 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2018-11-27 19:54
A general topic has been crossing my mind lately. What goes when you get older? Fingers? Ears? Memory? Other? It probably varies by individual, but maybe there's some generalities. Along these lines, I'd be interested to hear any health reasons that older pros retired (without needing to hear names named.)
What can one do to resist? Maybe the answer is obvious, practice! Maybe there are less obvious answers too.
I'm going on 66 and playing the best I ever have - I've been focused these last 12 years. Health is good, but I'm getting some osteoarthritis here and there, shoulders in particular. I do exercise my hands each day, apart from practicing clarinet. I'd like to keep playing in coming years, keep improving if possible. But realistically one must expect and perhaps prepare for a downward arc at some point.
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Author: Windy Dreamer
Date: 2018-11-27 20:42
I discovered the clarinet about 6 years ago at about 59 years of age.So far my clarinet journey has been all uphill. Playing the clarinet has had positive effects in some areas of age related health such as tinnitis, arthritis and couch potato muscular atrophy.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-11-27 21:19
Philip Caron wrote:
> A general topic has been crossing my mind lately. What goes
> when you get older? Fingers? Ears? Memory? Other?
For me it's definitely fingers. I never had a good memory to begin with, so I can't judge what's happening there. I also think I need to breathe more often, but that seems to be reed dependent. I can still play longer on a breath than most of my students.
Everyone has some hearing loss, especially high frequency loss and generally progressive, as they age. Whatever I've lost in an audiologist's test doesn't seem to affect my playing (or my ability to hear everyday sounds).
My fingering problems have less to do with lost dexterity than with covering the holes, especially on my A clarinet. I think my fingers and thumbs just don't stretch naturally as far as they did when I was only a little younger (I turned 71 in May). I've thought about adding a couple of plateaus, probably on each of the index fingers. But so far regular practice on the A, even when the part is written for Bb or C clarinet seems to minimize the problem. I also do stretching exercises with my hands, although I'm not convinced that they help much.
Karl
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2018-11-27 21:46
When I hit age 70 I started to notice embouchure issues where my usual reliable embouchure would act like it was collapsing, particularly before I was thoroughly warmed up. Because of this I decided to back away from principal playing, being happy to play second or participate in a less intense performance group. I have been experimenting with reeds a half size lighter than I normally use and that seems to help, except not being real happy with the tone quality. For me, it means an adjustment in level of playing (and being happy to allow younger players to have opportunities, too). At some point I would like to be that 95 year old player sitting back in the clarinet section and still doing a decent job of playing the part.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2018-11-27 22:10
I just turned Octogenarian and...
It ain't fun!
Hearing loss is the worst - and hearing aids can make it even worse since most hearing loss in the highest frequencies, which means the loss is in the high overtones. If anyone hears an older clarinet player who has a brash, screechy sound, it probably sounds fine to the player the way he/she remembers a good sound. I ask good players to critique my sound and try to teach my brain to learn what my best sound sounds like to me now. At 66 I would suggest asking good younger players to critique your sound because the loss has probably already started.
Arthritis? - my right 'ring' finger begins to hurt if curved enough to hit the low 'G' hole so it often leaks. Right thumb is a problem too.
Fast articulation is gone. I used to have a 144 speed but no amount of work can get it above 120 now.
Memory? Gotta make a lot of lists.
Good teeth? I have all of mine.
Benefits of a long career? A lot of experience! I can remember how to fake in a convincing way to get through tough parts. Most young'uns don't have that yet.
Of course it will be different for everyone according to the DNA and Genes.
Post Edited (2018-11-28 03:10)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2018-11-28 00:38
I gave up the clarinet in my 20's and took it up again 48 years later. The muscle memory was still there and soon I was better at 68 than I'd been at 20. Now, with 80 just around the corner I find I've slowed down in the last few years. My hearing isn't as good as far as speech goes, although my tone is still good. I've lost speed, mainly due to osteo-arthritis in the hands.
When I was 20 I was in the Air Force and I was involved in a humungous crash.They shovelled the bits back together as well as the technology of the day allowed and said that I'd better hope that by the time I got into my 60's somebody had discovered something really good for arthritis. When I got there nobody had.
Carpal tunnel syndrome caused me some problems with finger sensitivity a few years back, but I had that fixed and I've got most of it back. At that time I bought a plateau clarinet to enable me to continue playing. I no longer need it now, but I'm hanging on to it because I'm sure I'll need it again someday.
I've always had a good memory and that is still with me. I lost a lot of visual acuity in my early 70's, but a few years back I had lense replacement surgery in both eyes and now I can read music on the other side of town.
These days I enjoy backstopping the 3rd claris and watching young players move up the ranks. Some of the kids in our community band are astonishingly good.
Tony F.
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Author: monnarush
Date: 2018-11-28 01:01
I am only 56 but have a lot of osteo-arthritis and some bone spurs. I have took to using a neck strap to take some of the pressure off my hands and wrists that I had been feeling. I also use a good thumb saddle and these have helped.
My embouchure is not great but getting better still fussing with finding the right reed for me.
I am due for an eye exam and will be seeing my Dr. next week, I feel that my eyes are changing again :( but still can read with my glasses.
I have some ringing in my ears occasionally not sure why at this time but it is only occasionally and loud or high pitched sounds bother me some. I still play the higher notes and my dog cries and begs me to stop. I was putting her out when practicing but now its cold so she puts up with my pratice.
I have not played since high school but am making good progress already on Book II and also play othe pieces for fun as well. I did play 6 years of piano a few years back and that helped me with picking up sight reading again.
Just purchased the Rose Etudes and will start that soon to use along side my other work.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2018-11-28 01:59
I think I am in Karl's camp on this.
I am now 81 and as posted some weeeks back have had problems in covering the 1st and 3rd finger holes on RH and even a tendency for LH1 sometimes to slide down slightly. My hands have become very "slippery" and after seeing another post I also realised my finger prints had almost disappeared.
Great for crime scenes, but not so good for keeping the fingers firmly on nthe holes.
Slight arthritis in both pinkies is a growing problem.
Hearing is obviously not so brilliant now but doesn't seem to be a problem.
Yes tongue is definitely not as agile.
In my mid 70s I started moving myself down from the solo position, happy to be no.2 then no. 3
Fortunately a start of this year the bass clarinet position became vacant and I jumped at that. In terms of breath and finger strength even more demanding, but the plateau keywork is a boon and the semi quavers are fewer and further apart.
I am greatly enjoying the new sound perspective from being in the middle of the band, and great to let the younger players get on with the demi-semi quavers.
My final fall back position is now in plan.
When everything else has failed, I have my secret weapon, my alto clarinet, to fall back on. (no one else seems to be clamouring for that position!!)
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-11-28 06:54
Caroline Smale wrote:
> My final fall back position is now in plan.
> When everything else has failed, I have my secret weapon, my
> alto clarinet, to fall back on. (no one else seems to be
> clamouring for that position!!)
>
Or, you could pick up a baton and start conducting.
Karl
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2018-11-28 10:05
Hi Philip,
My hearing went when I was in my 30s. Modern hearing aid technology fixed that about four years ago and I started playing again. Now, fingers are the most problematic; they hurt sometimes, and don't move as fluidly as one might like. With sufficient prep time, though, the Bärmann scales, arpeggios and so on seem to get them on track, except for the R thumb, which doesn't like the 1010 thumb rest position one bit. So I've started doing the Marcellus thing again, resting the bell on my knees. Playing with other older players, the real non-negotiable thing that either goes or doesn't seems to be the mind, though. People start to not be able to count rests, or remain relaxed enough to keep the tempo in fast passages. Not much you can do about that. I've been lucky with the embouchure, but that's clearly vulnerable. Diet and vitamins can help with that.
At 67, I feel similar to what you described: all things considered, I'm playing better now than when I stopped because of the ears, in 1986. The long term strategy, though, is to start messing with composition when I can't manage decent clarinet playing anymore. Or at least, after I can afford to retire, in maybe four more years. Extrovert clarinetists tend to go into conducting. Haydn was 69 when he wrote the Schöpfungsmesse, which is one of the most innovative pieces around, so it isn't like one's creativity gets arthritis or something.
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Author: JEG ★2017
Date: 2018-11-30 01:35
I was recently thinking about this as I will be turning 69 in two weeks.
It's different for everyone, I suppose. I've been fortunate - no arthritis, no aches and pains, generally in good condition in spite of being diagnosed as diabetic 25 years ago.
I was a professional until the mid 80s, then put down the horn until 1998, and got really serious again in 2000, so there was a pretty good layoff before I came back.
Where aging gets me the most is in my tongue speed. I was never blessed with great speed to begin with, but a few years after I came back I noticed my tongue getting slower. I went from being able to tongue 16ths at about 126 to the high 80s now. As a result I've developed my double and triple tongueing as a survival strategy. My fingers are a bit slower as well, but that has caused me to refine my technique with an emphasis on efficiency of movement.
My embouchure continues to improve. I play double lip, and even though my tech is always urging me to give it up I see no need to as of yet. Last year I bought a new clarinet mouthpiece, which will the last one I buy; it's that good.
My hearing is normal for my age group and I have tinnitus in my right ear as a result of someone being nice enough to throw a firecracker from a moving car, but usually it doesn't bother me.
Another result of getting older is decreased patience. I just quit the community orchestra I've been in for the last 12 years, partially because there were things I didn't want to put up with unless I was being paid. Mercenary but true. I still work full time and doing that and then tolerating the orchestra stuff was getting to be a bit much. Maybe I'll change my mind when I retire in a year or so.
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Author: Dan Oberlin ★2017
Date: 2018-11-30 02:07
Am 70. Same comment as JEG: an already pathetically slow tongue has gotten even slower. Glad I picked up some double and triple tonguing along the way,
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2018-11-30 06:26
I'm 64 and haven't noticed any decline in my playing. Have been very lucky physically. Eyesight concerns, but I easily deal with those. Have reduced my daily practicing from an hour to 30 minutes. That's enough for the playing I do nowadays. I still scuba dive too. Maybe everything will fall apart at once...?
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Author: Burt
Date: 2018-12-01 18:26
At 77, I've also had some issues. Tonguing is slower, and I occasionally lose concentration, especially during no-brainer passages in the music. With bifocals, eyesight is not a problem.
I've had hand surgery to remove Dupytrens nodules which limited finger movement. And an injury at age 20 got a lot worse lately; I'll have to get the LH f#/c# key modified if the pinky gets any worse.
Despite these problems, I'm enjoying playing clarinet (and sax) as much as ever. Like the athlete who uses accumulated knowledge to offset reduced physical skills, I'll hang on.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2018-12-03 00:42
At somewhat north of 65, I'm extremely lucky to have most everything working decently. I have to do some hand stretching before playing flute, to get the angle right for the left wrist/fingers; other than that, I'm good.
I have had discussions with older string-player pals, though, who play at a very high professional level and have had finger issues (a finger can no longer be counted on to land where it's supposed to, WHEN it's supposed to, necessitating three-finger playing in the left hand at times). Especially in today's competitive and demanding musical environment, bum fingers are kept secret--there's already tremendous pressure in some major orchestras to push older players out for younger players just on a cosmetic basis; no older player wants it to get around that dexterity is an issue. Likewise, one of the top players in the area started selling off instruments recently; the underlying reason (communicated to me with an imperative to keep it quiet) was a diagnosis of early-onset dementia.
I don't have such issues, so I'm feeling lucky, and enjoying the instruments more and more all the time. I admire the grace and acceptance the commenters in the thread here, regarding physical limitations. (I admire Ms Smale's tiered plan for disengaging as physically required!).
Best of luck to all of us as the years come on!
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Author: klim
Date: 2018-12-03 04:32
Sounds like arthritis in hand joints affects many older players. As as 69 yr old I've found taking boswellia, also known as Indian frankincense, can greatly reduce this discomfort and increase finger dexterity.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2018-12-04 02:59
I was recommended "Turmeric" as helpful for hand arthritis"
Been using it for a few months now. Nothing dramatic but it does seemed to have helped a little.
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Author: davyd
Date: 2018-12-04 23:57
"What goes when you get older? Fingers? Ears? Memory? Other?"
I'll vote for an Other. After 33+ years in community ensembles, I'm losing the capacity to be pleasantly surprised by anything. Particularly during the holiday season, Ecclesiastes 1:9 increasingly seems to be the order of the day.
Post Edited (2018-12-05 21:07)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2018-12-05 00:01
davyd wrote:
> "What goes when you get older? Fingers? Ears? Memory? Other?"
Patience for bad/careless playing.
...GBK
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