 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chuck
Date: 2000-02-06 20:08
Just some general comments:. I'm 65 have been on clarinet for 13 months. Registered at a community college for a "non-requirements" symphony band. Everybody else of course went through grade school band, high school band and some college activity. I am of course going deaf with the trumpets behind me, have trouble hearing ME, much less the clarinet next to me. I am WAY, WAY beyond my expertise at this level, in playing and understanding how the director and the band are communicating, but it is the only thing I as an adult have found to continue with as far as improving goes. This is reality for an older person with no previous musical background. We will be having three concerts at school, and one in June at one of the city parks. I do expect that by that time I will find out where I am and where, or if I will go any further. No tears, just let me know IF there are other alternatives?
Thanx for the bandstand!!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-02-06 21:19
Stick with it. You will learn bit by bit.
Also check around for other community bands. Your local band instrument store (not the guitar/keyboard music stores) may know of a variety of other local groups.
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Author: Frank O'Brien
Date: 2000-02-06 21:59
Yes, hang in there. There are some on this BBS older than
65, kid.
I would suggest looking for a smaller group and for a teacher who has an interest in jazz instruction. There are also several good books with CDs that can be a help. You might ask for advice on the Bks/CDs here.
Frank
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Author: Donn
Date: 2000-02-06 22:29
As one who is much older than 65, I would say welcome and have fun. That enjoyment is the main reason for my returning to the fold after years of nothing. I am one of those slobs who play strictly by ear, but we are forming an
informal jam session group for our own amazement,although our listeners,(if any),may be underwhelmed.
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Author: ron
Date: 2000-02-06 22:41
Hi, Chuck! You're a man after my own heart.
You're brave to try something new like this but, with 13 months playing time already, you probably have a pretty good idea what you want to do with the horn. I'm right there in the same age bracket as you, came back to playing a couple of years ago after a looooong time away from it. While I played through high school and beyond, and picking up a few bad playing habits along the way, it's like learning all over again. I know you'll do well, already playing in a community band. That's great. Before long you'll be giving us some tips about playing the clarinet. None of us here are too old to learn and I hope you'll keep us informed about how you're doing.
Keep on playing and, most of all, have fun doing it.
A peer,
Ron
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Author: Meredith H
Date: 2000-02-06 23:02
Stick with it, like Dee said you will get better bit by bit in the band situation. I still remember the first time I played in my school band. I thought I would have not problems having already had 2 years of private tuition but I was wrong. I didn't know what was going on, the piece was really fast, there was so much other noise going on and I couldn't hear a note I was playing. It was nothing like playing along by myself in my bedroom. I did get used to it and soon found that following and playing my own part wasn't as hard as it seemed at first. Luckily, I didn't have trumpets behind me but other clarinets which probably helped. Keep going, if you feel overwhelmed at the moment don't worry with a bit of practice it will pass.
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Author: BAC <-used to be Barry
Date: 2000-02-06 23:12
Good for you!
I'm almost in the same boat as you, but I'm 44. I too had zip for background in music. Learning to read music, let alone play an instrument seemed a bit much at my age. But, after my last lesson ending in some sight reading work, my instructor recommended that I too join a local group. I do not think I'm ready, just because I think I would feel how you do now after experiencing this! You are indeed and inspiration!
I just love the clarinet, and perhaps if I do take the plunge, it may take me to the next level. Stick with it (says a shy sheep!).
Barry
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-02-07 00:04
I'm really not trying for the oldest, Donn, I'm just barely 80 1/2, play Bass cl [in front of those dern tpts!] so I can have my own stand [for vision reasons] and help set rhythm and have an occasional SOLO in our comm band. I'm also available to 3 church orchs on Bb, C and alto as needed, and find the small group playing is the best and most rewarding performance-training. Still learning and enjoying it, have encouraged 3 more seniors back into the harmonius "fray", so, as all above have said PERSERVERE [sp?], its well worth the efforts. Don
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Author: chogue
Date: 2000-02-07 00:08
I think older players are great! In my community band, we had a woman return to playing French horn after a 40-year hiatus! Her playing was pretty rough for months and months, but she hung in there and is doing pretty good now. We are thrilled to have her -- she keeps at it. It was hard enough for me to return last January after taking five years off for graduate school (and I'm "just" 40). I get overwhelmed too -- we just got this Sousa march that I, a big fan of J.P.S., had never heard of and NEVER thought I could play. But you know what they say -- practice, practice, practice.
It pays off.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-02-07 00:25
Hang in there. If you've only been playing 13 months and in a community band you've probably made more progress than you think. Every once in a while you'll hit a plateux where you'll think your stuck and can't make the next step. Just keep on practicing and you'll be over that in no time. It just gets a little frustrating at times because we older players want to advance to fast sometimes. As for not being heard, I used to wonder about this too when playing my contra alto. We reveiwed a vidio of one of our concerts and I was surprised at how well it stood out with a 40peice band. Sometimes when sitting in your section you can't hear all thats going on in the band, but in the audience, it sounds completely different. As for those #%&@ trumpets, Thats what they make those airosol cans of expanding foam sealer for.
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Author: Drew
Date: 2000-02-07 02:49
I don't know that I can add much to the posts already made, but here's my $.02:
If you're not already taking lessons, I recommend them highly. A good teacher will allow you to progress much faster than you will be able to on your own. Even one lesson a month will make a big difference.
Get involved with smaller goups as they might exist, like woodwind ensembles, clarinet choirs, etc. Community bands and local music stores are a good place to find out about such opportunities.
Keep at it. Each musician has varying degress of talent, but each has had to put significant time into practice in order to develop the talent. We're talking years, not a few months. Most high school band members have 6-8 years of playing experience by the time they graduate from high school.
Enjoy it! There is no other reason to do it!
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Author: Meredith H
Date: 2000-02-07 22:04
I sat in front of the 1st trumpet players in a Regional band when I was at high school and can't remember it ever bothering me. Having said this our conductor took a Decibel meter to band one night and it registered 120 db at his ear thanks to the cornet section. I'm glad I sit in front of the tubas!
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2000-02-08 01:29
Sitting in front of a trumpet that is in tune is much better than sitting in front of an out of tune bari sax. Which is where I sit now. I have gotten really good at tuning it out. By the way at 41 I am one of the younger players in the 45 piece community band I play in and our director is 80 years old. Keep it up and you will learn a lot and develop some great friendships. Most of all have fun!
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-02-08 15:40
At my small town's annual Memorial Day parade, a man in his 90s plays drums on the Shriners' wagon (like a hay wagon, only it's on the back of a flatbed truck, instead of being horse-drawn). That guy not only bangs like "Animal" on "Sesame Street" -- he's *good*! I've always enjoyed group activities more when they've included people of all different age groups and backgrounds. Being over 50 myself, I also subscribe to the notion that age and cunning will often conquer youth and strength....
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Author: Melissa
Date: 2000-02-13 01:05
I say go for it..the begining is ALWAYS!! tough but as you
progress you may discover abilities you did not know you
had!!! It will get better. once you all those anoying things
out of you way, a new world is opened to you... why stop now???
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