 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jean Dagenais
Date: 2001-04-02 11:36
Bonjour,
I started playing clarinet about 3 years ago (at 40!), for these reasons:
1. Both of my teenager son played instruments (Trumpet & Saxophone), and played in a small orchestra (harmony).
2. I loved the sound of the instrument and
3. I wanted to experience how would I feel as I learned something completely new!
I can say that I have met these objectives, as I now play in the harmony with one of my son, and I still love the sound of the clarinet very much.
I experienced a lot about the challenges of learning something new, including the frustration, and patience needed to accept that it takes time to become a good musician (at least for me!). Initially, I took a few class, but not enough. As such, I would sometimes face a problem (e.g. intonation), and find a solution (e.g. biting more) and this would then limit my ability to advance into other techniques.
I started playing with the harmony 1 year ago, and I have a personal teacher that I met every two weeks. I have also gone back to the basics as I need to "fix" the bad habits, and relearn how to do things right.
As I learn better techniques, sometimes I will have an "Ah Ah!", (the light turn on!) which then make me understand the new concept and improve my ability.
For example, one of them is "To go faster, you need to go slower", which mean for me that in order to perform well at a certain speed, I need to learn and practive at a very slow speed extremely well. It seems that it gives my brain & body the time needed to understand the problem (air pressure, embouchure, tongue position, finger position, etc), and develop a reliable solution.
My question to the board is "Do you go through a similar learning process?", and what are the "Ah Ah" or "Best learning practices" you know or use?
Thanks,
Jean
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Author: Chris Smith
Date: 2001-04-02 12:37
Hi,
I have a friend, an elderly gentleman, who would like to find out more info about his old clarinet.
It is a Cundy-Bettoney Boston, #131 on the bell.
I understand from other Internet searching that this instrument was sold by Sears, but that is all I have found. Any info would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Chris Smith
trombonist/tubist
Ann Arbor, MI
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Author: Jan
Date: 2001-04-02 12:53
HI jean
I am one of those adults who stopped playing for a long time (12 yrs for me) and started again (3 yrs ago). i started playing when i was 10 all the way thru 2 yrs of college but i never had a teacher. i just got a teacher 3 weeks ago. i also have had to slow things down to get them right. in places where there are 16th note runs that i keep "stumbling" on its becuz i dont have them under my fingers yet and by trying to go fast i keep making the same mistakes.
my "Ah ha" came 2 weeks ago. I was given some scale exercises to do, or rather 1 scale exercise to do in the key of C ...starting on c to c and back down to b to b (in the key of c)back down to a to a and so on until i was back at c. THE PROBLEM ..i had to do this same exercise for all the other keys but they werent written out for me like the C scale was. how was i possibly going to figure this all out? so i didnt. i kept putting it aside for another time. then 1 day i decided to giv it a shot in the key of F. 1 flat. i very very slowly note for note worked my way thru it. i COULD do it. then I tried Bb and all of a sudden the pattern of the exercise clicked. AH ha! i went thru each key slowly. im getting faster with the easier ones now and now i dont even have to look at the music for it. what a good feeling to accomplish something i thot i couldnt do.
jan
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-04-02 15:18
Practicing slow in order to play fast is one of the key practice techniques.
Every player, even the most talented ones go through this process. The idea is to "program" your brain and fingers at slow motion. It also helps you analyse what is wrong (a finger lifting too slowly or too fast, lips tightening too hard...)
-S
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Author: Kim L
Date: 2001-04-02 23:35
One of the hardest things to do is to play slowly. If you are convinced that you can play a fast passage fast, but can't play it slowly, then obviously you can't play that passage. Technique is very difficult to learn and is something that takes time. All you need is your metronome and patience!
Good luck,
Kim L.
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Author: Irwin
Date: 2001-04-03 00:55
I agree with everything that was said about playing slow. Also, as one who has just started over with the "basics", I'm drilling the chromatic and major scales over and over. And, if you don't have a metronome, I suggest you get one (the electronic ones can be had for about $15). The reason is that not only is it important to learn to play slow, but also evenly. The metronome will help keep you on track. Good luck.
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2001-04-03 21:18
From (Wyton) Marcelus on Music, "practice" from a PBS broadcast and honored to be on my refridgerator.
12 points to remember about practice
seek private instruction
make a schedule
set goals (specific)
concentrate
relax -practice slowly
practice the hard parts longer
play with expression
learn from your mistakes
don't show off
think for yourself
be optimistic
look for connections
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