 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Franknh2010
Date: 2013-01-20 04:14
I've always loved the sound of the clarinet,but till now couldn't play. Since I'm getting ready to retire from work I want to teach myself how to play. Can anyone tell me the best teaching guide for an old guy who wants to learn. My wife's not to happy about it but I am. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh just to add I have 10 clarinets of different abilities. Again wife not happy, oh well. Thanks for the advise.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2013-01-20 04:33
The best way to start would be to find a private teacher in your area - take some lessons to help you get started right.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-01-20 18:30
I agree with Paul.
The first few months are the most crucial in getting a correct foundation.
There are so many ways to get it wrong and it's incredibly frustrating trying to correct faulty habits later.
By all means then go on to teach yourself afterwards.
The type of material suitable is so dependent on what you really want to achieve, again a teacher can discuss this with you and make suggestions then.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2013-01-20 18:51
10 clarinets already! And you haven't played them?! You have a lot of fun in store! I agree with the others that you should take your first steps guided by a treacher, but I don't think it's *impossible* to teach yourself right from the get-go. That's what I did. If I had begun with the teacher I had, very briefly, later on I would have quit the instrument. Just make sure to enjoy many hours of undisciplined noodling around ... don't restrict yourself to scales! Keep your love of the instrument very much alive, because there's nothing like official clarinet pedagogy to kill it.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2013-01-20 20:41
One of the fastest ways to persuade your wife is to learn to play well and with a beautiful sound -- for that you'll need to work with someone.
If you have a university near you -- contact the professor. If they're not interested in giving lessons (or charge more that you'd prefer) ask for a grad student or their top undergrad.
Your local dedicated clarinet teacher is also a great opportunity/possibility. Good luck and have fun!
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Jim22
Date: 2013-01-20 20:46
I already played flute, and learned clarinet on my own for several months. I used some very old Silver Burdet lesson books. I would say the best bet is learn a little on your own, then take a lesson every couple weeks. That way you have time to practice between lessons but don't miss anything silly.
Jim C.
CT, USA
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Author: Franknh2010
Date: 2013-01-21 05:29
I appreciate all the advice you have given. I'll look around for a local teacher to help, I really do want to be able to play. Thanks again and I'll let you all know how it goes.
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Author: JerryForsyth
Date: 2013-01-21 12:04
I also took up the clarinet at retirement (age 63) and have loved every moment of it. I agree you need a teacher to help you get past the basics, but my teacher selection was limited to one person (I live in the boonies) within 80 miles of me. And she was a fine teacher, but she wanted me to learn "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and I wanted to learn "Stardust" and "Begin the Beguin".
So I took enough lessons (4, I think) to get the basics of the embouchure and then took off on my own learning whatever I wanted to learn. The internet has LOTS of fantastic resources to explore.
After I learned a few of my favorite songs by ear I went back to the books and learned sight-reading but now find it easier to learn a piece by ear and then reference the sheets as I play for back-up. And I am currently taking an on-line music theory course that is fulling in a lot of gaps for me. Check out the theory at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gHEIF0rT2w&list=PL82ACA76E47884762
So, if you want a teacher, fine as long as you agree on what you learn and when. Just do not think that their way is the only way. If a teacher makes the clarinet work instead of joy get away from them. Keep the love of the instrument and the sound foremost in your mind. Love what you do and you will do it for a long time. I now play 6 or so hours a day and wake up every day thinking of what I want to play.
(By the way, I have learned a lot by going to Jazzradio.com and playing along with them. Just listening to how a clarinet 'gets along with others' and improvising your own stuff is great fun.)
Oh, and my comments should be taken with the knowledge that I only play for my own enjoyment, never intend to be a performer. If I wanted to be a classical clarinet player in an orchestra I would give very different advice about teachers. For that I would assume they are a necessity.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-01-21 12:45
There's one main advantage to having a teacher at least in the beginning stages. There are a lot of technical things - reed choice and handling, basic embouchure shape, troubleshooting of equipment to make sure it's helping and not hindering you and basic notation skills (if you've never played an instrument or sung from standard sheet music). An experienced teacher can help you avoid a lot of trial-end-error and wheel spinning, since at the very beginning it's hard to know if you're on a productive path or a blind alley. So studying with a teacher is mostly a time saver, even if you don't intend to perform. Even posting questions here can be a hit-or-miss way to learn because of the variety of answers - some good, some poor, often contradicting each other - that you invariably get. A teacher who plays the instrument listening to you live is much more likely to be able to suggest problem solutions that work. A student whose teacher is able to model good playing can learn much more and more quickly by listening than by reading books or online posts.
Teaching yourself repertoire, whether by ear or by reading, is the fun part of learning to play. Figuring out for yourself why the thing keeps squeaking or some notes don't play can lead to huge amounts of wasted time that could be spent playing.
Karl
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-01-21 12:57
As a retirement project, repertoire should be your choice following your interests. But keep in mind that there are a lot more notes in Stardust than there are in Twinkle, Twinkle. There may be more than one step involved to get to Stardust. If a teacher seems to be treating you like a 9-year-old beginner (who is the real target of the Mary Had a Little Lamb-Lightly Row-Twinkle, Twinkle laden beginner books), the best solution is to communicate that diplomatically and at the same time pose your own questions about playing the instrument that address the problems you're discovering. If a teacher only shows you 5 notes at the first lesson, there's no reason why you can't go independently to a fingering chart and try to go farther. If you run into problems, you can then ask the teacher about their cause. My strongest advice to an older beginning student like you is that you are learning to play for your own purposes, and because you are self-motivated, you are absolutely free even with a teacher involved to move at whatever rate of speed is comfortable. You only need to communicate with a teacher and establish a collaborative adult-to-adult relationship. The teacher you need to avoid is the one who turns out to be authoritarian and tries to over-control your learning process. The teacher, as many of us now have said, is (or can be) an invaluable *resource* if you're working together.
Karl
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Author: Franknh2010
Date: 2013-01-22 02:29
All of your advice about a teacher is good. My daughter and her husband both play clarinet. It is possible to learn enough from them to get me started. My daughter has played since grade school so she has a lot of experience. Thanks for the advice. I'll keep you posted.
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Author: knotty
Date: 2013-01-22 14:50
Maybe your wife's afraid you'd get 10 more...haha! By all means get with it! time's a wasting.
~ Musical Progress: None ~
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Author: ms.ace
Date: 2013-01-24 12:01
I disagree with many of the others, lessons may be helpful but you don't need them. Your passion and drive is what will truly make you a great clarinetist, I've never had a single lesson in my five years of playing and my skill level is light years ahead of my colleagues who have been playing for the same amount of time. It's because I truly love playing, I play whenever I can and love every minute of it. The standard of excellence series should suit you well, essential elements is good to. There are also many book series aimed at "older beginners". Enjoy your journey of clarinet playing, best of luck. One day when your making beautiful music your wife will love it.
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Author: Franknh2010
Date: 2013-01-25 01:05
To ms.ace. Thanks, my daughter and son-in-law both play. I feel I can get enough help from them to get past the basics. I plan to learn and be able to play for my own pleasure. Thanks again for your help and the help from all the others.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-01-25 01:16
My 2 cents worth. The simple "How to play clarinet" books are mostly aimed at primary school level kids who will get 1 half hour of instruction a week and who may or may not practice between lessons. A motivated adult, who by the natural process of development will have better hand-eye skills, better fine motor control and more highly developed learning skills can progress at a much faster rate, and training and expectations should be geared accordingly.
Tony F.
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