 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SquidwardOnDrugs
Date: 2023-10-13 16:17
I have been playing for ~5 years of my life (I'm a sophomore) and I practice around 1 - 2 hours a day, but I want to commit more time so I can make all state next year (Not this years). The only thing that has been holding me back is my addiction to video games. I really want to quit or at least limit myself to 1 -2 hours a day. Is this a good idea?
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-10-13 17:37
Hi,
I'm a Mum in a computer gaming/music household, and I do know just what you mean.
I think if you want to practise a bit more and play a bit less, it would probably be worth reading about the how computer games are designed to stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain. They are actually set up to give you a sense of achievement and pleasure, measured out in small manageable doses over a long period of time. So they're really designed to keep you happy and to keep you playing.
So if you go cold turkey on the computer games and switch to clarinet then you will suddenly lose out on a whole lot of happy hormones, and might feel really cheesed off with your clarinet quite quickly.
If you read up about how computer games provide you with that sense of satisfaction, then you could probably figure out a way to structure your clarinet practise so you also get all those positive feelings and can actually enjoy the process. Ideally, you still want to be getting your dose of dopamine, but get it from the clarinet instead.
It's probably also best not to completely give up the computer games, because they probably help you relax and feel good, and playing clarinet for 7 hours a day could really mess up your hands.
One idea that works for us is to make a rule for yourself like "no computer games during X time of day". Then you will find yourself really bored at those times, and might gladly reach for your clarinet. But you will also have the games to look forward to after that time period finishes.
Good luck!
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Author: SquidwardOnDrugs
Date: 2023-10-13 18:29
Thank you so much for the advice! I think that is an absolutely great solution, and I will most likely use it. I probably will limit my hours as well as blocking myself from using it during those times unless it's for like work or something.
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-10-13 20:00
I'm really glad that's useful. In our house we have the concept of "wholegrain screentime" so that if we need the computer during the non-screen-time hours, we can still do that.
There is this other really interesting thread that you might enjoy here:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=507528&t=507528
I had been wondering for ages why our current generation seemed to be doing things all wrong, while the 1950s people seemed to live lives that were pure as the driven snow. I found the information on that thread extremely helpful for getting a bit of perspective.
The summary is that a healthy amount of computer gaming is probably better than smoking or getting drunk and fighting in a car park. I thought that was really helpful to know.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2023-10-13 20:08
SquidwardOnDrugs wrote:
> I have been playing for ~5 years of my life (I'm a sophomore)
> and I practice around 1 - 2 hours a day, but I want to commit
> more time so I can make all state next year (Not this years).
You should also consider how you're using your practice time. If you are practicing effectively, 1 - 2 hours a day really should be enough to allow decent growth in your playing.
IMO, aging curmudgeon that I am, if you're now spending more than 1 - 2 hours a day on video games, you should probably try SunnyDaze's advice about how to cut down, even if you don't devote all the free the time you gain from less video time to practicing clarinet. Between video games and practicing, do you spend time on other important things - like regular exercise? How are your grades at school (do you spend enough time on school work to keep them up)?
Karl
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Author: lydian
Date: 2023-10-13 22:29
Ok, I’m going to be that old “get off my lawn” guy. I think video games, social media, phones, etc. are a big reason school music programs struggle these days. Kids have too many distractions and hence don’t devote the time or develop the passion to become good musicians. In my day, our school band sounded amazing compared to the same level of bands today. Yes, there always were and always will be a certain number of incredibly talented kids, but the overall level of musicianship is generally much lower today.
TLDR, yes, try to limit the distractions and invest your time in something meaningful and fulfilling like music.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2023-10-14 00:13
This is just an addendum to SunnyDaze's very informative response.
"Video games can be addictive"
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/video-game-health/202307/the-argument-for-video-game-addiction
When I was a young teenager, our 12" B&W, round, TV had around 4 channels. It wasn't that hard to get disinterested in what was playing on TV.
So...I was an amateur radio operator and still remember the thrill of talking to people all over the earth (my license is still valid); I played handball at the local park (never could beat the Chicago city champion but it sure was fun trying!); I had my daily newspaper route to do; and I worked (20hrs/week) in a local, family owned, bakery (breaking all kinds of child labor laws...but it was a total blast for me!); then, of course, I was also expected to take care of our fairly large lawn with a push lawn mower. My musical instrument of choice was the organ and I managed, somehow, to get around 2 hours of practice time daily. Throughout my life, I've been privileged to play small concerts in nursing homes in 5 different states. (Trust me! You'll never find a better, more appreciative audience than in a nursing home!)
All I can add is...thank goodness video games didn't exist when I was a teenager because I would have missed out on so many interesting and rewarding activities!
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2023-10-14 00:54
I think that the quick, blunt answer to the topic question is.....
Quitting video games to commit to ANYTHING ELSE is a good idea.
In Silicon Valley where they invent this stuff, parents don't allow their children to use it because , as Jennifer pointed out , they know it is a highly addictive drug. And that's literally. It has been in deeply studied and tailored to be addictive and we now have rehabilitation centers to treat very real victims.
My kids read books, play musical instruments, kick balls,race kayaks and climb trees and don't seem to envy their friends with video games. They will naturally get exposed to all that eventually, but I figure it's my job to build a good foundation of values into them while I can.
I've just sent them off to play football on Lydian's lawn .
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-10-14 01:02
Is it okay if I speak up for today's teens a little, just to give some context for those who don't currently live with one?
I live around teenagers, and life is very very different for them these days.
When I was a teenager, we didn't have the internet or tv on demand 24/7, and that did mean that we did a lot of different things.
However, we also didn't have nearly so many child safety rules. Kids at even age 5 could play down at the docks, or on building sites. We ran free outside after dark, and played inside derelict buildings and on overgrown abandoned estates. We could play in old quarries. 11 year olds smoked cigarettes, and 12 year olds got pregnant (at least where I lived). We didn't worry about "stranger danger". We played musical instruments badly, and that was fine, because it made a change from listening to that one cassette again for the 40th time.
These days kids have so many safety rules about what they must not do outside and at home. They now are so disciplined about following rules, that there is practically nothing left that they can do, except school work, computer games, social media, and being depressed (check the statistics if you do not believe me).
If they do have the courage to try playing music, then there is huge pressure to be brilliant, rather than to just play for pleasure. Because otherwise you would just listen to spotify, right?
I think this is part of the reason why they play video games. Also the video games are very very good these days. A lot of them have plots on the scale of the Lord of the Rings, and newly commissioned orchestral music, with amazing art. They really are quite an art form in their own right. I have a sense that these days playing a good video game is not a million miles from settling down with a Tolkien novel, except that the player is also right inside the novel, with a feeling of agency and adventure, and the power to change things that they can't change in the real world. It is adventurous, but it is also physically safe, unlike playing on a building site.
The downside is that young people are now not getting to live their real lives, and develop as people in the real world. But I don't think it's the fault of the video games. I think the problem is that the world has changed and they are stuck.
I suppose the question is - how do we open up the real world for teens these days and make it a land of opportunity, rather than an endless list of rules, and pressure to be excellent?
I am working very hard on figuring that out here, but I haven't exactly got there yet.
SquidwardOnDrugs - I would be interested to know if you think this is right. I only see it from my one pair of eyes to it may be different for you
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-10-14 01:18
Hi Julian,
Would it be okay to ask if your kids are under age 10 and living in a rural area? I'm in a city with teens, which may be different.
Jen
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Author: SquidwardOnDrugs
Date: 2023-10-14 05:05
lydian, what you said is so true though. I am 1st Chair of Clarinet, and would probably be 3rd the 4th chair if there were actually people in the band instead of people who don't practice. So I don't have an environment where I can thrive. People in our school only practice during school hours, leaving their instruments to rot in the closet (literally). So the only time I can actually play good repertoire is in all states and in music festivals.
Post Edited (2023-10-14 05:06)
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Author: Clarineat
Date: 2023-10-14 07:56
If you are addicted to anything it will prevent success in everything.
As a father of two kids with a full time job and podcasts it seems impossible to find 1-2 hours a day to do anything for myself... let alone spend it gaming.
I DO game though, and always have, but it's like my grandma used to say.... everything in moderation.
I tend to agree that spending 2 hours gaming is probably better than a host of other activities, but that doesn't make it a "good" use of your time especially if you know you're sacrificing being your best for it.
If you really want the all-state win, you'll practice more. If you don't you won't. Simple as that, really.
That being said, if the way you unwind after a day or busy week is gaming for a few hours, and it's not affecting your life, what's the problem?
Sean Perrin
Host of the Clarineat Podcast
Listen FREE at www.clarineat.com
hello@clarineat.com
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-10-14 09:23
Hi SquidwardOnDrugs ,
Is it possible that your peers need a little more encouragement to practise, and that might get you better access to good music? Maybe you could all get together and work on your skills? Possibly they are also cooped up with nothing to do, and pouring all their time into their gaming?
Perhaps you could lash together an arrangment of some of your favourite game music and challenge yourselves to play it?
There is a lot of that going on here, and I know a friend of mine, who is a community band conductor is writing orchestral arrangments of game music.
For folks on th list who don't play computer games, here are some of the good bits of music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY4WjuVTdvY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HbeSH9I7Ik&list=PLNvQcJ1tQe2SLnLQcwQvaiLuxM1fBiRHJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOQ_VKbVepw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdNpaJwLiZA
Adult learner, Grade 3
Equipment: Yamaha Custom CX Bb, Fobes 10K CF mp,
Legere Bb clarinet European Cut #2.5, Vandoren Optimum German Lig.
Post Edited (2023-10-14 09:44)
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2023-10-14 11:34
Hi Jen,
I very much appreciate your angle on this matter and think that your analysis on how things have changed is absolutely right generally speaking.
Yes !...me and my family are very lucky to live in a rural area and that changes everything. Most of their friends live in apartments and that's very restrictive for children growing up in today's world.
I think what make parenting work out for most families in urban Spain, is the fact that they are a highly civic minded people and that has led to an interpretation of socialism in which town halls almost compete with one another to offer as many highly subsidized extra curricula activities as they can.
Anything done for children is an investment not only in the wellbeing of society today, but also in a future generation of adults.
The fact that children can choose from such a bounty of activities also gives them a proud and empowered relationship with what they have chosen to commit to.
Spain is not a perfect country, but I love it because the Spanish just seem to have their heads screwed on right where it really matters, and defend the things that make life worthy of the definition.
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2023-10-16 06:19
You're practicing more than I do. Though I did go through a period in 11th grade doing 3 hours daily most days. There were no video games in 1970-71.
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: 2023-10-16 09:57
Hi Julian,
Thanks for your comments and for chatting off-list about it. That was helpful.
I think we may be derailing the discussion a bit, and maybe we should let SquidwardOnDrugs take back control of the thread now.
Jennifer
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Author: moma4faith
Date: 2023-10-16 23:28
Hello, SquidwardOnDrugs. It sounds like you are very interested in improving your musicianship. Is there a chance that you could start taking private lessons? That would greatly help all aspects of your playing and would help you tons for all state auditions. You may even find that the commitment of taking and paying for private lessons will help your gaming addictive ways. Your band director might be the one to help you find the perfect private teacher. It sounds as if you are playing a good amount of time each day. A private teacher will help you practice "smarter" - getting you into the exercises and music that will help you most.
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Author: SquidwardOnDrugs
Date: 2023-10-23 17:59
moma4faith wrote:
Is there a chance that you
> could start taking private lessons? That would greatly help all
> aspects of your playing and would help you tons for all state
> auditions. You may even find that the commitment of taking and
> paying for private lessons will help your gaming addictive
> ways.
I am planning on taking private lessons starting this winter, my mom is taking me somewhere to try one person on Wednesday.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2023-10-23 19:25
"Addiction..."
which I put in quotes because you're not likely to go through classic withdrawal symptoms (e.g. Delierium Tremens for alcoholism, heroin detox) that themselves require professionally supervised titration to reduce potentially dangerous side effects and increase the likelihood for success....
is generally a positive step so that you can better control your life and steer yourself towards happiness, than some thing controlling you; not to mention in the case of controlled substance addiction, that ingested has its own bad side effects.
Obsession, on the other hand, which quite frankly many clarinet players near need to possess to make it in performance, and which can have its own signature withdrawal symptoms--if not potentially life threatening--might better describe your relationship with video games. Like addiction, obsession can reduce the quality of life when it gets in the way of normal function. We humans are creatures of habit: it's precisely why (proper) practice...works. But remove that habit and it can throw a monkey wrench into our psyche .
Commitment is taking something seriously, but perhaps not the point of it controlling your life--but does come with its own sacrifices. If you're committed to playing principal clarinet in a top 5 orchestra, you probably don't have time to also surf (web or waves) much.
Thus, generally speaking, the movement from obsession to commitment, either in the the same endeavor, or switching endeavors is good. People tend to think music a more noble cause that video games, but that's your call. I say generally good here because I'd rather you obsessed with clarinet than become committed to recreational drug use, for example.
Stated in different terms, if someone asked if they should transition from their video game commitment to playing an instrument I'd probably ask them more about what they like to do before hazarding an answer. I think its a noble transition but that's just me and I'm biased.
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Author: senexclarinetta
Date: 2023-10-24 00:26
Quitting? Probably not. If video games are fun for you and a source of interaction with your friends, it's not meaningless. (For the olds: it's less like saying "give up TV" and more like saying "never hang out with your friends")
I tend to blame the death of music programs on the lack of funding, not on the phones, y'know?
But should they be lower on the priority list for now? Yes, but so would many other fun activities. If you want to excel at clarinet, or school, or sports, you probably need to step back from gaming a bit, just because for many people gaming eats all their time.
I found that there were diminishing returns to long practice sessions, personally. Definitely talk to your teacher about practice expectations.
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Author: Connor1700
Date: 2023-10-24 01:38
Hi, my name is Squidwardondrugs and I'm a game-aholic.
Sounds like you might need professional help. If you're predisposed to addictive behavior, you might need to get a handle on this before you get any older.
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