 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2014-05-31 03:03
Last summer I subbed in a park band ( made up of local educators ). We played Sousa marches and similar band music. While at the rehearsal I started to warm up by playing a bit of the music in front of me. An older "gentleman" in front of me turned around and (not very nicely) said "don't practice the music, that's what playing at home is for". Is this a common attitude that "professionals" have.
AAAClarinet
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Author: pewd
Date: 2014-05-31 06:29
That wasn't a professional.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2014-05-31 06:51
That is just play ignorant.
Go to any major symphony hall and listen to "batting practice" and you will hear snippets of the days upcoming works.
Of course it is considered rude to play the next "higher" section's part or solo part.
Likely He feels threatened and is throwing his weight around. You see this sort of behavior everywhere. (Dear Abby has left the building)
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-05-31 07:20
AAAClarinet wrote:
> Is this a common
> attitude that "professionals" have.
>
> AAAClarinet
NO!
Karl
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Author: TJTG
Date: 2014-05-31 09:27
Here is the snippet of etiquette I was always taught;
To show respect to your conductor, audience, and peers, you only warm up with straight-up technique OR excerpts from that nights concert. The reason being you do not want people to think the music you're playing right now is beneath you or not worth your time.
I was once playing in a recording session in college under Cliff Colnot and during our break the principal bassoon and myself started to play our Beethoven 4 excerpts, commenting on tonguing, and playing them again.... Cliff came by and politely told us it is in bad taste to do so. Often times other musicians and/or directors take it as a sign of disrespect.
With that in mind, I've been in situations with people I look up to who will start playing random excerpts during our warms up time, with full knowledge of what they're doing.
*As far as "practicing the musc"... I never ever phantom finger, blow air through my horn, or click my keys in rehearsal. That is a time for rehearsing NOT EVER practicing. If musicians believe they can fix their technique plopping through an excerpt half-heartedly for 30 seconds while the conductor is talking or directing, they have a rude awakening in the real world. Show up prepared for rehearsal so you don't have to make an ass of yourself in front of others.
Post Edited (2014-05-31 09:30)
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2014-05-31 10:14
TJTG: I understand what you are saying but rehearsal had not yet started, and no one had the music before the first rehearsal.
AAAClarinet
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-05-31 11:09
Until the rehearsal starts I don't think there are any rules. Once the Conductor/Director establishes their presence then rehearsal conventions apply. Just my opinion. I would have probably responded with an observation concerning the probability of the sun ever shining in a particular place.
Tony F.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-05-31 13:09
Sounds like it's time to put this old gentleman out to pasture. Old people often get cranky. He could graze on the grass in the park.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-05-31 13:56
Professional maxims:
It is NEVER too late to practice
It is NEVER to late to practice S-L-O-W-L-Y
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2014-05-31 18:16
Paul
I am certainly not a professional musician, so I am not familiar with professional maxims, but another one that I would like to believe exists is: It is NEVER too late to practice softly.
There are always a few players who use warm ups as an opportunity to let everybody else in the room know how well they play their exercises.
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2014-05-31 18:37
Robert Marcellus to me (about 1970):
Better practice now, because in a few years it will be too late.
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Author: TJTG
Date: 2014-05-31 23:08
AAAClarinet:
I'm sorry, I answered everything but what you actually asked. I was rather tired when I was reading your post and writing.
What you did is completely normal and correct. My intention was to say the old man was wrong telling you otherwise. Always warm up with that rehearsal's music, and (like I said previously) tread carefully if you're going to warm up with music not from that rehearsal.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2014-06-01 10:02
>> Is this a common attitude that "professionals" have. <<
It is a relatively common attitude that many poeple have. Whether they are professionals, play any instrument, musicians at all, usually have nothing to do with it. Statistically there is overlap.
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Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-06-01 14:32
Old bull putting the young bull in his place?
Martyn Thatcher Mature Student Cheshire U.K.
Clarinet - Yamaha SE Custom
Alto Sax - Yamaha YAS 480
Guitar - Yamaha FG 375-S
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Author: grenadilla428
Date: 2014-06-03 17:24
To read through the music in front of you before a rehearsal begins is totally acceptable. With one caveat:
If there is a solo in the part that is to be played by someone else, don't play it where others can hear you. Practice it for yourself in the practice room, but it's pretty widely considered bad taste to play it in rehearsals. (The exception may be if the soloist is a friend and you two are discussing fingering choices, interpretation, etc.)
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2014-06-03 22:30
It may have been a case of mistaken identity. You were subbing, and warming up on music you have the ability to play. The older gentleman may have mistaken you for one of those community band members who misses most of the rehearsals and doesn't have time to practice at home, and who in a few seconds try to learn a complicated passage that they obviously aren't going to get right without some sessions of actual work. They can sometimes be heard between pieces during the concert, "quietly" attempting the same thing.
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2014-06-04 02:54
A year later, tonight I go to park band rehearsal again. If he is there and says anything, I think I'll just keep on playing. Thanks for all of your response.
AAAClarinet
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-06-04 05:21
You could print a copy of this whole thread and be prepared to hand it to him- but only if needed.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: davyd
Date: 2014-06-04 21:32
Seems to me that when you're subbing, you ought to be allowed to warm up with whatever you like. You don't "have" to be there.
I would much rather hear someone warm up with what's actually on the agenda, rather than with something they happen to feel like playing. But maybe that's just me.
I wouldn't have a problem with Player 2 warming up on Player 1's solo. Here at the community level, Player 1 might conceivably not show up; if that's the case, Player 2 is at least somewhat prepared to cover the line.
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2014-06-04 22:40
I went rehearsal and it was a great time. I knew all of the clarinetists there. It was a bit strange however. While all of the other sections sat down as soon as they showed up, the clarinets just stood around waiting for "the clarinetist" to show up and tell them where to sit. These were all people who have been in the band for years, so it struck me as odd.
"The clarinetist" also took a phone call during rehearsal. I understand emergencies, but that is one reason I stopped taking lessons with that person.( more time on the phone than teaching, while being strict with lesson time/length ) some day I will be "the clarinetist" :-). And things will be different.
AAAClarinet
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2014-06-05 17:18
Taking a phone call during rehearsal strikes me as egregiously impolite. I would certainly complain to the conductor if they did not address the situation as it occurred.
Around here (northern Michigan) the convention is to work on soloistic material now and then during warm-up, but concentrate on scales, arpeggios, and other non-melodic exercises--especially if there's an audience around. "Don't just sit there and play a whole symphony" is how one conductor put it.
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