 The Ethnic Clarinet
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Author: diane
Date: 2002-09-19 18:27
I hope no one minds posts from parents. I have a dilemma concerning my 12-yr-old daughter. She is taking piano and clarinet lessons, and (according to her teachers, not me) she is very gifted at both instruments. My question concerns the clarinet teacher, who is a university professor and whom we love. He is pressuring my daughter to "choose" an instument, saying that she cannot be progress adequately at both. He has her auditioning all over the place and she has been accepted into two youth symphonies and three youth concert bands. This pressure doesn't seem to faze her, but she is upset that he wants her to choose either piano or clarinet -- she loves both, and I feel she is too young to make this kind of decision. Is is true she needs to make a decision so early? Can't she divide her time now and make up the difference later? (She currently practices about 1-2 hours daily on each instrument.) Sorry for the length. Your input appreciated. -- Diane
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-09-19 20:56
I think she is definitely too young to be FORCED to choose. My parents would only let me take lessons on one instrument but for ME that was ok. I took piano through 8th grade (I had realllly bad teachers and still don't play it so well!), and then took clarinet all through high school and into college and grad school. I ended up with Bachelor's and Master's in Clarinet, but even before I started taking lessons I knew I was much better at clarinet than at piano. For me it was an easy decision. And for what it's worth, even during my undergrad there were a few students who had double performance majors. This was at Oberlin Conservatory even...so it CAN be done...
I'm amazed that your local university prof is teaching a 12-year-old! She must be pretty good...but I don't think she MUST decide yet. Let her choose when she's ready to choose.
You may want to post this message over at the "main" clarinet board too...just click on "The Clarinet Board" instead of "Klezmorim Forum." There are lots of teachers who seem to check that part of the board more than this one.
Katrina
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Author: Andreas
Date: 2002-09-19 22:27
I think your daughter is right on being upset. There is absolutely no reason to make such a choice! Why should it be? If she wants and has the capacity to study both instruments - let her. In my opinion, it can only enrichen a young persons (any persons?) musicality, not destroy it.
Andreas,
clarinetist & harpsichordist
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Author: Seamus Kirkpatrick
Date: 2002-09-19 22:41
I don't think she should have to choose.
The professor is correct that if she wants to go on and become a concert or orchestral musician at some point she will have to choose.
But that is a choice all about lifestyle and taste which is one that she can't possibly make yet.
The lifestyle that actually requires that kind of choice is one that can mean a lot of travel and many hours spent by yourself in a room practising and then having to play music that you're pretty sure other people want to hear (not necessarily what you like playing)and it goes on and on.
The thing is that she obviously has the potential to be able to play music to a standard that means she could be that type of musician, but the truth is that when she grows up, she may reject that lifestyle.
Even if she wants to be a musician (as opposed to another career), she might be interested in jazz, composition, avant garde music or traditional music which means the fact that she can play keyboard as well as clarinet will double her chances of making a living.
I think her teacher has the rest of her life vaguely mapped out for her and I don't think that's fair. She knows what's best for herself at this stage I think, and she shouldn't have to give up anything. If she loses the joy of making music at this stage, there's a good chance that she'll end up giving up, or even worse, become one of those joyless musicians that crowd stages all over the world and the last thing we need is another one of them.
I'm in Brisbane Australia (not much of a population to play music to) and I have a mortgage and a wife (she earns more money than me at the moment). I play contemporary and world music, I play and teach clarinet, flute, saxophone, bass guitar and voice and I'm teaching myself trumpet so that I can teach that too. I get to record cds (because I can do that too)and travel round the country playing at festivals. I could play music at that level and in that style but I don't want to. I don't like the music and I don't like the touring and relocation that's involved (and neither does my wife).
The point being, that I'm happy and I play stacks of instruments, get to play lots of different music, entertain lots of different people in all sorts of places and I didn't have to travel any particular career path to find that happiness within playing music.
And people who say there's only one way to do things make me terribly cross, hence this overlong reply.
thanks for listening (I swear I'm not a loony)
Seamus
PS I think you should talk to her teacher about what he has in mind and then present that to your daughter as an option. She might think it's a great idea and want to choose one instrument over the other.
And then she's still happy and enjoying music.... and that's the MOST important thing.
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-09-19 22:45
Seamus,
"thanks for listening (I swear I'm not a loony)"
HAH! Anyone who plays world music is a loony! (lol)
;)
xoxo,
Katrina
p.s. For those of you who don't know, I play almost all world music... 
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Author: diane
Date: 2002-09-21 20:23
Thanks everyone. This gives me some validation of my gut instincts. Yesterday she told me that when she plays clarinet, she forgets she is playing an instrument and feels like the music is coming from inside her. She says she rarely feels this way about piano. I think she will eventually choose the clarinet, but if she can play Bach fugues at age 12, why should she quit piano if she doesn't want to? Thanks again! Diane
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Author: ginny
Date: 2003-01-15 17:24
Hi Diane,
I find that my very musical son (14) tends to spread himself thin. I occasionally feel I should try to prune down his interests. None of his teachers have as yet to ask him to give any instrument up. His dad is does not want a music major, but sci or math. I figure he'll find his own way and his own love(s), so currently he's thinking of a duel major in college, music and physics or math. He does well, and plans on entering a concerto competition on both piano and clarinet this year. He plays kaval pretty well (Bulgarian flute) and is asking about flamenco or classical guitar lessons (he has recently developed an interest in Spanish composers)! He is entering a composition competition for local youth and studying my old counterpoint book. He doesnot seem to have anytime to get into trouble at this point and gets wonderful marks in sci (AP chem) and math, and seems very interested in those subjects as well.
His piano teacher's daughter (17), a Russian family orginally, had violin selected as a career at birth on the other hand. She plays some piano, and is a standout on violin, concertmistress of the National Youth Orchestra in NY (we're in CA) and playing in Carnigie (oh spelling) Hall for the second time this year. She is rebellious and resentful at this point of being given no choice, but will have some career! Oh can she play!
Hard to call it, isn't it
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Author: JellyJazz
Date: 2003-05-21 12:53
i am 16 and i play clarinet, violin, piano and sax. i took these up one at a time when i was 12. There is no need to chose and if she is talented then she should have no problem keeping up all!
Jelly Jazz
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-09-07 05:54
I think your daughter's clarinet teacher needs the advice, Diane.
Music is multi-lingual, with fantastic dialects and infinite ways to have fun at it. When one is feeling it from within (the heart), they're on their way to something wonderful, for themselves and others. I would agree, from what you describe, that your daughter is indeed gifted.
Teacher needs to re-think his stance. Professor or not, no one needs to be that dogmatic, especially with a very young person. As a parent, you know that what your daughter needs now is nurturing - not ultimatums. As you say, she'll no doubt discover for herself what instrument(s) she'll choose. Maybe she'll lean toward the piano, maybe the horn. For cryin' out loud, at 12, what's the rush?
Furthermore; I've never met anyone who complained about anyone's ability to play multiple instruments. Ordinarily they excel at one or two but I've seen no one harmed by playing more. Many folks who visit the Clarinet Boards also play brass, strings, percussion and a few hybrids. They all seem to be doing fine. A little wierd, maybe, but 'fine'. Well, (speakin' for m'self) anyway... who isn't??? 
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-09-24 12:36
Total BS! It is possible to play more than one instrument, hundreds of thousands do it. She is also only 12 this period of life is called childhood. It is rubbish to suggest that she put all her eggs into one basket at this age.
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Author: ginny
Date: 2003-10-18 16:51
I doubt anyone will read this... updating my son. His clarinet teacher actually suggests that he branch out and start playing bass clarinet in one group and take up tenor sax. The goal is to help him get musical theatre gigs later, which require doubling, tenor sax going with first clarinet if I recall correctly.
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Author: WoodwindThespian
Date: 2003-11-15 00:00
For myself, I also play two instruments. I have only been known to play liturgically but I hope to play in a symphony by the year 2010. She is only 12. At 12, I was my worst critic. I think that byfar she can definately play both. I am 21 now, and still do play clarinet and medieval wooden soprano recorder. I say go for it and to quote shakespeare,
"If music be the food of love, play on" Tweflth Night
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