 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: HAT
Date: 2003-01-01 17:06
Those of you who read my post:
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=98668&t=98668
you know that I was only trying to help those who really want to do this clarinet playing thing.
I came up with an idea for those of you who might have concerns about your playing, training or preparedness for 'the real world.'
If you want to send me a recording of your playing, I will tell you what I hear from my perspective. What you can do is set up a hotmail account so that I will not know who you are, with whom you study or even your age or sex (although I suppose it would be a good idea to know what year in school you are). I will send you a short email after I get a chance to listen to your stuff.
Email me if interested. I figure you have nothing to lose, the worst situation is that you disagree with me. I accept cds, minidiscs and cassettes under duress.
This is different from 'lessons by mail' which I also did several of. I am still awaiting feedback on those. This is just a quick evaluation. . 'you are on the right track/you have serious problems kind of thing.'
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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Author: Kim
Date: 2003-01-02 14:24
This is a bad idea. Only we are the criticizers of our playing. Sending it to you wouldn't really benefit us at all.
Kim
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Author: Mark Charette, Webmaster
Date: 2003-01-02 15:07
Kim wrote:
>
> Sending it to you wouldn't really benefit us at all.
Considering that HAT is a working professional, perhaps it <b>would</b> benefit some people. I think you meant "me", not "us".
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-01-02 17:39
I think it daring, and POSITIVE that someone serious offer this thankless service. Up until last Spring, there were several serious instructors (and performers) willingly contributing to the growth of hopeful amateurs, and aspiring younger players of merit.
There are far less of these, and more of Kim's ilk today.
If you're serious about playing professionally, knowing the orchestra pit(falls) should be part of your study.
Do the math... how many clarinets on stage with an orchestra?
How many paying orchestras?
How many with openings for the licorice stick?
I'm surprised David doesn't charge for the service!
(Now where is my demo tape of Hindemith's greatest hits?)
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Author: Fred
Date: 2003-01-02 19:34
Kim, I don't really understand your post. While it's true that a person like me (possibly you also?) really needs to please no one other than himself, this is certainly not true for anyone that auditions for anything. In that arena, it would seem that quite the opposite is true. You may like your tone, your technique, and your styling, but unless the decision-maker(s) like it, you walk away wondering what went wrong. HAT is offering an unbiased opinion that may help launch a promising career or abort a misguided one. In either case, it is ultimately a valuable contribution to the individuals involved.
Many lovers of music decide to major in their love because they love to play. Most of these people will later find themselves with a degree in music without the hope of ever being a playing pro. Many will wish that someone like HAT had been honest with them about their chances when they were making their career choices.
HAT, thanks for the service. I won't be sending a tape. But I'll be enjoying my playing regardless, and be thankful that there are some with enough talent, training, and dedication to make it.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2003-01-02 20:44
I tried criticizing someone's playing once upon a time and got a lot of grief for it! Read the article about Anthony Giliotti in the recent "Clarinet" for his take on clarinetist preparedness, professionalism, etc.
Happy, critical New Year.
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Author: HAT
Date: 2003-01-02 22:17
Thanks for the support, it means a lot.
I am not so far removed from the days when I was a student who had some serious promise. I was relatively 'in the game' as far as knowing what professional standards were because guys who were in school around the time I was there constantly made the finals of auditions and also kept winning jobs.
Each of you here have to be your own judges, of course, as to how far I have managed to get since then based on the available evidence (those of you who know me have deeper wells to draw on, obviously).
But I can tell you that looking back from where I am now. . .I didn't know squat when I was a student, ok?
HATTNER
PS so far only 3 people have offered to send material. It's too bad but I am not surprised.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-01-02 22:30
I think you should be relieved that MY demo is on 8-track, only.
- and it had such a great "Mary had a little lamb" riff.
I cannot imagine what the NYSSMA judges must endure - they are required to sit through some amazing performance.
Did you know that Kevin Spacey has opened a website to screenwriters, on the same premise?
This may be an interesting venue to discover the great wealth of hidden talent outside TBA.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-01-02 22:51
Speaking as a NYSSMA adjudicator, who has sat through far too many feeble student attempts at the Mozart Concerto (Weber Concerto, Brahms Sonata, etc..etc..), I say BRAVO to HAT to making this service available.
Now, if only the private teachers would steer their students to the correct solos for their individual level of playing...GBK
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Author: RA
Date: 2003-01-02 22:52
Can this be a choice of our own music that we have played over the years? Or, is it certain required items that we must send you such as jazz standards?
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-01-03 13:33
Constructive evaluation, which is what I believe David Hattner to be offering, has to be of value to those who request it. Unlike Kim,
I do not believe that music making takes place in a self-enclosing cocoon. Music is there surely to be heard and hopefully enjoyed, by the listener. I think David should be congratulated for offering such help, not criticised. After all, Kim need not expose himself to it if he feels it will be of no value to him. Fred has hit the nail right on the head.
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Author: tom piercy
Date: 2003-01-03 15:28
I am not surprised that few serious students have taken advantage of the above offer.
One of the music schools in which I teach in NYC offers full scholarships ("Free lessons") to high school students that are talented, highly motivated and in financial need. Even though the faculty for this program is made up of highly qualified performer / teachers, only five students have auditioned and entered this program in the last three years. The students that have entered have done quite well in the program: winning some competitions, entering specialized schools, frequent performing opportunities and overall improved playing on their instruments. Still, in an area - NYC - where quality music education is very expensive, few have taken advantage of the program.
Many students say they are serious about becoming, being a musician; few students are willing to take the time, effort, commitment to enter a program and all the extra work that is needed to reach their stated goal. Lessons, evaluations, master classes, performances, and correct practice are but part of the larger picture of what their life should look like.
I think David (from what he has written) and others, and I know that I do, look forward to meeting and hearing and helping serious students in their music and clarinet education.
Tom Piercy
thomaspiercy.com
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2003-01-03 18:09
I'm interested. I don't want to be a professional performer but I'm a serious student. I've had some wildly differing advice on my playing and would appreciate an unbiased view a great deal. I think I know most of my weaknesses but I would love some advice.
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Author: ALOMARvelous12
Date: 2003-01-03 23:30
HAT, i think this is a nice thing you are doing, and I plan on sending you a recording of myself sometime this weekend when I get time to record it. Thanks.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-01-03 23:36
David,
I happen to think the your offer is outstanding and a great opportunity for some serious students to have their performance capabilities reviewed by an unbiased professional in good standing.
People who are willing to offer *FREE!* assistance in that regard are few and far between and I commend you for it, but it also doesn't surprise me to hear that few students might take advantage of your offer.
I know someone who studied music in Asia and Europe. He also toured Asia and Europe with a successful orchestra some years ago. This young man is an outstanding, multi-talented, classical musician who coaches the Reality Youth Ensemble in Broward, Co., FL, and the Miami Youth Symphony Orchestra.
At a recent concert, playing pieces of music, I saw him go from the xylophone to the violin to the flute and finally to the timpani without so much as a passing thought as to whether he could do all that.
But he works as one of the best band instrument repairmen I've ever known and does not want to be- or feel qualified to be- a "working musician." According to him, music should be a free thing and he won't take money either for performing or coaching the youth orchestras (he also teaches private students.)
I've argued this with him until neither one of us wants to hear it any more.
He also comes from an underpriviledged backgroung (among others, he once told me the story about how he couldn't afford a ligature when he studied clarinet so he used a thick rubber band the same way the Germans use string, and still often does so, to this day!)
I think he's been given a wonderful gift, which he took the time, trouble and struggled to develop to an art that should be enjoyed by widespread, appreciative audiences in places where those audiences exist, as a full-time endeavor, but he still thinks the other way and there is no way to change his mind about it.
As talented as my friend is, my youngest son, a budding multi-talented musician, as well, says my friend is so humble it makes you want to choke him!
In fact, not too long ago, and before you posted this item, I talked to him about you and encouraged him to touch bases with you with a view towards sending you a demo, but he won't do it.
While he's an excellent friend and I appreciate him otherwise, I can't help but to feel it's a terrible waste of an excellent and potentially great talent that he does not go into a performance career.
I know others, as well, with various degrees of real talent, each with a different view and "reason" as to why they are not pursuing a music performance career.
Such a waste, especially when there are a few people like yourself (and my friend coaching the youth orchestras) out there, who are willing to put their "money where their mouth is."
Peter
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Author: RA
Date: 2003-01-04 00:45
Would The Four Seasons, Trumpet Voluntar(sorry bt spelling)and other songs such as that be suitable to send you? Or, as I asked earlier and will ask again may it be of our own repetoire?
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