 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bstutsman
Date: 2008-07-01 02:12
The discussion on Kim got me thinking about clarinet prodigies. We seem to have many prodigies on, say, violin and piano, but not so much on wind instruments. Any thoughts as to why this is?
Also, who was the first clarinet prodigy that you knew of?
And, what is required for someone to be labeled a prodigy?
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Author: hartt
Date: 2008-07-01 02:23
Interesting 2sd question you posed.
what is the criteria............a for instance:
the late John Denman of UK heritage. His parents started him on violin at an early age. Bomb
He then was 'transferred' to piano. Bomb
At age of 12 he was given a clarinet. The rest is history.
At 16 he was playing in the Queens Orchestra
his bio is at:
http://members.tripod.com/~perfartists/jdenman.html
hope this turns blue when posted
regards
dennis
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-07-01 02:40
First Clarinet Prodigy that I knew of was named Larry Scripp. Hearing him perform on tape the last mvt of the Weber #2 Concert was really inspiring and gave me a goal to work towards.
I would think a prodigy would be someone young who learned extremely quickly and got really, really good.
Second prodigy was a player who I went up against as a High School Senior - Jon Manasse. Jon won and is still the record holder of the ICA Young Artist Competition for winning it at 14.
Myself, I started playing at age 12 and by 14 I had made All State Band (Senior High) - after that in 10th grade at age 15 for PA All State, Regional, Districts which inclused all of Philadelphia wasn't beaten ever. Won a bunch of Competitions too.
So going up against Manasse for the Philadelphia Concerto Soloists Competition I had no idea just how good he was.
After hearing him for about 15 seconds, I found out just how good he was ........
and understood just why I was beaten by him. I hadn't attended a superhuge camp such as Interlochen, but had gone for several years to the East Carolina Univ. Summer High School Program which was pretty large (4 full size bands) and was their top Clarinetist.
Another Prodigy I heard of during my late years of College - Michael Russinek. There are other very good players at Curtis at the time (several who have major jobs), but hearing Michael in perform in the Curtis Orchestra he was clearly better.
Michael won the ICA Competition at 16.
I only learned of Ricardo's playing when he was 19 or so at the Cincinatti ClarFest. Had heard of him in the Spring before that from a player who met him in Buffalo for that audition. Ironically I ended up teaching the player who sat 2nd Chair to him in the Indiana All State Band - Ricardo was light years better than her (I taught her as an adult student).
Ricardo started playing at age 12.
I would think that for the really young clarinet players, their breathing isn't developed, as well as possibly the size of their "inner embouchure" isn't big enough to really get a great sound.
But man, Han sure sounds great!
Mimi Stillman to me is the ultimate Flute Prodigy (Curtis Wind Player Record making it at 12)
Before 12 myself, I didn't much interest in Music. Started playing as we had a choice to either sing in chorus, do "shop" which was the woodworking, etc, or band.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: rgames
Date: 2008-07-01 03:59
Regarding what it takes to be labeled a prodigy: it takes someone labeling you a prodigy. I rank it up there with the term "professional" for meaninglessness.
Prodigious talent is, indeed, rare and amazing to behold. It does not, unfortunately, seem to correlate well with lifelong accomplishment.
Think Tortoise and Hare. You can start out quick, but you can still be beaten by someone who out-endures you by continuing to progress while you remain stuck at some level. When did Brahms write his first symphony? Age 40? Is he less a composer than the 10 year-olds who are writing symphonies?
The true measure of success is not how good you are for your age, it's how good you are for any age.
rgames
____________________________
Richard G. Ames
Composer - Arranger - Producer
www.rgamesmusic.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-07-01 04:50
> The true measure of success is not how good you are for your
> age, it's how good you are for any age.
>
> rgames
>
I like that. Very nicely put.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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