 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Olorin
Date: 2007-06-05 22:29
hi -
of course this is slightly premature, seeing as the sun is shining and it's only june, but i figured now would be a good time to start thinking about graduate schools. only a few have been appealing so far (USC, UNC, manhattan school of music), and was just wondering if anyone wants to tell me about their amazing schools, or pedagogues i've neglected thinking about?
thanks!
(and has bil jackson *really* retired?)
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Author: Daniel Frazelle
Date: 2007-06-05 23:06
USC is obviously a great choice, with Yehuda Gilad teaching there. Easily one of the strongest, if not the strongest, clarinet studios in the country. If you can get in and afford it, you can't go wrong.
I have to mention, however, the school I am leaving this year. The University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music has a clarinet program that I think is on fire right now. The primary teacher there now is Richie Hawley, principal clarinetist of the Cincinnati Symphony.
When I came to this school to start my Masters three years ago, it was in the beginning of the one year that Steve Cohen was there. The studio was a good one, but perhaps not particularly notable, particularly in relation to other studios within the school. Steve Cohen did so much in that first year to change the culture there and get people working harder and not neglecting fundamentals. The change, just within a year, was shocking and reflected in the competition to get into the school for the following fall. When Mr. Cohen left for Northwestern, the school decided to increase Richie Hawley's workload and make him the head of the studio.
As taken aback as I was by the way the studio evolved in that one year, I was that much more impressed by job Richie did in taking it even further. When I look at the studio today, it can compete with anyone's top to bottom, no matter who the primary teacher is. Right now, there are four adjunct instructors; Richie Hawley, Ixi Chen, Ron Aufmann, and Carmine Campione. Those four work tirelessly to find the right fit for each student. Of course, Richie is the most sought-after for people when they first enter, but I have seen incredible things happen in all of the other studios and it is a result of their efforts to find the best solution for each student. I have studied with every one of the teachers at some point and their knowledge and helpfulness is downright impressive.
I will comment, however, more specifically on Richie Hawley, as he has been my main teacher for two years. He is probably the most gifted and natural teacher I've ever had the pleasure of working with. In addition, I have never found someone more dedicated to finding the right solutions for his students. Those solutions can be to problems ranging from fundamental issues, to musicianship and expressiveness, to getting over that final hump in auditions in order to win. He has set the tone for the entire studio and has clearly reached everyone who may or may not study with another teacher primarily. I owe a great deal of my moderate success to him, as do his other students who are winning jobs and simply becoming fine musicians.
The school itself has excellent orchestras and a wind chamber music program that is very comprehensive. The level of musicianship in other studios is also notable, as a great deal of learning in graduate school can come from your peers around you. Plus, just about all graduate students at CCM currently receive 85% scholarship (more, potentially) as well as various assistantships throughout the school.
So, needless to say, I really feel you should consider CCM. It's a great school with an incredible and still rising clarinet program.
-Daniel
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Author: redwine
Date: 2007-06-06 01:01
Hello,
Check out Northwestern. Steve Cohen is a great teacher. For those of you that are considering undergrad (or even grad school, for that matter) definitely check out the University of South Carolina. My former college roommate and current friend, Joe Eller, is a great teacher. When I did a clinic at his last school, all of his students sounded phenomenal!
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2007-06-06 01:56
If you're considering UNC, try UNCG with Kelly Burke and Ed Riley. Yale with David Shiffrin? Phenomenal =]
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-06-06 05:21
usc trojans!!!! oh yeah! great school with a nice atmosphere except that if you walk two blocks away from campus, the scenary get's pretty dismal.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Connor
Date: 2007-06-06 11:57
UNC is a great undergraduate school. The few masters and graduate students that Bil takes usualy excel and often achieve high level paying gigs. Our studio averages arround 25 students, 2-3 graduate/masters students, and about 12 take lessons with Bil. The clarinet studio is consitanly getting better, and typicaly wins major university compitions. Overal, the level of playing in the school of music is not at the level of the major concervetorys or reputable music programs such as michigan. It is a smaller, more intimate university that caters more to music education than performace.
Where did you hear that Bil was retiring???????
Connor O'Meara
UNC clarinet performace, 3 year
Yamaha CSG, Buffet r-13
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Author: William
Date: 2007-06-06 15:28
New York City with all of it's great clarinetists is where I would go if I had "it" to do all over again. Sometimes we learn more from listening to others and rising to their level of competion than from our official teachers, so rubbing ebows with such a concentration and variety of good players is what I would consider in my grad school decision. Chicago (Northwestern) would be a close second--but think about those cold winter winds raging constantly off Lake Michigan...............(Michelle Laurie did, and left)
Post Edited (2007-06-06 17:24)
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Author: claaaaaarinet!!!!
Date: 2007-06-06 17:06
I would suggest that you look at Minnesota, too. If you look at some recent orchestral auditions: 2nd in Charelston, Coast Guard Band, Saskatoon Principal, 2nd in Pacific Symphony. All were won by Burt Hara students.
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Author: kuteclar
Date: 2007-06-06 17:33
I concur. Burt Hara is not only a phenominal clarinetist, but I very fun man to work with. Here will be your set up:
Buffet R13
Vandoren M13 Lyre
Bonade ligature
Vandoren, blue box, 3.5
Moennig barrel mostly
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-06-06 18:13
kuteclar wrote:
> Here will be your set up:
>
> Buffet R13
> Vandoren M13 Lyre
> Bonade ligature
> Vandoren, blue box, 3.5
> Moennig barrel mostly
One size fits all?? ...GBK
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Author: kuteclar
Date: 2007-06-06 19:44
It wasn't like it was a forced set-up.....but that is what is desired and mostly followed by his students. One of the recent winners does not use the M13, never tried one, and Burt did have students playing on Festival/Vintage here and there.
I'm not promoting it, but the results do seem to be speaking for themselves! I believe it was more of a one size fits most....try it....and then most took the advice. Burt's sound might not be everyone's favorite, but there is very, very little to argue with! Also, no reed working. Just break in and play the good ones.
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Author: pzen
Date: 2007-06-08 04:50
If you are practicing 4 hours a day, why would one spend 30 minutes working a reed?
I have heard that southern illinois is good. Eric Mandat is said to be a genius, and yes USC is great, new your is great, boston is great. Someone once said that you go for your undergrade based on the school, and select you graduate school based on the teacher.
I would follow the teacher regardless of where it is. With planes, trains and buses, no city is that far away. If you are in your early 20s figure that you will have lots of time after grad school to find a paying gig. Unless you are one of the gifted/lucky few, you will spend a long time honing your craft.
Peace, love and understanding
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-06-08 15:25
Following the teacher.
A colleague wanted to work with Mitchell Lurie. He taught at both USC and UC Santa Barbara. His choice was easy: Watts Ghetto vs the California Coast.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2007-06-08 15:46
Olorin,
The real question is what do you want to do as a clarinet player? Recommendations are quite different if you want to specialize in new music, chamber music, traditional orchestral music, doubling for pit and broadway musicals,etc...
-S
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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