 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2026-09-16 22:05
Hi All,
Have you ever thought about when and how your performing career would end? I don’t mean practicing, but just not being part of a band/ensemble of any kind or doing pit work? Personally, I have many, many decades of jazz gigs, symphonic band work, and made a good bit of money with my saxes and clarinet but realize that at some time down the road I will no longer play.
Technical problem are not an issue and my chops are still quite good. But lately, some things have become very tedious like long drives to and from a rehearsal or gig in all sorts or weather, lugging too much gear around, and running out of energy sooner than later; physical barriers are becoming more challenging every day.
Above all, I have nothing to prove to myself and I have pretty much “seen it, done it” without too many problems. Never have I lacked for fine musicians/people to perform with. It has been a great ride.
So, have you ever thought about “hanging it up…?” Or when is the right time to hold em’ and when to fold em?’
Any thoughts?
Hank (I am an octogenarian)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-09-16 22:58
I just went “through” about a year of trying to judge personal satisfaction versus the ravages of time. It took a year off but I have gotten to a point where can glean some fun from continuing. For now.
…………Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2026-09-17 02:37
Hank Lehrer wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Have you ever thought about when and how your performing career
> would end?
Yes, and I expect my performing career will end when I feel incapable of playing musically or when the people who ask me to play (whether for pay or gratis) no longer ask me. Or when I'm no longer safe on the road driving to the gigs.
I certainly don't play as cleanly as I once did. But I've worked out some problems that seemed to be age-related that it turned out I am able to mostly fix. So, until I can't play anymore, I expect to keep going.
Besides, I don't really know what else I would find to do.
Karl
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2026-09-17 03:54
I do think about that. I always thought folks hit their peak around 60 years of age. I based this entirely on when I felt my favorite clarinetist seemed to hit his peak.
That doesn't mean folks past that age don't play much better than folks half that age - it was just a perception I internalized as a young man...based on a sample of "one."
As thoughts tend to do - it sticks with me even though I have more experience now and understand 60 isn't the peak, after all. Since I formed the veiwpoint as a youngster - the idea has been around so long that it still serves as sort of a mile marker out there for me to reference.
I've listened to some folks who truly loved music and played much later than they maybe should have - their music suffered so badly that once-great players make a new-comer cringe at the sound.
At the same time, some of my favorite playing/singing is from some of these folks whose "best" (tone/technical abilities/control) days are behind them.
Lars Edegran brought Lionel Ferbos in for a couple albums when Lionel was 88-90 years old. I find myself always coming back to these albums - Some of my favorite music albums of all times/dates/performers. Perhaps Lionel's vocals aren't perfect by today's singing standards, but they fit - his trumpet playing too. These groups understand time and space. I appreciate that. I always find my mind drifting from what I'm doing, and focusing on their music when it comes into rotation. How much higher praise can I offer?
So, I guess to answer your question: whenever the joy is gone.
I hope I'll find joy playing long after the hassle of playing in larger groups (and toting stuff) has passed. At the park, at church, or even...at home.
Though, I must admit - every time something new physically fails with my body, or becomes painful/tedious...it makes me revisit the sad question.
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2026-09-17 08:37
I've played in quite a few bands and the occasional orchestra since 1973. Some of them have folded in the last 25 years (probably due to lack of MPFT monies). I remain principal clarinet in the Westchester Band (NY) and my playing there is 7 concerts in summer. I've been a soloist in a number of places over the years and 22 times with the WB. I joined this band age 31 and am now 72-- I often say "Hey, remember when we were young and all those old folks in the band? Now we are them". I did the Debussy in 2025 and hope to do the Weber Concertino next summer or the year after. That will probably be my last solo appearance as I just don't seem to have the same enthusiasm as in the past, and I feel the pressure to perform well more than before. How long I'll play is how long I'm still capable to be first chair. I probably won't then play 3rd clarinet in a non-paying community band. Time will tell.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book -- Songburd Music (paper and digital)
Search title. Amazon.com (search Tom Heimer).
Boreal Ballad solo -- Songburd Music item -- search title.
Post Edited (2026-09-17 08:38)
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2026-09-17 11:11
Ah this is such a personal thing! Maybe my story can help?
After 12 years in a prominent military band in the UK where I spent time as principal Eb & principal clarinet, I decided to move from London back home to Australia. I was also severely burnt out and wasn't enjoying music anymore. I decided that it would be really good for me to move on with my life and begin the next phase. My final gig was in Oslo for the King & Queen of Norway and I closed the case for the last time and caught my flight back to London to begin preparing for the big move back down under.
I got a pretty decent corporate job but I wasn't entirely happy and was still wondering what else I could do. A friend from 20 years ago kept inviting me to play in amateur things and I resisted for about 6 months before giving in and I did some very enjoyable amateur gigs. Then the work started coming in: teaching, playing, adjudicating etc. I was able to quit the corporate job very shortly after this and I've been a freelance musician for about 18 months now; a very difficult thing to do in a town where nobody knows me!
The break & change of scenery was what I needed; I enjoy playing more than ever, and I'd say my playing is better than ever. I'm currently preparing for a professional audition in about 4 weeks. I'm hoping to go back into a full-time playing career because, at 43, I think I've got another good 20 years in me.
I strongly believe that your best performance may yet be ahead of you.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2026-09-17 12:28
Hi Hank! I understand your thoughts perfectly. One reason not to pack it up is that there is nothing better for retaining one's mental abilities than music. It also provides us with a social life, which is also good for preserving mental health. As long as I don't become a burden to my musical partners, I will carry on.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: graham
Date: 2026-09-17 15:20
The oldest player who still plays chamber music with me is almost 92 years old. A group meets about twice a year. He used to play better. Tone and tuning have gone downhill, and he plays at one unvarying dynamic. But he can sight read all the tricky parts, doesn’t either lag or rush, and can still play around five hours in the day (which is a lot better than many much younger people).
In my view, there’s no reason for him to stop. He is an inspiration to younger players. It’s all about moderating your expectations and finding people who will still play with you. And as Ruben says, it’s proof that playing music is good for the mind as well as for the heart.
graham
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2026-09-17 17:33
Hi All,
Thanks for the many thoughtful as well as revealing responses. I appreciate your candor. Getting feedback from my peers is quite wonderful.
It appears I am not the only person around that has wrestled with the same situation. Sadly, while fingers, ears, and eyes still work, I do wear special glasses, use a hearing assist device, and depend on an iPad. The unknown factor though is my mind is saying one thing while body has other ideas.
We shall see how this works out but I do plan to continue practicing for as long as I can. Or as they say "they will have to pry my clarinet from my cold, dead hands." :-)
Best,
Hank
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2026-09-17 17:35
Better that colleagues are sorry to see you go than ecstatic you finally left.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2026-09-17 20:28
Hi graham. Your mention of an older member who still plays well except for tone and tuning brought to mind a former colleague who fit that same description. I wonder how the changes described are related to changes in hearing. The great pianist Sviatoslav Richter had one of the stupendous musical memories of all time, over 80 complete recitals with encores (no duplicates) plus a raft of concertos, but late in life he started to play from the score. The reason wasn't a faltering memory, it was hearing change: he was hearing notes a whole tone higher than they actually were, so it felt like he should play lower. It messed up his lifelong connection between aural and muscle memory, so he had to resort to visual input. Note that his hearing was still acute enough otherwise - he didn't need hearing aids. It appears that even if external muscle techniques (like embouchure on clarinet) are still functional, perceptions may gradually change and alter what one means to do.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2026-09-17 21:56
Philip: That is not the Richter story I heard. I have it that he always played using the score because that allowed him to have a larger repertoire; not to have to memorize everything freed him to play more pieces. It is true that his musical pitch perception went awry late in life,and that this prompted him to stop playing altogether. That is what I remember from watching the Bruno Monsaingeon film about him.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: graham
Date: 2026-09-18 01:03
Thanks Philip. Yes, he uses hearing aids but has to switch them off when playing. That may well be a factor. Perhaps he also aims for an easy ‘cruising’ set up which comes at a cost in refinement.
Best
graham
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2026-09-18 01:21
Hi ruben. Interesting. I believe I got the info I related from Monsaingeon's book, which quoted Richter extensively. Further investigation substantiates both angles, memory and hearing change. The book mentioned the recital number in regards to his memorization powers (uh, I'm going from memory here, lol: I loaned that excellent book to a friend long ago, which was unwise of me.) Richter did say that he had to keep refreshing his memorized repertoire or errors would creep in, so it wasn't total recall. He also made the complaint about the hearing change and how it forced him to read from a score, so that may refer to pieces he otherwise felt fully in recall of or to non-performing contexts.
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