The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-09-25 13:11
Could you provide a synopsis?
I'm not much for the "Financial Times."
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2020-09-26 06:05
Learning to play an instrument this late in life is difficult. Having the passion is good but it may not be what it takes. Should he get a wood instrument or a less expensive composite? His family thinks he has gone daft (if you are alive, whose family doesn't think this?) Etc.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2020-09-26 06:08
This is what I remember.
Learning to play an instrument this late in life is difficult. Having the passion is good but it may not be what it takes. Should he get a wood instrument or a less expensive composite? His family thinks he has gone daft (if you are alive, whose family doesn't think this?) Maybe soon I will actually be able to play a song. Etc.
It let me look once but I can't look again without subscribing.
Post Edited (2020-09-26 06:10)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-09-26 13:01
Yeah, the subscription request has stopped me from checking it out.
I have always been an advocate of pursuing a passion. As long as there is no financial (burdensome) downside, one should advantage oneself with the best equipment and instruction that can be acquired. Why not? Don't miss the main message which is that a certain activity (hobby, pastime, vocation) can bring enjoyment. If you know what that is.........do it.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2020-09-26 23:11
I noticed this article earlier today and really enjoyed it. The man is taking the mickey out of himself, saying that learning to play the clarinet is a bit of a silly mid-life crisis activity and that he would probably be more useful at a barbeque if he was learning the guitar.
I really enjoyed the article though as I'm also a midlife crisis learner and it means the whole world to me to be learning to play, even though I am in my forties. I was a comically bad musician when I was young and somehow being a bit older seems to mean that the necessary skills have now kicked in (including saying "no" to music teachers, which is really important.)
I wished that I could have written back to him and said "Do it!".
He bought a plastic clarinet because he was worried that he wouldn't last at it and didn't want to sacrifice a rainforest tree unless he was sure he would persist, which I thought was a good point. I didn't realise that my wooden clarinet was from a rainforest tree until I got it home and discovered the tree's name in the user manual. (oh the shame...)
Basically though the guy is high-fiving the clarinet community in a very public way, which I also thought was nice, especially when the folks who sell and maintain clarinets and those who play in public are kind of up against it.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2020-09-27 00:55
It asked me to subscribe and I never do that. But question-- Why would it be harder for a middle aged adult to start an instrument than a kid? Is there evidence?
During the brief time I taught privately I had one adult woman (maybe 35-40) who did at least as well as any of my beginning band students. Not a lot of data, I know.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
Post Edited (2020-09-27 00:58)
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2020-09-27 01:05
I think it's only harder if the person's had problems with injury or stiffness that imped the physical movement needed for playing.
One of the things I'm very aware of is that I might get ten years' play and then develop problems in my hands that bring the whole thing to shuddering halt. However, for me that just means I am enjoying every minute that I get and accepting that it might not last forever.
I only think of this injury issue because it was a wrist injury that shifted me from violin and piano playing to the clarinet. I met a person in the music shop last year who was switching from clarinet to french horn for the same reason. (fewer fingers needed, in that case)
I reckon if everything anatomical still works, then learning as an adult should be quicker and easier. I learned the vioin as a 15 year old and that was definitely easier than learning as a small child I found.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2020-09-27 05:50
Makes sense to me. I think I'm getting a little arthritis in my knuckles. Not good.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2020-09-27 12:33
I'm sorry to hear that Tom. I always have half an eye on what other instruments I could play if bits go wrong. One day, I think it might just be sibelius, but that could be good too.
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