Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2006-09-27 21:29
Lately, in my clarinet playing, all I've been doing is stressing. I did not enjoy practicing anymore because I was so overwhelmed with the many aspects in my playing I had to fix. I was stuck on the Baermann 3 that I was required to do and would often times cut my practice sessions short after the frustrating experiences of trying to keep legato fingers, a pointed chin, a still jaw, and smooth interval leaps (etc.)
BUT, yesterday was my most stressful day I've had so far in college. I was studying for a huge Music Literature test (which was about 6 solid hours of studying) and I had worries in my mind of my lesson today, and my Wind Symphony concert on Friday, along with a presentation in my Intro to Music Education on Thursday.
Within this studying I got so stressed out and all I wanted to do was play my clarinet. So, I got out my clarinet and started with sightreading some orchestral excerpts that I had heard being played previous in the day. It may of not been perfect, but it made me happy. I then went to the Rhapsody in Blue and wailed until my little heart couldn't give anymore and it was so much fun and rewarding. Then, I went through and worked on one of my Wind Symphony pieces and fixed some problem areas. Lastly: the Baermann 3. And actually, after all of this enjoyment I had been experiencing, my Baermann was at the best it had ever been. It was good, because I was thinking of the enjoyment I get from playing.
It's funny to think it took so much other kinds of stress for me to enjoy playing again. But at the same time, I find it really neat. It was a practice session I'll remember for a long time.
Maybe we should all start off our practice sessions playing something that we love instead of heading straight for the Baermann etc., so we don't forget what the true spirit of playing the clarinet is ultimately about: enjoyment.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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