 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Roger
Date: 2002-05-09 19:30
Hi, all,
Just thought I'd introduce myself to everyone on the board, since I'll probably be a regular here now. Around the beginning of this year, I just started playing again after a 24 yr hiatus! I played elementary through college, and then played semi-professionally a bit, but I stopped due to career goals, relocations, family matters, etc. But now I'm playing again and, wow, it feels great! I had my old Selmer (c 1959) repadded and recorked, and it plays OK. It did crack near the register key many years ago, which was repaired with a band. But the instrument does have some problems around the throat tones. Now I bought a new Buffet R-13 and I love it! What a beautiful instrument. I found it amazing, but I didn't have too much trouble recalling the fingerings. I guess one never does really forget them. My technique was a bit rusty, but I'm making rapid improvement. And I'm putting in at least 1-2 hours practice each day. And I love the new technology, like being able to play along with the Music Minus One CD's, which were non-existant back then. Now I can play along with an orchestra in repitched Bb on my favorites, like Mozart Concerto & Quintet, and von Weber Concertino.
Thanks for reading, and I'm looking forward to some interesting topics. ps, I'll never stop playing anymore. I really missed out by letting go of it like that. But never again...
Roger
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Willie
Date: 2002-05-09 20:16
Welcome back, Roger! I, and many others on this list are also "clarinet retreads", so to speak. It will come back sooner than you think. Just gotta rebuild the chops a bit. I recommend trying out several different mouthpieces as your chops have changed and there's a multitude of mouthpieces available out there that weren't around when you last played. Many good suppliers are sponcers right here on "sneezy".
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: LynnB
Date: 2002-05-09 20:28
Welcome back Roger (I too am a retread). This site is great and full of information. Are you going to join a community band or get an ensemble together?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roger
Date: 2002-05-09 20:40
Thanks, Lynn.
Yes, after I get my chops and my technique back in form (and I AM making rapid improvement), I am considering joining a group. Here in South SF Bay Area, the Cupertino Symphonic Band looks like a good group. Also, I might be interested in playing in a woodwind ensemble in the area, either established or start one up!
Roger
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lorie
Date: 2002-05-09 22:01
Roger: You GO, Boy!
I am a retread, too. I was a music performance/music ed double major in undergrad in 1976 and I got back into it in a big way. I am on my final semester of a Masters in Music Ed at a really neat university in my area. After over 23 years in a totally different field, I am going back to school to teach clarinet/woodwinds at the college level. And, believe it or not, I made the top wind ensemble and was absolutely THRILLED!!! Among all those fresh young faces on-stage is one gray-haired 47 year old grad student. I feel like a kid again! It's the greatest thing in the world!!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2002-05-09 22:06
Music Minus One has been around for a lot longer than 24 years. It's just that in the past, it was harder to find as we did not have such free and easy access to information about sources.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lorie
Date: 2002-05-09 22:23
Dee - Speaking of MMO - John Cipolla - who did some work them a while back is a DMA student at my school. What a GREAT musician!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Roger
Date: 2002-05-09 22:49
Wow, I didn't realize MMO has been around that long. If I had known, I definitely would have tried it way back when. Thanks for the info, Dee.
Roger
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kirk
Date: 2002-05-09 23:43
Roger,
Welcome back to the club! I am a 30 yr "returnee. You will be surprised how it will all come back to you. Just give yourself some time to re-aquaint and let it flow. Just like riding a bike, you never truly forget.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-05-10 00:26
Welcome HOME Roger.I'm another "retired-retread-restart. But don't believe all Kirk said re: "Just like riding a bike, you never truly forget." Maybe so, but my tongue still gets wrapped around the spokes.
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-05-10 03:50
Welcome back, from another retired retread, Roger
You couldn't have come to a better place than Sneezy's. You're in good company.
- ron b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: roger (from the North Bay)
Date: 2002-05-10 05:21
Hello all,
My name is also Roger & I also live in the S.F. Bay Area, but in the North Bay. I returned to playing clarinet after being away from it for 15 years & I'm sorry I ever put it down. I currently play in a nice town band & I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I check this board pretty frequently, but I hardly ever post. It feels good to be playing again & I look forward to playing for years to come.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-05-10 06:15
Hi Roger (two) - hmm, San Francisco, what a delightful city! I spent some time in the US and visited diverse places, San Fran and the Big Apple I adored, Seattle bored me (it's nothing like the way it's protrayed on Frasier), Philadelphia is a fine city, too. I hated LA (arghh - no offence to any LAers present), but perhaps if I'd known some locals my attitude would have been slightly differently flavoured. But most of all, I LOVE Hershey (sp?) - even got hugged by a chocolate-bar (well, a man dressed up as a chocolate bar), Pensilvania is a wonderful state, those undulating hills, got to love them, Harrisburg was kind of cute and York is a fine old town.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob
Date: 2002-05-10 13:02
Welcome back,Roger. I've been back a year now after being away for 53 years. Agree, just like riding a bike xcept no broken bones...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: RogerWM
Date: 2002-05-10 14:28
I'd like to thank everybody for the kind words of support, and all the advice, esp about mouthpieces. I'm really impressed with the nice responses I've had on this board.
Since there are several "Rogers" on this board, I will hereafter be known as RogerWM (the 24 year retread from South SF Bay Area)!
Thanks, everyone, and happy clarineting!
Roger
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: LynnB
Date: 2002-05-10 22:56
Diz! You just didn't get to see the real L.A.! Next time let us know and we'll show you around. (I love L.A. - imagine the song here)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Neil
Date: 2002-05-11 00:33
Hi! I just started up again after 30 yrs myself. I played from 4th grade up through 8th grade, quit after that so I wouldn't have to go to football games on saturdays in high school. Whle I was off in the Navy my brother loaned my clarinet to his buddy's daughter and after his buddy died I didn't really feel like shaking down the poor orphaness for a plastic clarinet but I have my father's Kalashen's Kleartone from the dark ages and it plays pretty good.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-05-11 04:48
diz, pay no attention to LynnB. The REAL LA died about 40 years ago when they renamed LaFayette Park. What's left is a state of mind, not a state of the union. {And this from a native Californian}. If I ever get to Sidney we can discuss it over a Fosters.
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Josh
Date: 2002-05-11 22:17
I, too, live in the San Francisco area(although I actually live *in* the city, right next to Symphony Hall and the Opera House), and in fact, I know the North Bay Roger (He's a heck of a guy, y'all!) Maybe the Bay Area people should start a clarinet choir :P
Interesting to hear your perspective on Pennsylvania, Diz...I was born and raised there. I never thought I'd actually hear anybody say they *liked* PA...who knew? :P Have to agree, though, Hershey is kinda cute...and my grandparents live in York. It *is* indeed a nice city...not quite as much city as I've always craved, but it's not bad for PA (Philly's nice, too, but it's just too damn close to my parents...)
Can't comment on L.A. yet, but I'm going on a shopping trip there in a few weeks, so I'll be back with my opinion later :P
Happy Clarineting!
San Francisco Josh
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Michael Blinn
Date: 2002-05-12 00:34
Hi Roger,
Welcome back to clarineting! I too, came back after decades of not playing. I found it much easier than expected: the fingering is not forgotten, the embouchure came back quickly, and now I am working on endurance. I am playing with the local symphonic band and I look forward to each rehearsal. There's nothing like the thrill of being in the middle of a hot-sounding band and contributing.
P.S. If you need a really easy blowing reed, try Mitchell Lurie Deluxe. They play great out of the box, but they don't last long.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
