Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-01-19 13:32
Hello Demon --
I have some observations and a question for you.
First, I am a former clarinetist who switched to oboe. I progressed very rapidly on the oboe, and within a short time had become more proficient on the oboe than I was or would ever be on the clarinet.
For me, it has been simply a matter of my love for the instrument. I was a very good clarinetist, but I did not genuinely love the clarinet, and thus I did not care, past a certain point, to do the things that would have taken me to a higher level of achievement on that instrument. I do love the oboe, and enjoy working to improve my playing on it.
Which brings me to my first question for you. You say you feel your level of achievement on the clarinet is not outstanding. What, in your opinion, is the reason that you have not progressed as well as you would like, on the clarinet? What would enable you to progress beyond your present level of achievement?
Second, I want to share with you some advice I was given many years ago, when I was first studying music theory. I was proving to be very adept at this subject, and I felt I might want to try a career as a professional musician. A certain professor had praised my work highly, so I asked him if, in his opinion, I could have a career in music. His reply was simply, "If you want to."
This reply puzzled me for a while. But then I began to understand what he meant. Success in music, as in many other areas of life, depends at least as much on your motivation and drive and hard work as it depends on your native ability. Talent is only the beginning, not the end, of the path. A person who works very diligently to develop a smaller talent will often have more success than a very talented person who does not work as hard.
Third, I want to comment in regard to your considerations about music peformance vs. music education. I don't know what the educational system is in your part of the world (I am thinking from your email extension that you are in Hong Kong, am I right?). In the U.S., it is sometimes possible for a person to take a degree in the applied art (musical performance, for example), and then take one more year of schooling to complete the courses required for a teacher's license. This is perhaps a way of having "the best of both worlds".
At the age of 20, you are very, very young in the whole scheme of things. If you can support yourself somehow, I imagine you can do whatever you want to do in regard to your education and your achievement. But it will not simply be given to you. You will have to work for whatever you achieve. That is true for all of us.
Best wishes,
Susan
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