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Listening to Music as Education

Author: Liam Murphy
Date: 2008-01-25 10:58

Clarinet BBoard,

I feel, as a student of clarinet, that listening to music specific to my chosen field is one of the best ways to learn beyond the teachings of a singular instructor. Use of modern recordings, supplied by the teacher in class or out, could be used as a way of extending the student’s perception of his/her own playing.

The clarinet teacher at my school will often lend me and my peers CDs of various clarinetists. I have borrowed CDs of Sabine Meyer, Karl Leister, Charles Neidich, Guy Deplus, Gary Gray, Anthony Pay, and many more in the time that he has taught me.

I have found that detailed listening to the CDs, and analysis of each soloist's individual style to be one of the most useful studies in my development as a player, and a thoughtful move on the part of my teacher.

Often jazz players will say that a huge part of their musicianship and musical individuality came from extensive listening and imitating of recordings of their chosen field. Is this not true of classical clarinetists and their corresponding repertoire also?

I feel this to be the case.

After some time I began to purchase CDs of artists of my choice, and their styles have rubbed off on me. I feel that I would not be the (better) player I am without the valuable, varied influences that are so readily accessible in this modern world.

To hear sounds different than those that come out of the end of your instructors clarinet, and to be exposed to natural variation while actively being taught, would seem to me to be an excellent way of inducing inspiration and a want to learn in most students.

Many of the professional musicians that I have been exposed to have said that they ONLY listen to music for educational value. If this is a valuable resource for professionals, then why not for the student?

Overall, my generation is advantaged by the abundance of affordable, varied recordings out there, and I think the resource could be utilized further in the teaching of clarinet.

Thanks in advance for any responses

- Liam

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