 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2013-03-17 12:05
Hi there, everyone. I'm a 15-year-old student clarinet player. I had(and have) always wanted to play the clarinet since I was 9, but everyone else treated my requests as light jokes. So I ended up starting at age 12, but I was not sufficient of time and resources until I was 13, when I started to put more and more resources and effort on clarinet playing, and soon I got my bass clarinet very soon. I leapfrogged from beginner to semi-intermediate, and passed ABRSM Grade 5 at a point of 111.
Besides of starting late, I was also born with fine motor skills defficiencies, and also attention deficit disorder and panic disorder. Moreover, my schoolwork has drastically increased this year, and this clashes with the required frequent training time I need.
So I probably seem to be the wrong applicant for the job, but I have a huge passion for music, especially Romantic compositions such as Mahler, Bruckner and and Wagner, as well as Klezmer and other Eastern European genres. I had always strived to to find the sound I wish to have, and spending more and more time trying to improve my techniques. I sincerely wish that you respected professionals here can suggest some solution for my case, so I still at least have the smallest spark of hope on embarking the road to the career of a music performer. THANK YOU.
Josh
Post Edited (2013-03-28 13:38)
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-03-17 14:59
Best wishes. With your circumstances, I would encourage you to forge your own path of beauty and expression.
Steve Ocone
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2013-03-17 15:46
Music can bring a lifetime of happiness and joy even if you don't make it your career. Best of luck, please don't get discouraged.
AAAClarinet
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Author: ruben
Date: 2013-03-20 20:11
Dear Joshua,
Given your keenness, sensitivity and culture, all of your "weaknesses" will become strengths. I'm sure that you will be able to attain a very high level of musicianship indeed and finding your own way will give you an artistic originality which you otherwise would maybe not have found. Were I a gambler, I would bet on you! Keep us posted on your progress and endeavours.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Joe Bloke
Date: 2013-03-20 22:17
I'm not a "respected professional" but, here's a quote from one:
“……. embrace music as a spiritual commitment, music as part of the dynamics of curiosity and music as part of transposition into ritual and ceremonial spaces.”
ANTHOY BRAXTON
(taken from an interview in Downbeat magazine, March 2012)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-03-21 00:08
Starting to play the clarinet at age 12 or 13 is not too late. Many professionals, including me, started at that age. It's not like a string instrument or piano that usually demands starting much earlier. With that said, play music for fun and enjoyment, it's almost impossible to get a decent playing job these days. There are very few openings and the number of applicants is rediculious today for each position. Read my articles on my website about symphony jobs in America and following your dreams. They will open your eyes to the world of clarinet players trying to get a job. Enjoy music making but be realistic.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2013-03-24 10:46
Thank you very much for your encouraging replies, especially Ruben and our honourable Ed.
Regarding Ed's articles which I have read before, I am increasing time on technique training. Every recess at school I take my Bb soprano clarinet(sometimes bass clarinet) out to practice. I do the same thing in music lessons by going to another room to practice.
I also double the bass clarinet, which I play with an equal amount of time to my time spent on the Bb soprano clarinet. I also own and play the only juvenile-used German bass clarinet mouthpiece(while my horn is a French one) in Hong Kong, for no one would bother getting such a mouthpiece besides me. The German bass sound is the sound which inspired me to play the bass clarinet.
I am the solo bass clarinet in our school orchestra, and I usually sit and play in place of the 1st bassoon(as there is no one for the position).
Josh
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2013-03-24 10:46
Thank you very much for your encouraging replies, especially Ruben and our honourable Ed.
Regarding Ed's articles which I have read before, I am increasing time on technique training. Every recess at school I take my Bb soprano clarinet(sometimes bass clarinet) out to practice. I do the same thing in music lessons by going to another room to practice.
I also double the bass clarinet, which I play with an equal amount of time to my time spent on the Bb soprano clarinet. I also own and play the only juvenile-used German bass clarinet mouthpiece(while my horn is a French one) in Hong Kong, for no one would bother getting such a mouthpiece besides me. The German bass sound is the sound which inspired me to play the bass clarinet.
I am the solo bass clarinet in our school orchestra, and I usually sit and play in place of the 1st bassoon(as there is no one for the position).
Josh
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Author: ruben
Date: 2013-03-24 12:48
Dear Joshua,
I can only agree with Ed's eminently sensible statement that it is not realistic to want to become a full-time musician when you start past a certain age. Nevertheless, there's something to be said for being unrealistic in this life. I wrote a little book on technique, which was a monumental flop in terms of sales, and I would like to send it to you ("Melodic Finger Twisters for Clarinet" by yours truly). Send me your snail-mail address at my personal e-mail address.
All the best and knock'em dead!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: RCeres
Date: 2013-03-26 03:50
How very different my life might have been...
When I got to the 11th grade I realized I really wanted to be a music major. By then it was too late, or at least I thought it was, so despite practicing and practicing and practicing I ended up going to an engineering school and gave up the clarinet. Now, 30 years later I am coming back to clarinet with a vengeance. In retrospect I sometimes look back on that decision with some regret. This is especially true when I meet with some of the very outstanding school music teachers in my town. Their job satisfaction in getting beautiful and joyous music out of Middle and high school students is unmatched by anyone anywhere. So I would encourage you to go down that path if that is what motivates you. The road to becoming a successful performer on clarinet is probably much harder, but worth a shot since the education route can be so satisfying.
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