Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2017-12-26 23:11
(Sorry for the long subject line):
I spent part of the morning watching YouTube video interviews of great clarinetists, and clarinet instructors. It seems that many related experiencing some type of "Aha!" moment during their earlier years, when they heard one particular clarinetist or another in a live setting. As a result, they suddenly became dedicated to earnestly pursuing the clarinet on a different level than they had previously.
I was taught by (the late) Ralph Strouf, and had a genuine and deep affection for him. He privately played with Benny Goodman, knew Goodman well, and performed both classical and swing music brilliantly. He also happened to be a truly great teacher and all-around nice guy. Sadly, my personal "Aha!" moment didn't come from my years with Ralph...it came back in 2001 after hearing Bob Wilber in an intimate setting - completely solo with no accompaniment of any kind. The tone, the voicing, the projection...well, just about everything...hit me in a new and profound way which changed the course of my life.
Listening to these interviews on YouTube, and comparing those stories with my own - made me wonder how common such epiphanies are for clarinetists in general. Is there an "Aha!" live performance which changed your dedication to the instrument or the way you approached it? A sort of "launching-off" point (or "re-launching-off" point), so to speak?
Just curious,
Fuzzy
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The Clarinet BBoard
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