatures and more jumping around between various keys that I didn't experience in High School.
I've received a lot of enjoyment from it already. Practice, Practice, Practice and don't be too hard on yourself.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: paul
Date: 2000-01-28 16:01
All I can say is "been there, done that".
I have to echo all of the great advice in the postings above. I took lessons for a while (about 2 years or so) from a local master professional. Through the lessons, I learned almost everything I now know about the clarinet and about music. I'm still surprised at how much knowledge I absorbed over that short time, with only one meeting for 30 minutes a week.
So, with these things in mind, here are some of my personal tips for you.
1. Fetch private lessons and stick with them for a long while. The cost usually isn't that much and the education (both in skills and general understanding) is nearly priceless.
2. Drill books are very common and available for the Bb clarinet from almost any decent retail music instrument store. Fetch them and use them. Rubank's Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced books are the bread and butter favorite of many schools and private tutors. You also should invest in a drill book with scales in it, such as Albert's book(published by Fischer) or Hite's edition of Baermann III (published by Southern Music Company). While you're at it, get a "fake book" of songs you want to play just for fun. Use these books to help you create a solid foundation of skills, both mechanical and musical. Even at retail prices, these books are really cheap and well worth the investment.
3. Make sure your horn is in good condition for playing. It doesn't have to be in perfect like-new condition. It only has to play well. Have a good professional clarinet tech give it an inspection and try-out to see if all of the pads are okay, all of the keys work, there are no splits in the wood, etc. A light overhaul and cleaning shouldn't cost too much and it's well worth the investment.
4. Start off v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. Start with long tones and simple scales for 10 minutes or less total practice time for the first couple of weeks or so. Then, try a simple song that you know from a fake book to see if you can piece together fingering patterns and breaths into some semblence of music. It may be harder than you initially realize. Gradually build up to 30 minutes a day per session, then 1 hour, then on up. Start with very soft reeds, much softer than what you stopped with. Take the time for your embouchure, your diaphram, your fingers, and most of all your mind to get back into the groove.
5. Set some short term, intermediate term, and long term goals for yourself. That's where the Rubank books excel. The lesson plans are already imbedded into these books, laying out about 6 months worth of work in short, intermediate, and long term goals that are well within a student's reach. If you want to make some other goals, that's fine. My personal intermediate goal is to slowly hack my way all the way through Hite's edition of Baermann III. I'm not going for speed, rather I'm going for accuracy and "muscle memory" where I quickly and instinctively reach for the correct fingering as a musician would. I consider this an excellent intermediate goal with a reasonable target. The short term goal is to complete each page. The long term goal is to repeat the entire book, but up to the written speed.
6. Once a month or so, review what you have done and take the time to pat yourself on the back for getting so far. Hey, a little ego boost every now and then is a good thing. Then, review what you need to continue to work on to put the challenge back into the game.
7. You will have to work hard at some boring stuff. Fingering drills get old fast. Scales get old fast. Your family may not appreciate your squeaks, missed fingerings, out of tune and out of time playing, and the time you spend away from them. All of these challenges must be addressed and resolved. Keep on plugging away on a regular basis anyway. If things work out like they did for me, your very patient and loving family will eventually hear the improvements and begin to accept your new hobby.
8. Even if your clarinet, mouthpiece, ligature, music stand, books, etc. are 20 or more years old, start with what you have and learn from it. Fix only what you must to get started. It takes time to adjust to a new horn, a new mouthpiece, even a new music stand. So, don't throw any new wrinkles into the setup until you are ready. This is the cheapest way to go, but most of all, it helps keep a firm foundation underneath you.
9. Most of all - enjoy your rediscovered hobby. Learning how to perform music through voice or through an instrument opens up your world to whole new possibilities. You can find friends in a community band. You're suddenly popular and wanted at holiday parties. There are other benefits, too. Like petting a dog, music does indeed soothe the savage beast. It's great for balancing a high stress lifestyle and helping to control stress related health problems.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-01-28 17:10
I also echo all of the above, this BB is a wonderful info-exchange and problem-solving communication phorum for beginners up thru cl teachers to the real pro's, be sure to read and ask questions, its a labor of love to all of us!!Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Meredith H
Date: 2000-01-31 22:09
You may be surprised by how much you remember. I had an 8 year break and picked up my clarinet to so the second clarinet part in a local theatre production of "The Sound of Music". I suffered a few aches and pains when I first started but I was surprised that I still sounded quite nice, my range was intact and my fingers still remembered what to do.
Lessons are a great idea, I wish there was someone in my area to help me but the nearest regional centre is a 2 hours drive away to I am out of luck there. Also think about joining a community band, church group etc once you feel confident again. It will give you heaps of music to practice and allow you to use your developing skills (it is also a lot of fun).
Good luck and more importantly have fun.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
