 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Nick Conner
Date: 2002-09-08 21:42
Well, I've been at IU for a week, I'm majoring in music education. It's a really great place, and I love it here. I'm studying with Professor Campbell, and he's awesome. I'm having some frustrations right now, though. In my first lesson, Prof. Campbell had me reset my embouchure. There's so much wonderful music going on here at IU, and I'm struggling with long tone exercises. All of it makes me wonder if I should be here. I love the clarinet, and I know that is the best place to get a teaching degree, but it's so upsetting right now being so far behind. Has anybody ever felt like this? How did you deal with it?
Nick Conner
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Heidi
Date: 2002-09-08 22:26
Nick,
I am also a music ed major with an emphasis in clarinet. When I came into school, I'd never had a teacher or taken more than 6 lessons in my life. I had alot of stuff to accomplish if I wanted to be a good clarinet player and in my opinion I've done pretty well (last year I made 1st chair at GMEA) Anyway, don't get discouraged. Once you get the basics down (believe it or not, all those other folks had to do it too at one point or another) you'll feel better about yourself and your playing. Take your teacher's advice...maybe even go to an upperclassman and see what they had to do when they were new. Also, I'm still having to reset my embouchure and it's hard to do! Don't get frustrated...LEARN!:)
Good luck!
Heidi
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gretchen
Date: 2002-09-09 02:08
Goodness!!! I had the exact same thing happen to me last year when I went to school. Whatever your teacher says...just do it...it's probably for the better. I had to totally reset my embouchure and tongue position last year...and it took me an entire semester to start feeling comfortable with it...as well as building new muscles to support the new embouchure and tongue position. Don't give up!! Keep practicing...and playing those long tones...that's the only way you'll get better and build muscle. promise!! Keep up the good work...and always feel free to talk to your teacher about any frustrations you may have...he'll probably be very encouraging and it'll help you stay motivated. Good luck!!
Gretchen
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-09-09 02:28
It happens to a lot of people who change teacher - just thank your lucky stars you don't play a stringed instrument.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-09-09 03:31
Dear Nick:
Prof. campbell is a colleague of mine, we both played in the NBYO back in the 80s and he was kind enough to replace me when I bruised my ribs in a soccer match! At the moment I would say that you are with a very fine teacher and I trust you are on to some greater things, but allow your teacher the room to help you improve even if things seems really bad at first. The changes brught about by this action will turn you into the player you want to be!
When I went to Horld Wright in the 80s he totally changed my embouchure and set up. He actually took me from double lip over to single lip. At first I thought I sounded really bad-- (and voila!) about a month later I could play music freely and with greater ease than ever imagined. Also my tone got much bigger and more alive.
Sincerely
D Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank
Date: 2002-09-09 11:59
Nick,
Be glad you are not learning to play golf and have a new pro working with you. They all change your grip, stance, swing, body position, and you are really terrible for several months. Then suddenly, it all makes sense and the improvment is evident.
So, in the scheme of things, an embouchure change is to be expected.
Hank
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-09-09 12:16
Hank wrote:
> Be glad you are not learning to play golf and have a new pro
> working with you. They all change your grip, stance, swing,
> body position, and you are really terrible for several months.
> Then suddenly, it all makes sense and the improvment is evident.
The real trick is, after all of that work with a new teacher/instructor in any subject:
Are you better now than you were before you started?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank
Date: 2002-09-09 14:01
Oh, one thing I forgot to mention is that the golf versus the embouchure analogy is probably more correct than one might imagine since we are really talking about muscle memory in both cases.
Hank
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lindsey
Date: 2002-09-09 14:13
I have gone through the same thing at Concordia U. since I started two years ago in Music Ed. It is very difficult to go from a school where you may have been considered one of the "best" to a college which is a highly competitive environment full of people who have had the opportunity to work with private instructors, etc., for years. It leaves you feeling very behind and frustrated and wondering if you will do well at all... I'm here to say--it will take a LOT of time to catch up (I'm still working on it!), a lot of patience, a lot of practice, and a lot of listening to what those around you are saying (or criticizing) to be aware of what you have to work hardest on improving.
Don't give up, though! Music is an incredible thing and w/o the challenges...what would be fun about it? Sometimes they may frustrate you to no end, but once you have accomplished the goal, there is no other feeling like it!
Good luck!!!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tilly
Date: 2002-09-09 15:07
Nick,
I'm a former student of James Campbell and will never forget my first lesson with him. I began studying with him during the late 70s when I was already a fourth year performance major at university. We spent the entire first lesson working on five notes!!!! I am not exaggerating to say that those five notes changed my life and clarinet playing. Although later I studied with others and attended many master classes, etc. he has always remained my greatest influence and to this day I still use his warm up exercises. My advice is to listen carefully and soak up as much information as you can -- hopefully, someday you will be as grateful as I am to have had the opportunity to study with him!
Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2002-09-09 16:47
Dear Nick: Keep an open mind and also be sure to have an open dialogue with your teacher. If there is anything you don't understand, then, ask why or make sure your teacher understands where you are coming from. It is wise not to be too focused on fast results, instead the hard stuff really does take alot of time.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Long tones are also good for more advanced players too, in order to work on remedial technique problems---- like tension, or, returning to playing after summer vacation.
Hang in there!
D Dow
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-09-10 21:19
Hank, send me the name of your Golf Pro--if he can cure my putting slump. Yips and all.(Don't mention a belly putter--bought one. )
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank
Date: 2002-09-10 21:31
Bob A,
There is a distinct link between Nick's original question and yours. Whether it is putting or embouchure, the fix (like a belly putter in your case) does not always come quickly or easily.
However, much can be said about the advice my wife gives me each time I go out to play golf. She says "Concentrate, relax, and don't try to over-muscle the ball (the embouchure in Nick's case)."
Truer words were never spoken; she is not a golfer but truly understands the game!
Hank
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Just me
Date: 2002-09-14 01:35
Nick, I had the same experience as a performance major a number of years ago at Peabody. Edward Palanker changed my embouchure because he said I had too much lip on the reed and muffeled the tone. It took a while because he had me play stuff while I was changing. I practised slow stuff and 12th like long tones too. My sound and control developed so well once I got it right and began to feel comfortable. He said he'd prefere to just have me play slow stuff and long tones for a whole semester but I'd probably get so bored I'd probably quite from frustration. Anyway his way worked fine, he knows his stuff too. Stick with it! Just me
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
