 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-01-29 19:15
...just isn't good enough. <sigh>
Being a (very) late bloomer I started to play about 1.5 years ago (my musical past consisted of recorder and grammophone). I made progress, practised diligently, learned pieces and all that. Recently I thought that the protected environment of my practice room (read: the marital bedroom) was getting too confined and I looked around for a band, pardon, orchestra and found one that looked promising.
I was invited for their rehearsal, was shown a chair and the conductor started distributing this year's new score sheets. After a short warm-up (which I managed to follow) they started with the first piece, and the whole orchestra went off like on steroids - I just sat there, hardly able to follow (eyes only) where the heck we were. Sight reading - oops. Not Quite There Yet. Tempo? That's the hanky brand, right? (The first trumpet behind my right ear didn't ease up the situation considerably)
So I went home (after a beer with the crowd) with my sheets and started practising. Pfft. The first time for a long time I had that feeling I'd never be able to do that. Not with just 1/2..1 hour of practice each evening.
Any hint on how to get my shattered ego back into shape again? Where should I start first? Learn one piece well and "sit out" the rest? Ask for the 3rd Alto chair? ("Giving up" is not considered a valid answer)
--
Ben
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Author: johnnymo0829
Date: 2007-01-29 19:32
what seat did they put you in? did they know it's your first time in a group? if you can just try to blend in on a lower chair till you get your feet under you then when comfortable try some harder parts if they have room in the section. Don't get down on yourself. We all were in a rough spot the first time any of us sat in our first rehearsals. I still have days where I come out of a rehearsal and wonder how everyone else got all the notes and I screwed up royaly. Just keep at it and you'll be ok
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Author: FDF
Date: 2007-01-29 21:21
Tictactux,
This past year I returned to playing in a concert band after a lapse of many years. A former first chair clarinetist, I was now last chair third, and darn happy to be there. I can relate to how you feel. Take heart, after all the conductor didn’t say, “Don’t call us we’ll call you.” Here are a few random thoughts gained from my return.
Just because it was the first rehearsal of the new season doesn’t mean that a lot of the old timers haven’t played the music before. They probably have.
Playing a strict tempo in unison with a whole band is hard after having the luxury of going at it at your own pace. Practice pieces with a strict adherence to tempo and rhythm, because what you learn on one piece will apply to others.
If you lose your place, relax it happens to everybody. Join in when you finally figure out where the rest of the group is playing.
Take time to look at key signatures, changes of key, repeats, tempo, etc., before you start playing,
Practice stumbling blocks, for instance tricky fingering, or repeats that don’t seem self evident.
If your playing a part with someone who’s experienced, listen to them and play along. Thank them for helping you out.
Enjoy your time playing. You’ll progress faster than you think!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-01-29 21:26
Well, Ben, many of us spent 8 years in school bands learning all that so you'll just have to do your time.
Bob Draznik
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-01-29 22:01
What music are you playing with the group?
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: Bill
Date: 2007-01-29 22:09
Ben,
Had exactly the experience you are describing when I joined a community orchestra. Eventually I played three concerts with them, the last as the only clarinet (everyone canceled at the last minute, as Vladimir Horowitz said one ought to do).
I recall sitting for hours at the foot of my home stereo speaker following the record of Handel's "Messiah" and trying to learn the part.
As you, I was astounded by the velocity of the other players and their ability to **COUNT** and sight-read so rapidly. As a self-taught adult, I was simply out of my element ... just lost.
My advice is to hang in there as much as possible, for to play with a group and then lose that source of pleasure (and pain!!!! LOL!) is very rough. I truly miss playing with an orchestra, but - for me - the bad parts just outweighed the good.
Wish I had stuck it out longer.
Bill.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2007-01-30 00:36
Seeing your post reminded me of an old thread which may be useful to you.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=199195&t=199182
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-01-30 01:41
Illigitmus non-carborundum!
Its a shock, but you'll recover.
Remember all the old advice about playing only the first note of 4-1/16s, etc until you can tootle along with the group.
Do not surrender. You're best will quickly rise to the point where you are contributing to the harmony!
I won't get easier, you'll just be able to focus on more of the details.
good luck
persist.
Bob Phillips
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2007-01-30 02:03
I went to Youth Orchestra a couple of weeks back. As you know, they take two clarinets in those situations and I was CLEARLY better than the girls who were there one week before me but I wasn't allowed to display that because they had one year seniority over me. I beat both of them at all my auditions for state levels(me being the only one to move on to state) They offered me a Bass Clarinet part and I was like ha sure. I like new adventures =]
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2007-01-30 02:29
SVClarinet09 wrote:
...
I think you need to work less at clarinet as a competitive sport at this point and work more on a few other skills ...
When I was hiring people to work for me, I looked more at their capabilities as both leaders and team players, along with their capabilities to adapt to new situations and required technologies, rather than their "absolute technical skills". It worked out for both the new hire and myself much better. I could always teach them new required technical skills relatively rapidly given the baseline I started with, but teaching social skills takes much too long.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2007-01-30 02:49
Ben,
It sounds like you are overwhelmed with what it means to play in an ensemble. Well don't worry, most of us have been there and just the fact that you are in after only a couple years of playing speaks for your ability to play.
Don't panic, it is likely the other players knew some of the music from previous experiences and you can't be expected to know everything at once.
If you are unsure you can learn all the parts in time, I suggest you prioritize. First learn all parts well enough so that you know where you are even if you can't play all the notes. One good way to do this is to get a recording of the piece and follow along, then play along the sections you can. Second, find the sections in which your part is exposed and learn these first. Finally work your way through the rest of the pieces.
Good luck and don't give up quite yet, there is some wonderful music to be played in an orchestra and you have a great opportunity to be a part of it.
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-01-30 04:36
Ben, it sounds like the orchestra you found is pretty high level, and the players there have a lot more than 1.5 years of experience (though it is not clear if it was prima vista for everyone else too or just for you). If you got to a situation where this orchestra accepts you after only 1.5 years of playing it sounds like you are doing great! My only suggestion is to try your best, don't give up, and do exactly what you said - "sit out" the parts that you don't feel comfortable playing. Practice what you can but I suggest to not obssesively over practice either.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-01-30 07:33
Thank you all for the encouragement. That's comforting.
The band is - by the description of one of its members (an old workmate from 15 years back) - "just the average 3rd class wind orchestra", not über-ambitious but not just hanging around in bars either. I guess that's what others would describe as a normal community band. There are about 30 players, some with 30+ years of band experience, but they're all doing it for fun (AFAIK none's a musician by trade). 6 or 7 clarinets. I was given 3rd clarinet sheets, so I assume I'm the third 3rd clarinet.
That they asked me to come again might have to do with my abilities (which I doubt, to be honest) or their desperation to get new members...these orchestras face increasing problems getting new players, it's the same as everywhere.
Well, I guess I'll just practice as usual - go over one piece, work on the pesky sections, then put it aside to let it sink in overnight and proceed with the next. I'll try not to be impressed with all those semiquavers and key changes. I'll manage. Somehow.
This same band has its own music school, so the worst that can happen to me is that they relegate me to the ensemble nursery.
--
Ben
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Author: kenb
Date: 2007-01-30 07:53
Hang in there ....remember, nothing improves the taste of beer like a pre-drink concert!
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2007-01-30 08:07
Playing with a group, large or small, is just as much part of being a musician as the technical side of persuading your instrument to do what you want and the artisitic side of interpreting the music. Like other aspects of music, it takes practice. The best advice I can give is echoing everyone else's and stick at it. Learn from those around you. Ask questions if you need to - they sound like a friendly bunch and will be happy to help.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2007-01-30 11:32
Ben,
As I still tell my students "If this was easy, everyone would be doing it." BobD has captured the essence of the issue. While you can make progress much faster than many of us did when we were in the early stages of our musical development, there is no substitute for time, experience, and sweat equity. You can't shortcut here in any way.
Pros and very experienced players make it sound easy.
HRL
Post Edited (2007-01-30 13:57)
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