 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Eric
Date: 2002-09-29 00:04
Hello all,
I have absolutely no musical experience whatsoever. Zero.
I made regular apppearances in 3rd grade detention for my insolence during recorder classes. That was many years ago and now, I find myself regretting it (the insolence bit, not detention). At the perhaps too-late age of 28, there has arisen an unnamed force and it is drawing me inexplicably toward the clarinet. I've been bumping around this websight and while enjoying the banter, can't help but feel I've stumbled into a foreign country where my American English is not the preferred linguistic currency of conversation. What is this "ligature" of which you speak?
In any case, I have recently settled in the beautiful city of Portland, OR and was hoping that someone might be able to indicate what infant steps I should undertake in order to set myself upon "the path". Or if my situation is laughably hopeless, and I am merely a fool destined for madness and ruin, I would appreciate it if someone could warn me now before it is too late.
Any mockery, sympathy or advice would be well and truly appreciated.
Cheers - Eric
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brian Peterson
Date: 2002-09-29 00:29
Welcome Eric!
Glad you dropped by.
You might check the home page for the information you're looking for. There's an equipment link there that offers a couple of very basic "here's what you'll need to get started." BTW, the ligature is the apparatus that holds the reed in place on the mouthpiece, usually metal, plastic or in some cases a shoelace!
Otherwise, I recommend just throwing your questions out here. By and large, I think you'll find the folks here to be quite helpful, at least they have been for me. You might even find a teacher who can really help you.
Good luck
Brian Peterson
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mlb
Date: 2002-09-29 00:29
First of all, you're not a fool for wanting to learn a musical instrument. And it is never too late to enjoy learning something new. As a matter of fact, many of my best (most enthusiastic and well-prepared) students are adults who have either come back to it or started as adult beginners.
First step: rent yourself an instrument. I wouldn't buy just yet because maybe you'll start it and realize that you really want to play something else. Wouldn't be the first time that had happened!!
Step 2: hook up with a teacher who understands that you are an adult beginner who presumably has a day job and maybe not hours a day to devote to practice! Although you will need to practice!!! Get used to that one!!
Step 3: go hear live music!!!! Local orchestras, wind ensembles, college recitals, anything you can get to!! Inspiring!!!
Step 4: get some clarinet CD's, library or purchase and listen to them.
The best advice I could give though is this: don't be too hard on yourself. Many of my adults were (at first) paralyzed by the thought of squeeking (you *will* do this)(and you'll know EXACTLY what I mean when it happens!!) or making a mistake. Remember: this is fun. My little kid students just giggle when they goof up! Don't lose your sense of humour!!!
Sorry so long-winded but I just LOVE when an adult does this instead of some kid who is dragged to their lesson by his mother. A favourite story from 6 years ago: I taught a doctor who decided to do this for relaxation. He was my first adult student. He came home with a clarinet one day after a particularly stressful day and said to his wife "Look what I bought!!" and she said "What are you going to do with it??" and he said "I'm going to learn to play it!" and HE DID. In one year, he was playing in a local community band and loving it!!! He set a great example for his kids, who were also learning different instruments in school band. I was 25 and he was almost 50 and we had a blast!!! He did everything I asked him to practice without arguing and the level of joy was something I'd never seen in a student.
So good luck to you! And congrats for recognizing that you have this urge!! Please keep us posted!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-09-29 02:09
Eric, welcome to the "club." If I were you I would prioritize my needs, forget (at this stage) any "wants", and remember the whole purpose of this excursion is your own enjoyment. When it ceases to be enjoyable, back off and give it a think.
Your needs right now are an instrument and a teacher, as interested in your progress as you are to learn. Put aside all discussion of "buying" a R-13, R-11, R-Anything or any other make until you master the basics. Rent now, go crazy later.
Don't be in too much of a hurry but establish some form of disciplined study/practice. Overdoing is almost quaranteed, at this stage, to make you want to chuck the whole thing.
Snoop around through your Community contacts to find that special teacher, again, don't be in too much of a hurry to select one. At 28 you undoubtedly have already established one or two querky habits that will raise your teachers eyebrows. Learn which one(s) can tolerate you and with whom you can work.
Above all else, enjoy!.
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-09-29 03:54
Hi, Eric - and WELCOME - I, too, am happy you bumped out into the open and, please, keep asking questions Either way you look at it, everyone learns something when questions are raised.
Best wishes to you as you venture into the wonderful world of music making - however you decide to proceed.
Above all, keep on bumpin' and browsin' and...
by all means, have fun!
- ron b -
(who lurks around Sacramento, CA)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-29 03:59
Eric: Isn't it nice to have so many good responses? And now, as Monty Python would put it, for something completely different. Adult beginners have no one to thank but themselves for wanting to play any musical instrument, and those who select the Clarinet surely deserve our assistance and best wishes. But adult beginners are not pre-adolescents, hence they should not be treated the same.
You will get no mockery,.sympathy, or advice from me. But I will offer a suggestion that many may think ridiculous: for starters, go buy yourself a cheap plastic instrument. No, not a Clarinet -- a $5 recorder will do just fine, or maybe a Tonette (are they still around?) or even an eight-fingered ocarina. And do get a fingering chart. While you are playing around with this thing (whatever it is), accustoming yourself to the differences in sound you get by changing the finger positions, maybe even fingering it based on funny-looking marks on a page, buy yourself a Clarinet book and start reading it. Y'see, I'm the sort of person who learns almost anything much easier by reading about it first, then consulting an expert. So when you're ready to see a teacher, you can go there with several things that will be good for you. One is an open mind, because you seem to be smart enough to realize that reading one book will not make you an expert. But your teacher *is* an expert. You'll see to that by selecting a really good teacher. Another is that you will have some concept of transforming music into fingering something that has lots of holes to be covered. (But do remember that fingering patterns of the instruments I mentioned and the Clarinet are *not* the same... they're much more like a saxophone. But dn't let that worry you.) Just begin accustoming yourself to the idea that the note position on the staff tells you which fingers should cover holes.
You may be able to consult with your teacher even before you begin lessons. Like the "ground school" approach to learning to fly an airplane. Learn something about the Clarinet before even holding one. You could get a recommendation from your own teacher regarding what instrument to buy/rent/put on your gift list. Maybe even assemble it for the first time with your teacher.
If the above does not make sense to you, by all means don't do it.
Best of luck/skill/success.
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-09-29 12:40
How wonderful! It's an adventure into playing...playing! It will be important to find a good, understanding teacher. I took up the oboe this year, and I found a delightful teacher who likes beginners. Several years ago I took ballet, and it was the same process. I wasn't planning to become a ballerina, but I wanted to learn to dance, and play. Have fun! Is there a college near you? Find some student clarinet recitals. Talk to people, and find a teacher that you can really like who will delight in your enjoyment. There may be some local bands or community orchestras that you can join. Have fun, good luck, and keep us all posted! Oh, by the way, I'm a clarinet teacher, but I'm in Pennsylvania...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob gardner
Date: 2002-09-29 20:29
a couple of suggestions.
1. do it
2. enjoy it
3. don't worry about it.
If you really want to see what a clarinet is all about; attend Clarinetfest in Salt Lake City in July of 2003. This is a event for the most advanced to the very beginner. Just go and listen and see what a great joy the clarinet can offer.
You may even get to meet a bunch of people from this group.
bob
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-09-29 23:12
fantastic - find a teacher who likes adult beginners, kids are fantastic and often get the facility a lot quicker, but as to the "fun side" of lessons - you can't beat an adult student (IMHO)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob gardner
Date: 2002-09-29 23:48
check into you local college for a beginner music class. I'm in one in Ukiah.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-09-30 02:12
I'm a hack, and suffered through the same pains you will undoubtedly experience starting out.
Never too late, so long as you have most of your teeth.
(Although dentures of quality suffice.)
You needn't look to this BBS for mockery, you're about to get plenty of that, at home.
Your first three months will not be pleasant for those around you
(unless you're a natural player...
My advice; go cheap from the beginning... the gear needs to be in proper order (good seals, working springs, clean toneholes) and the make is not vital.
I like the sound of the Vito and Yamaha student horns.
The mouthpiece is the 'gating' or limiting step. It needs to fit you well, without too much struggle.
The Hite Premier and a Legere synthetic reed sound quite well together and won't cost a stack.
Pay for a lesson every two-four weeks, and you may improve more rapidly. Try on your own, maybe you get lucky, maybe you start off with bad habits that will be difficult to break... who knows?
When you begin to practice at home; apologize to your spouse and put out the cat.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-09-30 02:40
LOL @ Synonymous Botch
I LIKE you cat remark - so true, remember: dogs have owners and cats have staff.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul
Date: 2002-09-30 03:44
If you can, take a lesson with at least 3 different teachers before you select one. It will make a huge differences. Also, the difference between a real good professional teacher and just some college musician trying to earn some extra money is usually just an extra $5 an hour (of course some college students are great teachers).
And one of the post were right, you'll sound terrible the first 3 months. Also keep in mind you'll need to practise an hour a day, 6 days a week. But most beginning adults like to practise. Good luck! Paul
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-09-30 04:29
About your topic title...
For anyone who claims to know everything on a subject, someone will come along who knows just a bit more!
Likewise, for anyone who claims no knowledge of a given subject, there will be someone out there who knows even less!
There are many who post here who started the instrument as adults (many well past 28!) There are also many who started as students, let it go and re-learned the instrument as adults (including me.) So good luck! Enjoy your experience, and put the dog out as well as dogs tend to "sing along!"
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
