 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JS
Date: 2001-08-16 18:35
I'm currently a graduate student. I'm still attending the same school at which I recieved my undergrad degree in performance. My husband and I have to stay here until his INS paperwork is processed -- obviously, he's not from this country! This should take another year.
My question has to do with our Symphony. It's not terrible and we do a fair amount of quality lit...Firebird a few years ago, Tchaik 4, Pines of Rome, Dvorak New World. I've gotten wonderful experience playing some of the "standards". But, at the same time, the orchestra is terribly hard to play in. Tuning, keeping the tempo, blending and all around musicality are rarely, if ever, accomplished all at one time. I feel like playing in this orchestra is teaching me some bad habits. I know that being able to blend with even the most terrible player is an invaluble skill (it's not that bad), but I am also starting to realize what this is doing to my individual playing. I have to move my embouchure constantly to keep the pitch somewhat stable. In my individual playing, I don't do that so switching back and forth is trying, to say the least.
I'd like some suggestions on how I can approach Symphony playing to keep my stress level at a minimum. I know that I am still learning from this symphony and from the conductor, but at times it makes me so crazy! I want to make this year as productive as possible. I don't want to spend it resenting every mistake that anyone makes. That's not what playing should be about. Any suggestions would be great -- thanks!
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-08-16 19:25
A suggestion: Every ensemble needs a linchpin for pitch --- a strong player with solid pitch onto whom the other players can anchor their own pitch(es). Perhaps you could assume that role? Instead of trying to match everyone else, be the one who sets the pitch and let them find you! Sometimes, democracy doesn't work ---- if, in a group, everyone is trying to match everyone else but no one player is considered to be the 'reference standard', then chaos may ensue (except, of course, if the entire orchestra is comprised of top-notch professionals). If your own pitch is spot-on and you know it, then don't feel too humble -- take charge. Perhaps your orchestra has been searching for such a guidepost and hasn't found it yet.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-08-16 21:38
There does not exist an orhestra that does not have some "give and take" when it comes to playing in tune. View this situation as an opportunity to develop flexability in tuning to others and make everyone sound better as a result. It is a skill that any wind or string player regardless of where they play--Little Pond Student Symphony Orchestra Workshop or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra--has to constantly use. The most tragic situation is where you sit next to a player who is "always right" and has no inclination--or possibly ability--to make necessary pitch adjustments to the ensemble. Those players should choose careers as soloists. Good intonation is always good cooperation, and the Chicago Symphony players are some of the best practioners of this fine art of "in tune" ensemble perfomance. Good Clarineting, and Good sensitive Listening!!! (both are important)
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-08-17 15:29
William,
I hope my post isn't misinterpreted as saying that JS should ignore everyone else pitch-wise all the time ---- this would be an extreme, and as we all know the truth in any subject generally lies somewhere in the middle. I was only conjecturing that perhaps the source of the frustration is that the other extreme exists, namely, that NOBODY feels confident in their pitch and thus EVERYONE is floundering (I used to play in such an orchestra, and the result was that even when I thought I had good pitch references, I was so full of self-doubt that I constantly moved things around trying to match pitches with my standmates, who were busy doing exactly the same thing, and thus we never got settled down). I'm suggesting that confidence, not arrogance, may be the ticket.
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Author: JS
Date: 2001-08-17 19:08
David --
Thanks for your comment. I hadn't thought of it that way before. I think I am trying to match everyone, in an effort for some agreement on pitch to be found. Perhaps being a leader may solve some problems. Maybe not, but anything is worth a try. Thanks!
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Author: William
Date: 2001-08-17 19:35
For the record, I also agree with David but still stress the importance of sensitivity and flexability in arriving at being "in tune" with the ensemble.
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