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Re: Are even clarinet hobbyists a dying breed?

Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-01-09 18:49

I can't say whether the initial premise is true (in the US, the only country with which I'm familiar), but my own observations reinforce Ron Jr.'s.

I would add these personal observations:

1) Attendance at live music events of any form (other than rock or country & western music concerts) has been undergoing a steady decline around my area (the U.S. mid-Atlantic region) for at least 15-20 years. This has been especially prevalent in the genres of jazz and classical music, as well as concert bands (which can sort of be lumped in with 'classical', I think).

2) School support of musical curricula and 'during-school' band and orchestra activities has dropped off dramatically in the last decade or more. When I was a student nearly every public school had school-funded musical classes and groups which were offered as regular elective classes. Now the rule rather than the exception seems to be that bands and orchestras have to be self-funded through donations, fundraisers, grants, etc; and many of the programs are extracurricular (after school) and are not provided as regular classes during the school day.

3) I am or have been a member of quite a few community bands and orchestras in the area, and I see a very definite aging trend among the players (in general -- as always, there are exceptions). I see a greater percentages of older adults in these groups and fewer and fewer young people coming in. I see this trend in the audiences at concerts too, but it's not as striking as within the groups themselves.

4) When I was in my teens and twenties many of the popular music groups employed 'horn players' --- granted this was more often saxophones (and even flutes) than clarinets, but still within the woodwind family. Nowadays its a rare thing to be able to play in a 'horn band'.

5) Another formerly common outlet, the jazz 'big band' or combos (ranging from '20s-30's traditional or swing to modern types) are also dwindling, both in opportunities to perform and to audience demand. I've just gone yet another New Year's Eve without a gig, something which was unheard of twenty years ago (when EVERY musician in town, no matter how bad, had at least one gig opportunity that night). I play in a really good contemporary big band (with a long history behind it, too) that has gone half a year without a paid gig. Twenty years ago a band of this caliber would have gigged steadily at least once a month, maybe much more.

I don't have any insight as to cultural phenomena or trends that have created the current situation, nor do I have any solutions. I just feel very sorry for all the idealistic young people who have dreams of making a career out of playing the clarinet (or woodwind playing in any form) --- because it's one tough road to hoe, and doesn't appear to be getting any easier with the passage of time.

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