 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jerry K.
Date: 2000-05-07 14:52
To all adult amateurs out there: how much and when do you practice?
After a multi-decade layoff, I resumed playing last summer, started taking lessons in January, and just last week started to play in a community band. Now, I'm beginning to get a little frustrated over lack of practice time. Not a lot frustrated, because I do realize the constraints I'm under. Right now, I practice about about one hour a day for five days, take my lesson on the sixth, and take one day of rest.
I recall that our webmaster said he will sometimes practice in 10-minute snippets. I'm a college prof, working a lot at home, so in principle I could do the same . . . but I can't. I don't know how your do it, Mark. And I've read John Cipolla's recommendations for 5-minute snippets. I seem to be an all-or-nothing person. And, as for those of you who have honest jobs, I really don't know how you do it. I mean, getting home at 6 or 6:30, then kids, then practice at 8 or 9PM! (I usually practice in the late afternoon.)
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-07 15:28
Jerry K. wrote:
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To all adult amateurs out there: how much and when do you practice?...
... And, as for those of you who have honest jobs, I really don't know how you do it. I mean, getting home at 6 or 6:30, then kids, then practice at 8 or 9PM! (I usually practice in the late afternoon.)
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Hi Jerry. I have one of those "regular" jobs and I have a son. I usually practice 5 days a week,about 1 to 1 1/2 hours at a time. Often I don't get started til 7pm so it does push the evening hours a little. My community band practices one day a week so that helps keep me in shape.
One thing I do during the day: I will take my music with me to work and practice the rhythms in my head or even out loud sometimes. This has made a big difference for me, since counting can be the hardest part. Getting my fingers and tongue to do the rest is just a matter of playing it over and over.
Welcome back to playing. Michael
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Author: Pam
Date: 2000-05-07 20:33
I'm a recent returnee like yourself. I have the luxury of working part time for now though so I usually manage to schedule an hour or so of practice time in the morning, have a lesson one day a week and a church orchestra practice once a week for about 2 hours.
I'm finding it still takes discipline to practice, just like when some of us were kids. We just now have more other obligations in our lives. (I sure wouldn't want to be a teenager again though -- He He! :-)
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-05-07 23:26
You folks have it all wrong. What you have to do is retire, stay home, read, take naps, practice your clarinet, play teh stock market and then tell everyone what a tough life you have (try not to smile to much).. Life is great!!
Take care.
Bob
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2000-05-08 02:46
I hardly practice at all. This is not, however, what I recommend. I play in two folk dance bands that play from the same repertoire with a lot of repetition of tunes from gig to gig, so I can get away with that. When I feel like getting serious and really working the problems out, I make time for practice. Otherwise, it's the rehearsals and the gigs themselves as "practice".
In actuality, the level of music I'm playing is probably not difficult for most of you (reels, jigs, and "old-time" music). There's lot's of fast arpeggios but they're very scalar. Sometimes I feel like these tunes are out of an excercise book, but much nicer than those in the excercise books. For me, individual practice is not as essential as playing with other people; learning to blend, stay in tune, on time, etc. I suppose it's a compromise I've made to avoid really hard stuff, but I'm not interested in classical music repertoire, anyway.
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Author: Amber
Date: 2000-05-08 03:53
Yuck is this what I have to look forward to? I am at school from 7:00am to 3:30pm. Then I have homework for at least 3 hours. That makes it 6:30, if homework was light, then dinner with my family, that makes it 7:00 if I am lucky. I am not allowed to pratice after 9:00 so that only leaves me 2 hours if am really rush through alot. And no I am not allowed to practice until HW is done, so I can't switch it around. And if I want absolutely no social life to call and talk to people on the weekends!And now I have a job!
I was looking forward to the day I wouldn't have homework to take home, so I could practice more, but I guess that seems out of the question...Do college kids get to practice more maybe...
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-05-08 04:40
When I started back a few years ago, I practiced daily for at least 30 mins to an hour. If I had time, I would go the my old standards fake book page by page to improve my sight reading. This regressed to small 10-20 min snippets because of my job schedule and all the other family stuff involved (little league, etc.). This is where an old metal clarinet comes in handy. Just slap the MPc on, play it, put it in the case. I keep one by the computer, and one behind the seat of my pickup. The one in the truck has really been a Godsend since the radio went up in smoke.
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Author: Ron D
Date: 2000-05-08 04:43
I guess the reason that we see so many adults returning to playing after many years is that unless you are a pro in the music industry or in school studing music performance, modern life does not allow the time necessary to study and try to improve your skills. I find that only early retirement made it possible to find the time to pursue my studies. Only after raising a family and securing my financial future could I afford the time to do the things that give me pleasure.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-05-08 07:01
Frankly, I am tired of practicing sclales,arpeggios,and other mechanical things. I found what I practiced much in the past keeps working now. Only one exeption: chromatic scale practice 2-3 times a day. This is very effective to keep my fingering agility.
Now I pick up my Selmer when I like and plays mainly Rose 32 etudes plus 40 exercises at random. Everhthing I need they seem to have. Or I practice compositions I like. If sometimes I have difficulty with many sharps or flats scales, I practice the very scale and arpeggios but do not do so routinely. I found at last I am not practicing to practice but to enjoy. I play flute(better than my clarinet),Soprano saxophone(a little infrerior to my clarinet), and now started trumpet just 4 months ago: I literally practice only trumpet. So, it is impossible to do everything for every instrument.
I read an anecdote of Philip Gaubert, a famous Paris Conservatoir professor of flute: For his own purpose,sometimes he only plays a part of his favorite compositionsone or two minutes. Then, he puts on his flute on the table. I think this is a real genius.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-05-08 07:02
Frankly, I am tired of practicing sclales,arpeggios,and other mechanical things. I found what I practiced much in the past keeps working now. Only one exeption: chromatic scale practice 2-3 times a day. This is very effective to keep my fingering agility.
Now I pick up my Selmer when I like and plays mainly Rose 32 etudes plus 40 exercises at random. Everhthing I need they seem to have. Or I practice compositions I like. If sometimes I have difficulty with many sharps or flats scales, I practice the very scale and arpeggios but do not do so routinely. I found at last I am not practicing to practice but to enjoy. I play flute(better than my clarinet),Soprano saxophone(a little infrerior to my clarinet), and now started trumpet just 4 months ago: I literally practice only trumpet. So, it is impossible to do everything for every instrument.
I read an anecdote of Philip Gaubert, a famous Paris Conservatoir professor of flute: For his own purpose,sometimes he only plays a part of his favorite compositionsone or two minutes. Then, he puts on his flute on the table. I think this is a real genius.
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-05-08 07:45
Hi, Jerry -
I'm retired but find little time to practice, an hour or two for now (yes, in ten/fifteen minute snippets) a month. I play once a month in a small church group. We don't rehearse. Anyone who wants to participate shows up. They pass out sheet music if it's available: if not we (sight)read from the hymnal. A typical showing is six or seven trumpets, one or two clarinet(s), sometimes a violin and often a 'cello. Give or take a flute and (rarely)a sax, that's it. The pianist is always in top form and the trumpets have usually done their homework so it goes pretty well.
In my younger days, through high school (my grades were admittedly poor) then four years in the Air Force, I practiced at least six hours every (week)day in addition to rehearsal time and played five to six live jobs a week. Returning to civilian life, I played as often as six nights a week.
I settled down, got a 'real' job for twenty five years, eventually letting the horn snooze altogether. Then I retired and took up the horn again. After all, maybe I should say in spite of all, that time it comes pretty easy to me. But, I knew better in the first place than to aspire to become the greatest horn player in the world; there are too many of them already out there. My endurance is short due to age and lack of practice but I manage to get through the three or four numbers we play once a month. With several semi-undiciplined trumpets I still (according to my wife) can be heard. To me it's still fun to play and, for such a motley bunch, sounds not too bad. Most of all it's enjoyable or we/(I) wouldn't continue doing it.
I plan to be more diligent about practicing and eventually attract enough players to form a woodwind ensemble. Doing it this way takes time, I know, but it can happen and as long as it can maintain the fun aspect I'll be happy.
ron b.
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Author: Michael Kincaid
Date: 2000-05-08 11:54
Willie wrote:
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This is where an old metal clarinet comes in handy. Just slap the MPc on, play it, put it in the case. I keep one by the computer, and one behind the seat of my pickup. The one in the truck has really been a Godsend since the radio went up in smoke.
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Okay Willie, I couldn't pass this up. How does having
a clarinet ready-to-go in your truck come handy now that your radio is broken. Are you playing while you drive?
Michael
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Author: Brent
Date: 2000-05-08 12:17
The last time i was out of work (for seven months!) i began spending more time with my clarinet, and promised myself that i would get lessons when i got a job. I did that, and my teacher subsequently changed my embouchure. I hadn't much endurance with the new embouchure, and couldn't practice more than an hour at a time. My evenings being what they were (busy) i couldn't practice every evening anyway, so i wasn't able to get in the practice time i needed to justify the lessons (once a month even!). So i called up a church near my workplace and got permission to come in on my lunch hour and practice. I go and practice for forty minutes or so, come back and wolf down lunch. That way i have another couple of hours of practice every week.
My endurance is much better now, but i still use that time for technical studies and long tones etc, since my evenings are still pretty busy some times--i have a rehearsal or preformance every night this week (Sun through Sat). That leaves little time for family (my kids will be saying "Dad who?") and none for practice.
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Author: Beejay
Date: 2000-05-08 14:10
My job is usually frenetic,but interspersed with dull periods. I therefore tend to play for hours on end when things are quiet and not at all when they are busy -- not the recommended way of practicing, I agree. But busy or not, I do try to run through a sequence of the major and minor arpeggios three or four times a week, which takes about 10 minutes each time. I chained them all together and copied them onto a single sheet of paper, since I couldn't find anything satisfactory in any of the methods I have. If anyone would like a copy, by the way, I would be happy to e-mail one. It is written in nwc (noteworthy composer) format.
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Author: Meri
Date: 2000-05-08 15:02
For me, during the school year, practice time is generally between 3:30 and 4:30 pm, 4 days per week, and 1:30-2:30 pm on Saturday. I never had classes during on four of the five school days during those times, and neither of my parents are home. In the second case, my parents are almost always out for most of the afternoon. In the summer, I generally am only able to practice on weekends, with the exception of last summer, when I worked evenings, so I was able to practice from 2:30 to 3:30 pm.
Meri
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Author: Drew
Date: 2000-05-08 16:33
It was good to hear that other adults have difficulty to find time for practice. I feel the same, as I work full time and only have evenings and weekends.
Good idea to use my local church for practive at lunch-time, I'm going to try that!
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Author: Klaus Hohenstadt
Date: 2000-05-08 18:59
I live in New York City and am married and plan not to have any kids. I have a regular 9 to 5 job like everyone else but I have figured out how to practice fairly often. I usually get up at 6:30 and start practicing by 7:15 until till 9:30. I walk the 10 minutes to work so I am there by 10 am. Then I go home for lunch at 12 and practice from 12:30 to 2pm. I take a nap and then go back to work and finish by 4:45. Then my wife and I play duets from 9:30 till 12:30 and even later on the weekends. My wife is a professional musician and I an advanced amateur. Inorder to get good and advance one's abilities one must practice often and dilligently. Good Luck
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Author: Drew
Date: 2000-05-08 20:52
Klaus,
Sounds like you have about a 4 hour workday! 10-12 in the morning, 2:45-4:45 in the afternoon. Just my rough estimate based on the schedule you described. Nice work if you can get it......
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-05-08 21:55
With a work schedule like Klaus describes, I may come out of retirement and start looking for a job like that. I'd have more time to practice than I have now -- and get paid for it....
I agree, Drew, nice work if you can get it.
ron b.
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Author: Meredith H
Date: 2000-05-08 23:52
After completing my University studies I worked part time for a year which was fantiastic as I was able to practice at least an hour every day. I started full time work last September and I teach a few school kids 2 afternoons per week and I am now finding it difficult to fit in even half an hour a day. I work from 8:20 am to 4:30 pm so when I don't teach I get home at about 5:00 pm. I then like to take my dog for an hours walk by which time my partner has returned home and he absolutely hates listening to me practice. If I head to the bedroom to practice he constantly interupts asking me when I am going to finish or telling me he has a headache. Not very supportive is he? I have had to drop down a position in the band I play in because my inability to practice has caused my standard to drop. Does any one else have to deal with this?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-05-08 23:54
Klaus Hohenstadt wrote:
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I live in New York City and am married and plan not to have any kids. I have a regular 9 to 5 job like everyone else but I have figured out how to practice fairly often.
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Hahahahaha! This is a joke, right? That ain't a "regular" 9 to 5 job! I leave for work at 7:30-8:00 AM and I'm back between 6-6:60. That's a "regular" 9 to 5 job. I've got no idea what kind of job you have, but I count less than 5 hours ...
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-05-09 05:39
No I don't drive and play. It takes all my skills and appendages to keep from gettin' killed by the Houston drivers. The girls at the Sonic drive-in were surprised to see me honking away while waiting for the burger & fries, but now they're used to it and sometimes ask for a tune.
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Author: Roger
Date: 2000-05-09 13:59
Meridith--- Divorce the [censored] (deleted by Webmaster).
<br>
<br>(Please be less explicit and more inventive. Mark C.)
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Author: Geoff
Date: 2000-05-09 15:00
Foolproof method of finding time to play (it's not practice, it's play): put your TV out on the tree lawn and let someone take it AWAY.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-05-09 15:27
Geoff wrote:
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Foolproof method of finding time to play (it's not practice, it's play): put your TV out on the tree lawn and let someone take it AWAY.
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Then I'd take out a book, pour a shot of good single malt, lay back on the lounge, and take an hour off.
Come to think of it - I already do that!
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-05-09 15:46
I'm enjoying this thread and nodding my head and chuckling a lot. My husband is also an amateur musician and a comeback player (violin), so fortunately we're on the same wavelength about the need for private practice time and so forth. Luckily we can arrange our schedules so we don't both need to practice at the same time. I think having a partner involved in music helps me stick with it. We compare notes and there's just a little bit of social pressure -- not that he'd ever *say* anything, but if I'm slacking off and *not* practicing regularly, I'm certainly very aware that he *is* practicing regularly --!
;-)
Lelia
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Author: Pam
Date: 2000-05-09 16:59
Could you take the dog for a short walk when you first get home just so he/she can "do their business" and then come in and practice before your husband gets home? Maybe then at a later time in the evening you could go for a longer walk with the dog.
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Author: Jerry K.
Date: 2000-05-09 18:56
Willie wrote:
I keep one [an old metal clarinet] behind the seat of my pickup.
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I like that, Willie. I'm sure there are a few people in your neck of the woods who keep shotguns behind the seats of their pickups. You keep a metal clarinet. Cool!
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Author: Meredith H
Date: 2000-05-09 23:53
I can in summer, Pam, but in winter it gets dark too quickly. I live on 25 acres out of town so when the sun goes down it is black and I am a bit afraid of doing myself an injury by walking when I can't see.
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-05-10 04:01
Lelia -
My wife plays 'cello (occassionally). If she has one of those rare moments when she decides to drag it out, I go into guilt mode, slink out to the garage and (softly) honk a few notes (five minute snippet) just to remind myself I still remember how to do it.
I've also been checking the local classified help wanted ads looking for a 9 to 5, four hour job. I'll write if I find work.
ron b.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-05-10 06:33
I don't carry any weapons in my truck. It would be too tempting to use them on some of the idiots around here. HOWEVER, there was a post on klarinet about metal commando clarinets that gave me some ideas (and chuckles). I think Lelia posted it. Maybe she can post it here too. I thought it was pretty good. Any career military person could make the modifications easily.
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Author: Klaus Hohenstadt
Date: 2000-05-10 15:55
Drew, Ron B, Mark C,
Truly it is no joke. As an illustrator of children's textbooks, my workload directly depends on the Editorial Department's ability to flow copy my way. It takes Edit 1 day to write on page of copy and it takes me 1 hour to create a page of art. Also because I have been in this business for 12 years and have worked on so many books, what started out as extremly meager royalties years ago have now become more than sufficient for my lifestyle.
I know I have a good deal and am very lucky to practice the clarinet often enough that I can continually advance my skill level. And it is through growing and advancing musically that really brings deep satisfaction to my life.
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2000-05-10 16:54
Ah modern life. I haven't managed to practice this semester. I took an extra class and that was it. I work part time and am gradually finishing a degree in math. I have kids too. I sure envy the life my parents had. Mom at home, time for leisure for everyone, even the helpful hubby. You know the old joke about the working mom, who wants a wife to take care of the house stuff.
I think (hope I don't get spammmmmed) the fact that wives working has cut into everyone's leisure time. My parents were able to support intensive hobbies, because my mom got all the dull stuff done. Unfair to her, but in my family interests were above jobs.
My mom made all her own clothes, not to save money, but because she wanted Paris quality. Incredible stuff, works of art in some sense.
My dad, built, flew and competed in sailplanes. He won a lot too. He built two planes in our garage!
And I can hardly find the time to practice. Of course I could be practicing now and off the internet.
Ginny
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-05-10 17:11
Klaus - what's funny is you saying it's a "9 to 5" job. It isn't, not by any long shot.
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Author: connie
Date: 2000-05-10 18:14
What a great thread! It's neat to hear how others have worked out the same problem I have.
I'd like to add that I spent a long time obsessed about practicing only when no one else was home "so I wouldn't bother anyone" but really because I was embarrassed when I made mistakes. Then - AHA! - it hit me that I was giving my kids the WRONG model. I decided they needed to hear me practice and sound bad, and hopefully improve, so they would in turn practice *their* instruments. (I'm still wondering when this subterfuge will work.) Even at that, I feel lucky to get 3 or 4 one-hour practice sessions per week, and it's been a long time getting my skill level back. I keep a mouthpiece with an old reed on it in the car, and work on embouchure and tonguing when I'm driving (alone).
My husband has been surprisingly supportive...he used to play clarinet, but never very well and never got the jollies from it like I do, but he doesn't gripe about Monday night rehearsals or weekend gigs. I did try to get him to join the community band with me, but his reply was on the order of, if I play golf with him, he'll play music with me, so I guess it won't happen.
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Author: Roger
Date: 2000-05-11 22:21
Re-Meridith and unsupportive partner--I do appologize for my earlier comment but Meridiths situation did rather anoy me--Mark I do promise to keep my Autralian straightforwardness and slang in check in future.Meridith you need to impress on your partner how important your Music is to you and come to some arrangement where he vacates your home while you practice if it upsets him so much--either he takes the dog for a walk (in the dark if that is the case)or he starts an interest away from home to enable you the time you need or you purchase some quality earphones so he can plug himself into the Idiot Box (sorry more slang--TV)to shut you out.Why not go to one of your band members homes and practice together and leave him with the dog for company.You really do need to come up with a compromise Meridith or the relationship will deteriate and end up where I suggested earlier. Sorry again Mark,is this a more acceptable reply. Roger.
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Author: Roger
Date: 2000-05-11 22:21
Re-Meridith and unsupportive partner--I do appologize for my earlier comment but Meridiths situation did rather anoy me--Mark I do promise to keep my Autralian straightforwardness and slang in check in future.Meridith you need to impress on your partner how important your Music is to you and come to some arrangement where he vacates your home while you practice if it upsets him so much--either he takes the dog for a walk (in the dark if that is the case)or he starts an interest away from home to enable you the time you need or you purchase some quality earphones so he can plug himself into the Idiot Box (sorry more slang--TV)to shut you out.Why not go to one of your band members homes and practice together and leave him with the dog for company.You really do need to come up with a compromise Meridith or the relationship will deteriate and end up where I suggested earlier. Sorry again Mark,is this a more acceptable reply. Roger.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-05-12 01:58
Roger,
I pretty much agreed with the sentiments of your first remark - it's just that this is a family show :^)
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Author: Kim
Date: 2000-05-14 04:40
College kids, especially music majors have a bitchy schedule. I am in school from 8:00 in the morning to 5:30 at night. Sure, there is time in between classes, but how would you like hearing a soprano, or a bunch of percussionists practicing in the practice areas? I second the thought of practicing and do something else.
However, there is the advantage of being a MUSIC MAJOR! I can practice at home when I want to, without hearing that question, "Shouldn't you be studying?" The funny thing is, I am studying!
The fact is, it is just as hard to practice now as it is for you guys. It doesn't get any easier. I either have to study music theory, or some other academic subject, or I practice. Take your pick. There is a balance somewhere. After a year of being a music major and getting good grades I think I found it.
I'm babbling. Best of luck to all of you.
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