 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chuck Kelly
Date: 1999-06-03 00:30
I've just started my 7th month of clarinet lesson's and am very near the end of Rubank elementary clarinet. What is really meant by first, second, third year student?? I mean is there a particular place a person is "normally" at at each time frame? I am 64 and I know I will never equal what a youngster can or will do, but I have no real gage to go by. I put in a MINIMUM 2hrs per day practice, but feel my tone should be better, my fluency better, my errors less. It just gets discouraging. I have a kohlert beginning clarinet and A 62 Selmer Paris that I use primarily. Using 2 and 21/2 strength vandorens.
INPUT appreciated.
Chuck
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-06-03 00:37
Hello!
You should not feel depressed. Just because we of the younger generation "can do more" in your eyes, doesn't mean that you are less of a person. In fact, I feel that the older beginners are more dedicated than we brash youths. To whom are you comparing your tone? To whose consistancy are you comparing yours? Who makes no mistakes? Do not feel depressed because you feel that you are inadequate. There are many adults out there who never picked up a clarinet, and missed out on the wonderful experiences those have who play it. Enjoy life, and count your blessings. 'Sides, I don't practice 2 hours anymore, I'm lucky if I practice 15 minutes. If you feel you're making a lot of mistakes, then you are challenging yourself, which is something I need to do for myself... Again: You should feel good about yourself. Think of how far you have come-and how far you feel you can go.
the rising freshman,
Nicole Y.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-06-03 00:54
Good words, Nicole!
I'm one of those adult beginners, too - just about 2 1/2 years of playing, starting when I was 42. We tend to be more "pushy" when it comes to these kinds of things - we know what we wnat to hear, but it can take a couple of thousand hours of practice to do it :^)
keep it fun, don't punish yourself, and it'll get better. Believe me - it does!
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Author: Sara
Date: 1999-06-03 02:22
Hey anyone who is willing to practice two hours has got to be cool about playing if you put forth that much effort. I called it a success when I practice 20 to 30 minutes a day. And you say you make a lot of mistakes, I think thats normal, it means your not playing the "easy stuff". I'm only a freshman in High school, and this is only my second year playing, but this girl, who I might add is known in our school to be miss Perfect, fot mad at me 'cause she's been playing for almost 5 years I got 3rd chair in All-state, and she got 9th. so that other guy is right years of experience has no effect on playing ability. hey Barriers are nothing to be depressed about, playing wouldn't be fun if there were no obstacles!
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-06-03 02:47
Finishing the Rubank Elementary in 7 months is a great achievement. This book is designed for two years of study. So congratulate yourself. Although everyone moves at a different rate, the Rubank set is intended for the following timeline. There are of course other good methods but this illustrates "typical" progress.
Rubank Elementary - 2 years (you could play a lot of band
music after completing this)
Rubank Intermediate - 1 year
Rubank Advanced 1 - 1 year
Rubank Advanced 2 - 1 year
Among school students, only the somewhat serious students will get through this much by high school graduation. A really dedicated student will completed these (or the equivalent) and will have begun the list shown in my other post on etude books but will usually be nowhere near completing it.
The other thing is be patient. As an adult, you know exactly where you want to go and get frustrated because it takes awhile. Also as an adult, you are experienced in learning book type knowledge and can learn this type of stuff fairly easily and quickly. This leads to frustration in learning physical skills as there are no shortcuts. It takes time and energy.
If you are at the end of the Rubank Elementary, you can probably play well enough to contribute to a community band. See if you can find one in your area and just have some fun. Playing in a group is frustrating at first but after you get the hang of it you will probably enjoy it. Volunteer to play the 3rd clarinet parts. Many people don't want to play these but a band sounds thin without the bottom part. The third parts (usually) won't have the killer high notes and the wicked rhythms so you can really focus on the music and be a major contributor. You will see all skill levels in such a group including people at and below your own skill level.
Even professional players must continue to work on tone, technique etc. No matter how good they get, there are works that will challenge even them.
Do you have a private teacher? If you do, it may be time to discuss a mouthpiece upgrade and perhaps a little bit stiffer reed. I don't believe in super hard reeds, but the 2 to 2 1/2 is a little bit soft for the upper registers. There is a tendency to pinch to get up to pitch and that can harm the tone. If you don't have a private instructor, consider taking some lessons to address the issues that concern you. They can provide excellent guidance and help you find the most efficient ways to progress.
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Author: Dave Renaud
Date: 1999-06-03 03:17
Frequently I've found the most serious and gifted students
hardest on themselves. The very reason the are gifted is
their ability to always see so much further then where they are.
A good friend I respect once told me. When you think you have arrived, put the horn in the closet and quit, for the
game is over, you'll never get any better. Some of the finest professional player I have worked with are so fustrated with their own playing. They want so bad to get
more. It's what got them there in the first place.
Fight the good fight, and keep your head up high.
The first step to the next level is recognozing it..concept.
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Author: ron
Date: 1999-06-03 05:59
Hi, Chuck!
Glad to see your post. I'm also 64 and have taken up the horn again after twenty-plus years of abstinance. While I haven't forgotten everything, I may as well be in the 'beginner' category as far as motor skills go. It takes a long time to get (back) in shape. It's an inspiration to me to know there are others out there like you who are so dedicated to playing. To those who tell us to enjoy playing, I wholeheartedly agree. I think that's what it's all about. It sounds like you are doing just fine so far. Have you considered, as some have already mentioned, some kind of ensemble playing? My past experience has been that I learned as much from peers as from the few private lessons I took.
I wish I had your determination to practice two hours a day! I haven't worked up to that yet. I also find it difficult to be patient with myself - we seem to be our own worst critics. In time, I know the rewards - the enjoyment of playing, to you and to your listeners - will be well worth the effort you're putting into it now. I have only the greatest admiration for you, Chuck.
Ron
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-03 18:50
Chuck:
I too feel depressed and angry at myself for not being able to play smoothly enough to make the music float in the air. My wife is very patient, but with her first soprano voice and finely tuned ears, the Bearmann III scales drills that I do most certainly sound like scratching a chalkboard to her. The best that I can do for my one hour a night is to go through the drills at perhaps 40 beats per minute in quarter notes, and high and squeaky at that in the altissimo. The motor skills just aren't there and my premium pro-grade horn demands absolute perfection everytime. So, it's very slow slugging through the trenches as an adult novice who is 40ish with only a few years of part time practice.
However, when I think that I really stink on the "tough stuff" for 40 or so minutes of my practice session, I review some older material in my Langenus I or II books or I play a couple of pop tunes from a fake book. Would you believe it?? The music that I know jumps from the page and almost by magic begins to flow smoothly on a summer breeze. I concentrate on the art instead of the mechanics. For example the song "The Entertainer" used to be a real barn burner for me. Now, after slugging through a couple dozen or so pages of the Baermann III book and some of the Langenus material, the song is almost easy play - and it's getting easier to play every day.
Yes, I have been relegated to the third Bb parts for church music playing. It's more within my skill level and it helps round out the bottom of the tone for the small orchestra. I have less of an ego to bruise compared to the high school All State flute player and the All State violin player who sit next to me. But you should have heard the three clarinet section at the Christmas concert. Wow! First, second, and third parts - all on Buffet R-13 class clarinets. What a beautifully matched sound! And, since I practiced the music for a couple of extra months, I actually played better in some spots than the guest All State clarinetist who sat in the first chair.
So, have faith and hang in there. The hard work will pay off. Your technique will plateau every now and then, just like an athlete's skill in a sport. Look on the bright side. After you pass through the plateau and climb up in skill, you can look down on a whole lot more capability than you ever imagined before.
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Author: dave
Date: 1999-06-04 18:43
I have also been taking lessons for about 7 monthes and am about 3/4 the way through the Rubank Intermediate book. I was self-taught and played a couple of years before deciding to take lessons. I too have been frustrated and see myself in so many of the comments above. It's true that as adults we have higher expectations and less patience to get where we want to be. I just realized in reading through the comments that I am putting too much pressure on myself. I try to practice an hour or two every day (much to my wife's chagrine) and often feel that I must learn the lesson for the week perfectly - then get upset when I don't play it that way for the teacher. I guess if I could do that I wouldn't need lessons! I am taking July and August off from lessons and looking forward to reviewing what I've learned and playing things for fun before starting again in the fall.
Sooo... you are not alone. That's what I like about this bb - it helps to know that others are sharing the same frustrations and that you are not alone.
Thanks to Dee for the listing the typical progress for the various Rubanks - I thought I must be a very slow student but according to your list I am about on track.
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Author: Stephanie aka Benny
Date: 1999-06-06 04:25
I guess i am what you would call a "youngster". I am 17 and have just passed the 2 year mark of my lesson status. I UNDERSTAND what you are going thru. I have been through it and still go there. it never seems that i can practice enough. but preserverence pays off. the most important teacher you can ever have in my mind/ is yourself. Don't give up and make sure that you are studying music because you LOVE it. i try not to let my practice or my constant worry keep me from getting everything out of my music. ok enough preaching. hope i could help and best of luck....you will do just fine!!!! if you want talk any more e-mail me!
-keep swinging-
benny*
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