 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2008-04-23 00:11
I can't decide if I should go.
Pros/Cons?
I'm not certain how much I'd get out of it. I have a hard time "schmoozing" for what that's worth...
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Author: brycon
Date: 2008-04-23 00:25
There are some great recitals, but there are also some pretty bad ones.
I only went once to do a competition, and I almost vomited from the hero-worshipping.
I would rather save my money and practice, or better yet enjoy a guilt-free non-clarinet vacation.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2008-04-23 01:13
(Disclaimer - I will be an exhibitor)
The Pros: Some of the best clarinet players in the world in concert and recital - choose the sound that you may want to emulate. A chance to meet new clarinetists, make some connections and network or renew old friendships with fellow players. The best selection of new clarinets assembled in one venue to choose from. All the GAS in accessories that you could wish for. If you want a new mouthpiece by a custom maker they will be there and tweak it to your satisfaction face to face.
The Cons: It should be hot, hot, hot in Kansas City in July. Some recitals will be not to your liking either by choice of music or performed by the player sub-par. A little too much of a music overload concentrated in a short time. You may not have enough money to satisfy the GAS selections put before you. The conference can put a dent in your pocketbook depending on how you handle room and board.
All in all I would highly recommend it for a life's experience however.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
P.S. A good place to try out different reeds by the various manufacturers to see if you like them and determine what strength fits your set up without investing in the costly "Reed Chase". You also should be able to score a significant stash of free reeds by the end of the show.
Post Edited (2008-04-23 01:34)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-04-23 02:16
Doc, it would be worth attending, just to shake hands with some of the regulars here (like you) and say "thanks!"
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2008-04-23 02:28
It's worth going to one once. Then and only then can you decide whether or not it's worth going again.
I think I've been to 5 over the past 10 years.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-04-23 03:40
I've been to numerous Clarinetfests over the years and have always come away rejuvenated and excited to begin yet another year of teaching and playing.
It is always nice to hear in person some of the "living legends" of the clarinet world, whether in performance or in lecture situations. It's also refreshing to discover some of the "unknown" players, or those from other countries who you would normally never get to hear.
That was the good news. Now, for the not so good...
The total cost of airfare, transportation, lodging and meals are not cheap. It can easily come to $1000. How many boxes of reeds does that buy?
The recitals are definitely a mixed bag. Unfortunately, for me, an appreciable amount of it is forgettable 'academic' music which is only heard in venues like a Clarinetfest or a college performance studio. I can't begin to tell you how many of these type of recitals I've walked out on, not because of the performer, but rather for the new/experimental music being played. I always wonder why they insist on subjecting us to it. But then again, the only audience who could possibly be remotely interested in it would be a gathering of clarinetists.
If you are in the market for a new clarinet, the Clarinetfest is the place to find one. Most of the dealers usually bring their best instruments and the savvy buyers know to try and get the best ones on the first days. I can still remember at the Buffet exhibit, in particular, a really excellent Buffet Vintage A clarinet that was still available on Saturday. It stood out from all the others and when I asked Chris Coppinger about it he also agreed. (this particular clarinet had even been premarked/preselected and had a small identifying sticker on the barrel). I still kick myself for not buying it on the spot.
If you have a shopping list of solos, excerpts, books, etudes, etc... to buy, you can get it all, and not pay a penny for shipping!
You'll meet lots of interesting and friendly people, some annoying ones (clarinetists have a tendency to try and show off their technique in the clarinet demo area) and may even run into some familiar names.
Is it all worth it monetarily?
Hard to tell because you may get a great deal on a fabulous instrument, find the solo you were always searching for, get to meet Mark Charette, hear some great music, hear some awful music and after 4 days possibly never want to hear another clarinet again.
Then again, you may just want to come back again next year...GBK
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Author: bstutsman
Date: 2008-04-23 09:00
Another consideration is when will it be this close to you again? Next year, Portugal?
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-04-23 12:21
I went to the 2004 Fest in Maryland because it was more or less local for me and threfore within my budget. I slept at home and commuted to and from the Fest via public transportation every day. If the Fest comes back to the Washington, D. C. area, I'll make more of an effort to stay at the venue overnight, because not spending the night there meant I missed all of the big evening concerts and missed out on some of the fellowship. Still, the day-tripping turned out to be a thoroughly delightful and educational experience. I loved meeting several people who use the Klarinet list and this bulletin board. The cheap commute meant I could spend way too much in the huckster room, an exceedingly dangerous Temple of Mammon!
Yes, some of the new music sounded atrocious, but I find atrociousness interesting.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-04-23 12:43
At some point my former summer student Michael Norsworthy will probably come in and give GBK and myself a smackdown for busting on the "modern music" 
But it really is worth it to go at least once. If you have never been you must go to one and attend concerts of music that you are familiar as well as the off the wall stuff so that you can see what is out there.
Some of the contemporary stuff is pretty cool. If I could tolerate the heat better I'd be there in a heartbeat - same for Portugal where it will not only be as hot or hotter, but their version of air conditioning leaves everything to be desired. Gorgeous, Spectacular, but just way too hot for me.
For tonal concept there is nothing like going to hear a player live. A recording just can't give you the 3 dimensional sound that comes from a live concert. You can hear a player on CD, but live gives you almost a completely different perspective on their sound.
I produce Michele Zukovsky's recordings and hearing her live at ClarFest this past summer gave ME a different perspective on her sound. I played duets with her back in 93 at the Belgium ClarFest, but forgot how special her sound is - a recording just doesn't do it justice.
It also can and probably will energize you for the next year.
And it makes a nice tax deduction of what is to me a vacation.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2008-04-23 15:21
I absolutely loved my ClarinetFest experience in Vancouver last year. I was so distracted by all of the recitals, master classes and lectures that I gave up participating with the clarinet choirs.
Too much going on to make scheduling your days simple. Roughly 2-1/2 places to be at any one time. And I did get stuck with some of those awful a-musical recitals where players exploit those squeaks and squawks that many of us have spent a lifetime trying to suppress. I sit in the front row where I can see fingerings and breathing, so I never actually walked out of one of those. BUT the wonderful performances --like Shifrin playing the Langenus Leiderxx transcriptions more than made up for the errors of choice.
I'm a master class junkie --even if the "mastered" usually make the same errors of support and phrasing over and over again.
Ever hear a Stadler-written clarinet piece played on a 5-keyed boxwood instrument (with the player reaching his right thumb UNDER the horn to reach a left hand side key)?
I'm not a great schmoozer either, but did meet some memorable people and added a couple of them to my list of correspondents.
GAS? Well, my budget limited me. I'm glad I didn't notice GBK's Buffet A, I might have collapsed. But, I did try out a lot of stuff --permanently setting several name brands aside but managed to add a cocobolo barrel to my quiver --but only after trying out 24 66-mm barrels back-to back early in the morning when the "noise" was down in the demonstration halls. (It might be good to memorize a few bars of Capriccio Espagnol or a cadenza or two to see if you can get heads to swivel around in the demonstration rooms.)
Oh, and its good to see/hear the greats --some at the 2008 actually had feet of clay; and some of the overseas visitors left my ears ringing and tear streaked cheeks (THANKS).
OH, and the Coast Guard trio! Worth the trip entirely.
Cost? I set up camp in an RV park about 1/2 hour from the UBC campus. Took a pile of rental car money to make the commute, and the timing made the "late night" (10PM) attractive recitals unreachable. I'd stay on campus and not miss a single session.
I'll miss this year's 'fest because of budget and schedule conflicts, but the Vancouver 'Fest won't be the only one I'll ever visit.
Hit me off line, and I'll be happy to send you a copy of my full report on last year's Clarinet Fest.
Bob Phillips
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Author: crazy karlos
Date: 2008-04-23 16:08
Can't help noting that Kansas City was where Charlie Parker was born and first picked up a horn. The city *has* to be on the all-time woodwind itinerary. What's the old song, Kansas City, here I come ... I've played that a few times ...
I remember from "Bird Lives" the fact that the corrupt Mayor Pendergast, who was breaking all the Prohibition rules (and running speakeasies and brothels), as a by-product created one of the most vibrant jazz scenes in the country. Can't be an accident that Bird was born there and then.
I know he played some clarinet, I found this story from when he first left KC and went to Chicago:
"Goon Garner took Charlie home, fed him, gave him clothes, arranged gigs, and because Charlie had no saxophone, loaned him a clarinet. It is unclear if Charlie actually played any gigs in Chicago at this time, but Gardner later claimed that Charlie disappeared with the clarinet. By way of coincidence, at the 1994 auction at Christie’s in London, one lot was comprised of three clarinet mouthpieces that Chan said Charlie used when they were together."
http://www.birdlives.co.uk/content/view/5/7/
-- now there's a "lot" for the woodwind memorabilia collector. I read somewhere else that Parker pawned the clarinet -- but he did play it.
Anyway, not possible for me, but I'd love to go to the KC fest!
Came across another Charlie Parker quote which I hadn't seen before:
"Don't play the saxophone. Let it play you."
-- the older I get, the more true I realise this is. Especially with improvisational music.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-04-23 16:09
It's an experience everyone must have at least once. Don't worry about hot weather. Every academic building (and motel) I've ever been in has been brutally air conditioned. In fact, you should bring a sweater.
There will be lots of fabulous recitals by some of the best players in the world. There will also be a few duds, but if you take a seat on the aisle, you can simply leave. There are so many recitals that you can't keep your mind fresh enough to attend them all anyway.
The master classes are always fascinating. You should go to them all.
You'll also get to play the newest clarinets, meet the mouthpiece and barrel makers (and maybe get something customized on the spot to your clarinet and playing style) and get lots of free samples of reeds.
Everybody there plays clarinet. There's nothing easier than starting a conversation about reeds, players or the weather. It's great practice learning how to schmooze.
Everybody tries to do too much, gets exhausted and crashes. Everybody comes away with enough ideas to keep you busy thinking and practicing until the next year. You'll remember it for the rest of your life.
Ken Shaw
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-04-23 16:16
Vancouver was HOT (ironic - no air in many of the venues and it was mid 80's) and Univ of Maryland was the same. Depending on if you run hot or cold would make the difference. If you have to walk a lot from venue to venue also can make a difference.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: dgclarinet
Date: 2008-04-23 16:39
I would highly recommend going to Kansas City for the fest this year. I've been to 3 now, and am glad I went to each. I am totally not a schmoozer, but you don't have to be at these things. You almost end up doing a little schmoozing even if you don't mean to....especially at the exhibit tables, where even the famous mouthpiece makers want your business. They'll tell you a lot if you're at all interested (and there's nobody else around buying...the secret is going when it's not crowded).
Is it a lot of money? Yes. But if I hadn't gone to these fests, I would have missed so much...hearing Karl Leister and Richard Stoltzman and Eddie Daniels and Alessandro Carbonare and the French player who played a Bach partita on a D clarinet (incredible)...and many others I wouldn't want to have missed. (And for the many of us who love modern music...hearing all those "squeaks and sqacks" are pretty incredible too)
And yes, I've been saving up...so I'm going to be looking for the barrel tags on the Buffets (you don't think they'd do that again do you?).
Oh..and one word of advice about the people who memorized the opening of Capriccio Espanol in order to try to impress somebody (there are many, many of these)..ignore them. It's hard, but you have to try.
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2008-04-23 17:42
Would love to go, but just went to Tuscany last month and blew too many Euros. (Poor me! ;-) ) I went to ClarinetFest in 2006 in Atlanta and 2004 at Maryland, where I was a graduate student at the time. I got discounted registration since I helped out, and commuted from my apartment. I definitely want to go to another one, but it's been too expensive with air fare and all. If it's within a day's drive and you can find reasonably priced accommodations, I definitely recommend going.
About picking out a horn at Clarinetfest: I find it too overwhelming there. Too many other people playing. Too many vendors. Too many choices and not enough time to try enough horns without missing the goings-on. I actually bought one in '04 at Fest and luckily was able to return it later...just made the wrong decision. It's interesting to try different horns there for curiosity, but resist buying unless you're sure you've had adequate time to try a bunch. It was much easier and more comfortable to pick one out a couple of years later at a small shop in Delaware (Vince Marinelli). There were enough clarinets to choose from, I had a friend helping me, and there were no other distractions. Except Ricardo Morales showed up, but he didn't stay long.
Mouthpieces, barrels, and bells are probably easier to choose in such a venue if you know what you're looking for.
Lori
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2008-04-23 20:41
You've all highlighted many of the reasons both to go and not to go. I had considered all of them anyway...most importantly the use of it as a tax writeoff!
I'm not terribly concerned with the gear, but it would be nice to see/try stuff I wouldn't normally think I'd be interested in.
I'm also not terribly concerned with the recitals (GASP!). I figure I'd go to some and not go to some anyway.
And the weather in KC is not too different from that in Minneapolis around that time of year. Maybe a little hotter there, but what's a couple of degrees? 
Thanks for all the advice!
<still pondering>
Katrina
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2008-04-23 21:24
I have only been to one - in Salt Lake City - because I had a place to stay with a friend , so all I paid for was airfare from Oakland. It was wonderful for me - and a great motivator. I especially remember the Klezmer concert. Eddie Daniels was there too. Looking at all the different clarinets and accessories was great and I did buy a lot of music. I would go again if it was anywhere close to the Bay Area - seems they skip us for some reason! Maybe some day though the clarinets will march into San Francisco or Oakland. Who knows!
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-04-23 21:27
Here's another reason to go - you never know what life circumstance will be when it is in another location that you would consider going to.
You could have just taken a job that won't give you off, you could be unemployed and unable to afford it, employed and unable to afford it, ready to deliver, etc, etc.
Go while you easily can do it.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2008-04-23 22:34
Carol Dutcher wrote:
> I would go
> again if it was anywhere close to the Bay Area - seems they
> skip us for some reason!
'They' aren't skipping you - no one in the Bay area is stepping up to the plate to sponsor one!
I'm considering teaming up with a couple of organizations to host one in Detroit sometime after 2009... embryonic at this stage, though.
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2008-04-24 17:34
Ken Shaw is absolutely right, we should go when we have the money and still can. My friend Cat Catalano went to the New Orleans fest (he lived there) and was in a class with the fabulous sax player Al Galadoro. Sat right next to Al and got an autographed picture of the two of them, what a treasure. Cat sent a copy to me and it is now one of MY treasures.
I cannot schmooze at all. Say anything to me, and I'm likely to run away and hide. I'm much better on stage where I don't have to talk to anybody!
I know if I went to Kansas City I would come home with a brand new clarinet this year.
I'm getting motivated.
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