 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2012-07-13 16:27
Dan Wakin, a clarinetist whose day job is reporting for The New York Times, has a cover story in this Sunday's Arts & Leisure section on the weeklong "fantasy" camp with the Baltimore Symphony, Marin Alsop, Steven Barta, Ed Palanker and many more. 104 amateurs signed up for this year's session. A really nice read, with a video to be posted soon.
You can find it now at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/arts/music/playing-with-the-orchestra-in-baltimore.html?_r=1&ref=arts
It's on the Arts page of the Web site and will most likely move to the homepage during the day today.
Post Edited (2012-07-13 16:52)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-07-14 18:03
We had 10 acadamy clarinets this year, we usually take only eight so we have four "students" in each orchestra, we divide the BSO into two but most of us play in both other than rotation if we have parts. Because we had a decent bass clarinet student that could handle the parts, with my assistance, they added one player so there would still be two on a part, plus a BSO member assisting. Then we added a tenth when Dan asked if he could attend because he wanted to write an article about it. There were still plenty of parts to go around and everyone played every piece in their orchestra. It's a great experinece for a "Rusty" musician. It's not meant for a conservatory student because the level of playing various greatly, from pretty good to "not" so good. It was a very worthwhile week for all concerned. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: davyd
Date: 2012-07-15 02:06
Delighted to see one of my former orchestra colleagues being quoted in the article. But why is it called "band" camp when it's an orchestra event?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-07-15 03:25
Band camp, I don't know, no one here calls it that. Maybe because it reminded him of a band camp as a youth. Strange I know. ESP
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2012-07-15 16:16
Thanks for the clarifying tip- I thought the band camp and the orchestra camp were two different events. Both names are used in the nyt for the same event, evidently.
richard smith
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2012-07-16 20:10
No great mystery about the use of the term band camp in the headline.
The cover photo suggests, and the article makes clear, precisely what the Baltimore Symphony Academy is, who goes there and how it works.
"Band camp" is a jocular conceit, which probably originated with a remark by the writer's young son, who is quoted on the jump page: "Dad, you're going to band camp."
The headline writer, no doubt, picked up on that and within the amount of space permitted, wrote, "Greetings From Band Camp," a play on the postcard that campers were often required to write to their folks.
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Author: ClaireAnnette
Date: 2012-11-27 01:51
Sorry to respond late, life:-)
Yes, i was one of the ten. There were 5 in each group. As was the case for each wind instrument. Except for classes and meals, the two groups did not really mix.
Mr Dan, the reporter, played in the group that played Enigma Variations, Cappriccio Italian, and Three Cornered Hat. I enjoyed the article except for the fact that it almost entirely neglected the efforts of the second orchestral group and our substantial program of Ravel Rhapsodie Espagnole, Berlioz Roman Carnival, and Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet (!!!!) (smile); and there were some interesting stories and characters in our midst as well! Yes, Ed is right, the woman in my group, a school teacher, handled her bass well despite the instrument being almost as tall as she was! I believe it was her second or third year attending.
The NY Times photographer, Matt Roth, has some wonderful images posted on his web page from the event. I am sorry, I do not recall link. Just look up BSO Academy among his images. While there, also take time to look at some of his other very artistic photographs. it was humbling to see yourself included among more prominent subjects. (Michael Phelps for example.)
Those that wanted to could prepare and play a solo recital piece with piano and also participate in chamber music preparation and concert. Pianist Mary, a rather driven violist (that is an oxymoron!) learned and accompanied abily about 20 varied musical strangers in recital with only 10 minutes rehersal per player.
It was wonderful practice to meet and work with everyone during a busy week. Great to have 4 very experienced clarinet teachers at my beckon call. To be a learner; not be in the musical hotseat for a change was good. While I generally do not care for mass doubled wind parts in orchestra (intonation!!! ewwwwy! precision issues-can't hear oneself thing, etc); and some had more confidence that their exhibited skill set; I concentrated on some individual goals I set for myself that I met and I was able to garner a good learI am not a "rusty" musician, but it is difficult for me to find opportunities to learn (at my age) when I am in a learning mode. And, yes, one challenge was that the abilities within a section ranged from the not so good to the pretty good :-) But, with the mission to bring the community of musicians into the orchestra, this was probably appropriate. However, there are a lot of the "almost-made-it-but-for-somethings" that are craving opportunities. (Those released from musical training only to find themselves in the perpertual symphonic holding room; constanly craving the desire to play great music.) I believe the sour economy encourages our musical longings too.
However, everyone was equally as enthusiastic. It is always rewarding to do a short intense project towards a defined goal. It was nice to play in a location meant for classical concerts. It was nice to have an opportunity to work with more mature musicians and not to have to "let" a young person have the better part to "get experience" as I often find I have to do in some learning situations. And, those that are self motivated and seek out to learn, and ask good questions, could gain from it. A creative way for fund raising for the organization, however the assumption that musicians that end up in "real" jobs have lots of money to spend is not necessarily the case:-) But thanks to the section for welcoming all and always being present to assist when needed.
Web page underconstruction, currently updating, please be patient.
Problem with web design software, being corrected at this time.
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Author: MSK
Date: 2012-11-29 01:07
It sounds like fun. Can't say that the week long event is in my budget, but would love to try the scaled back version done elsewhere. How do people find out about these type events?
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Author: reed and MP dude
Date: 2012-11-29 08:01
My friend Eddie Palanker. If you pick me (56 yrs old) we can go out every night to Big Burtha's Muscles great beer and have Maryland crabs and other seafood!
Is that place still around?
Your post above said RUSTY players, related to people that haven't played much.
Well there is that drink called a Rusty Nail. Will a few shots of that drink help rusty players?
Have a wonderful season. For the people going, this is a very special summer you won't ever forget.
A and Bb r13's new.
Bb r13 1963 backup
Vandoren 56
Ciaccia custom mouthpiece
1.07mm facing amazing mouthpiece
2 Kaspers as spares
Post Edited (2012-11-29 10:25)
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Author: ClaireAnnette
Date: 2012-11-29 09:58
HA! The thought of that is funny! If you go; you might want to go out at night, you will be too busy and tired to go out every night!
As he tried to describe in the article, it was pretty intense and not just playing along mindlessly.
My impression from what I heard in chamber music, was that of the 10 clarinets, probably 6 or so were pretty active and 'serious' clarinetists in their communities. Playing in local chamber groups and orchestras. Most of those seemed to me, to be those that were serious students of the instrument in their younger days; just decided not to go into music full time. So of those, maybe 3 or 4, maybe on semi-pro level playing gigs in their communities while working other jobs. Then there were a few that took up clarinet late in life. Or older folks and just not having it be a top priority now, but still interested in improving. BUT everyone was 'encouraged' to put most they were capable of doing. So that means everyone was working hard.
They keep you so busy, every minute; there is hardly time to pee! (For example, if doing chamber music, they practice until 9PM at night.) There were also classes outside of rehearsals each hour.
This is pretty intense and active week, I will not say there is no time for 'fun' as the whole idea is 'fun'; just that everything is prescheduled and both the students and players are very busy the whole time so there unfortunately is not much time for that sort of thing, well; at least as a more "mature" student; I needed the rest whenever that was scheduled and think most people were the same. Also, I think for most, they wanted to get their money's worth so they came ready to take it seriously as a learning experience. By about third day, people were starting to show some fatigue:-)
And I was one of the 'younger' ones there! The one woman was 81, and held her own; and one guy was 78. And, just because there is variation in level; it does not mean everyone is not having to work hard at their own level. The music we played was not 'easy' and the level aimed at, IF you wanted to play solo lines, was very high. At least my experience was, if level dipped when a student tried it; then the BSO player played it in the end. This included intonation, articulation, rhythms-and in my group the tempi flew in places. It was my 'impression' that the conductor did not want the quality to go down significantly just because we were we. There was not a bunch of just rehearsing and rehearsing to get to play. In fact, there really was not that much full orchestra rehearsal time for the level of music. You had to be ready and prepared.
So, you were expected to play at a level consistent with the whole, which was pretty high standard. The BSO players assisted in making helpful comments; but then it was up to the players to do it. And, for most people, including those like me that work all year round playing in their home; it was a lot of preparation and work; especially if you wanted to get the most out of it. And for what it cost, I wanted to get the most out of it. I think they are trying to figure out how to better accommodate all levels since there are both the recreational and serious student participating. Everyone wanted to play, that is why they came.
Now, I have not done this, but there is a weekend program they run; called 'Rusty Musicians' that is just a weekend and I think not as intense. As he said in article, it is not a feel good fantasy camp. There was work involved. But if you want an adult learning experience, and come ready to have fun making that happen, you will enjoy it. If you want to go out and party at night; it is a little expensive and time consuming for that. The fun is in the hard work and sense of accomplishment. And I do believe the BSO players worked hard to give us a good experience and allow us to visit without it being too disruptive. They truly gave of their time for us. And this is why it is so busy for all.
And I do not know WHY my last post had the comment about a web page because I do not recall writing that, but maybe it is left over from something long ago;-)
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