 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: thehammerclarinet
Date: 2014-08-08 06:16
How and when did you begin playing the clarinet? How would you describe the clarinet's personality, by itself and in comparison to other instruments? What keeps you inspired to continue playing the clarinet?
What is your story?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BartHx
Date: 2014-08-08 09:30
I play it because I already have enough lamps.
I tried it some sixty years ago and discovered it was something I enjoyed, so I just kept doing it. There was a period of some forty years when it only came out when we got to the unit on sound in my physics classes. However, now that I am retired, I have time to enjoy it again and play in two community bands.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-08-08 09:53
I grew up in a musical family. My dad's a jazz pianist, and he started me on piano when I was 5 and violin when I was 10. I suppose I liked music back then, but it felt more like a task than something truly enjoyable to me. When I got to middle school, my parents convinced me to join the school band; not because I was really into music, but because it was a way to avoid taking PE classes (long story). When I showed up, I discovered they didn't accept string instruments, so I tried percussion, brass, and woodwind instruments. I preferred melodic instruments, so I stayed away from percussion. I was laughed at when I tried a brass mouthpiece, so that was a no-go. I almost chose flute, but then I gave clarinet a whirl and got a decent beginner tone right off the bat (plus it looked cool.) As soon as I started playing in the school ensemble, music came to life for me - I'd only ever taken private lessons, but I found that it was ensemble playing that really put the fun in music. I became enthralled with clarinet and started practicing like crazy, and this mentality rubbed off on my violin playing as well. Within 2 years I became first chair clarinet in my high school's wind ensemble and in a local youth orchestra, and through a series of events I began lessons with a professional in the local symphony (whose name I won't mention simply because I'm not sure she wants her name "out there on the internet." A student of David Shifrin and Michele Zukovsky - she's an amazing clarinetist and teacher.) The thrill of getting to play in ensembles and studying with a great teacher - plus an added challenge of fixing all the bad habits I amassed in my first year of playing when I didn't have private lessons, and seeing the results of that work - has kept me going, and I see no end to my clarinet playing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2014-08-08 11:04
I play the Clarinet (and also Flute & Oboe) because I've always been fascinated by the woodwind instruments. At one time I even had a Bassoon (Bundy student model) but decided to let it go as the three others kept me busy enough. Also had an Eb Alto Saxophone at one time but gave that instrument up as well in favour of the Clarinet.
Which is my favourite ? Well , I enjoy them all , each having their own special attributes. Kinda miss the Bassoon though.
In symphony orchestral music each of the four basic woodwind (Flute , Oboe, Clarinet & Bassoon) are equally important and it's nice to know that I've had a go at all of them.
I've played in a number of local orchestras and I"ve always been appreciated because I play Oboe quite well. Most groups have no trouble getting proficient players on Flute & Clarinet (and Saxophone) as they're are a 'dime a dozen' as the saying goes. Proficient double reed players are much 'thinner on the ground' to find as they are more difficult to master, especially the Oboe.
BJV
"The Clarinet is not a horn"
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2014-08-08 11:14)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-08-08 14:03
When I was 11 I absolutely hated the clarinet - I felt it's a common instrument that everyone played at school and I hated the sound they made. A friend of mine's dad had an old B&H Edgware I used to borrow from time to time to see what the appeal was with clarinet - I could play up and down the registers and could play from the violin music I had (I did violin to get out of boring History, Classical Studies and English lessons). I wanted to play oboe but then did bassoon instead when the school's bassoon was reinstated as an instrument instead of gathering dust as still life in the art room. Then I got fed up with the leaky unresponsive school's bassoon and switched to alto sax which my parents bought me and I was the only sax player at school.
Then I saw an Abbott and Costello film and a Style Council video where the dance band sax players switched to clarinet and thought maybe I ought to consider playing clarinet as well. So I did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVwIcsCQHBY
I studied clarinet as my main instrument when I started college to get some grades under my belt and as the clarinet syllabus was actual clarinet music as opposed to the sax syllabus which was transcriptions of Baroque flute sonatas, I did all my grades on clarinet instead as I was already getting plenty of sax playing in dance bands.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2014-08-08 14:49
When I was about 6 I heard Peter And The Wolf and liked the sound of the cat. I just immediately knew I wanted to play clarinet. Decades later it's still the same... but I have a dog.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: MGT91123
Date: 2014-08-08 18:48
I play because it's the only thing that was in the house, besides a piano, and that was just so frustrating. This was when I was 12. My brother had the clarinet before that, and just did it to get out of class. It was a rent to own type of thing, and had been under the bed for years until the idea was planted in my head, by who, I don't know. I think it was the grace of God.
I started, like I said, when I was twelve, taking lessons from the band director, without being in the band itself. {Long story.} Three months pass, and I liked it. But then many medical things brought me to a halt. A 13 hour spinal surgery, a four hour foot surgery too.
I would be entering high school that fall. The clarinet, however, wanted to follow, and since the band director didn't quite know how to help me learn, based on my physical disability, he recommended a music school in the area. That was one of the best things to happen to me. I was almost to the end of freshman year, and lessons were now a part of my life that I couldn't give up.
It's now sophomore year, and yet another surgery was looming, yet this time, on my left knee and foot. That was the hardest one for me, but now, actively involved in lessons, music did what medicine could not. It took the pain away, and still does to this day.
After recovery was done, I continued to home in on my skills. Recitals were played, and then after two years, the opportunity of orchestra landed in my lap. Another best thing I ever did. The clarinet, to me, is a blessing, because it brought with it healing, friends, and a relationship with God. I spent my senior year worrying, that I wouldn't make it through orchestra, the music was hard, and drove me to several nervous break downs. What I learned last year was how to ask for help, and how to work with people.
I'm now a soon to be college freshman, and have met many friends there already. Orchestra is there, too, for another awesome year. I'm pursuing a English major, with a minor in music. A goal could possibly be music therapy. Not sure yet. I want to take what healed me, the power of music, to heal other people.
The tone of the clarinet, well, I'm not really sure if I have the right words. Some days, it can be sad, sweet, aggressive, joyful, or even horrific. It speaks to me almost like a real person would, and it to me, it can speak millions of words, even when I can't find them.
Another reason I play, is for my Grandmother, her last words to me, were to keep play the clarinet. That's why, I think, I'm in orchestra.
The clarinet healed me, and I hope to play until I'm no longer able. The reason why I play is because I love what I do.
Buffet E-11
Buffet Moening Barrel, 65 mm, Backun Protege 65mm
Vadoren BD5 Mouthpiece
Vandoren M/O series gold Lig.
Gonzala's FOF Reeds 2.5
Post Edited (2014-08-10 06:16)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2014-08-08 19:08
I began playing in 1939 and don't live too far from Tinley Park.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2014-08-08 19:26
My older brother got a clarinet, so two years later I got a saxophone and took lessens from 4th grade through high school. My brother stopped playing and we had the clarinet (a Noblet), so I had lessons on it 11th and 12th grade.
After playing mostly sax in college, I took a 15 year break before joining a community band that needed clarinets more than saxes. I've been playing both instruments ever since.
Why didn't I play brass instruments? I could never figure out how to buzz my lips (or whatever they do) to make a sound from a trumpet. Why didn't I learn percussion? I don't know, but after helping carry percussion equipment for many years, I am glad I do not have to move that stuff on a regular basis.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-08-08 19:35
Silversorcerer- I agree, how can this question be answered briefly? I'm inclined to write too much even on mundane technical issues- but this cuts to the core.
I PLAYED clarinet in junior high through 1 semester of University of Houston marching band (1966-71) because 1st band director moved me from alto sax (too many of those I guess) and I grew to like it. After band, no reason to keep playing- concentrating on piano and organ, later electric pianos and such.
I RETURNED to clarinet in 2010 because for at least 10-15 years I had been thinking I should, and finally at 57 I said if I'm ever going to do this, now is the time. I made a list of short and long term goals. Some were lofty and I'm sure would seem ridiculous to many of you, others were more reasonable to expect to attain. I allocated significant time and modest $$$ to it, for 2010 and beyond. And I resigned myself to accept whatever ridicule, scorn, amusement, etc that came my way (which was and is mostly imagined, but some of it did happen). After all, I was also willing in that same time frame to fly kites to learn how to do KAP (kite aerial photography). Nothing much more foolish looking than an old guy unable to keep a kite in the sky.
Four years later I am pleased with where I am, and am no where near running out of benefit and growth from my continued efforts. So I press on.
Hmmm- I guess I still haven't really answered "Why?". So I'll share one of my original goals from 2010. That was to be able to create actual sound to match the things I'd been hearing in my head for 20+ years, that I'd been unable to do on piano or any other keyboard. I'm not quite there yet- I still "hear" many things I cannot yet play, some of which are tantalizingly close, others I can only hope I'll get there eventually.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2014-08-08 19:40
"Why do I play the clarinet?"
The older I get, the louder that question becomes........... Maybe it is just because I never took up to trumpet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dori
Date: 2014-08-10 01:13
My older brother played trumpet and trombone. After going to his school concerts I wanted to be in the band, too. It didn't really matter to me what instrument. At that time "all the girls played flute" but my mother suggested clarinet and I agreed. I don't think I even knew what a clarinet was when we rented it. That night I wrote in my diary, "It looks complicated, but I want to learn to play it."
While I probably would enjoy playing almost any instrument, what I like about the clarinet is its versatility. We can play high and light like the flutes or rich and full with the base line.
I tried trombone but my arms were too short. A helpful person pulled out my slide to show 7th position but I couldn't pull it back.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: MSK
Date: 2014-08-11 05:21
I was already playing piano and violin when fifth grade band started. I wanted to be in the band to be with my friends as band was more popular than strings (which started the year before). I though I wanted to play flute - probably just for image. However, when the sixth grade students were brought in to demo the instruments, I liked the sound of clarinet much better. Note that I chose the sound of the clarinet based on performance of a student who had played for only one year. That said, she actually did end up being an excellent high school player.
I played all three instruments well into my teen years, but eventually had to choose. I picked clarinet because it was my best instrument. I do still play piano recreationally, but clarinet is my primary instrument.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Philip DeVries
Date: 2014-08-11 19:14
I play music for recreation. As to why I play the clarinet specifically...
When my daughter was in 8th grade she switched to bass clarinet. I either had to sell the Bb or play it.
I played sax in high school just well enough to not get kicked out of band. It took me about six months work to play the clarinet better than I ever played the sax. I appreciate the clarinet sound and the versatility too.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
