 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: hammer_sickle01
Date: 2009-06-04 17:17
Im a bit clueless on what to wear for an upcoming performance (in about a month). It's at a well respected conservatory and people usually attend the concert wearing nice clothes. And myself along with all the other performers are relatively young (some still in teens). Just to give you an idea.
I'm so used to high school and having all our outfits (unflattering, might I add) picked out for us, so when it comes to picking out my own dress I don't know what is too risque and crosses the line.
They said, hem lines @ least knee length (skirts and dresses) and dress shoes.
I picked out a few dresses but I'm not sure if I should wear long sleeve, 3/4 length, cap sleeve, or even sleeveless. Completely clueless. I would like to wear a sleeveless dress (not strapless...just short sleeved) but I dont know if its showing too much.
Also...what about heels? I mean, I'm not going to go prancing in with 4" stiletto heels on the night of the performance but I would like input and personal experience on the length of heels that is appropriate and doesn't inhibit your playing in any way when sitting down.
Ehm...this question was bound to be asked...pantyhose/tights? Are they necessary?
Is a necklace okay (thin chain?) I know not to wear bracelets/rings or wear any lipstick and to keep my hair out of my face.
Am I over-thinking this? XD
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Author: MondeLuna
Date: 2009-06-04 17:52
I don't think you are over thinking this in the least. Everyone will probably have a different opinion but I will tell you what I like to see when I attend a concert.
Dress -3/4 sleeve or long sleeve, floor length if not you really should wear black hose.
Jewelry - as little as possible I recently attended a concert where the soloist was wearing not only a shiny bracelet which was very distracting but earrings and a necklace as well. It really took away from the music because I spent almost half the time looking at her jewelry that was shinning in my face.
Shoes - I know flats are hard to find so most of my shoes are about 1 inch in length. I prefer closed toe shoes, but many people don't seem to mind open toed.
I know you really want to look nice and you can just keep everything minimal. After all the idea is to look nice and well groomed but not be distracting, so people can focus on the wonderful music you are making. I think I have a more conservative view on what women should wear for concerts, we shall see. =) I recently read a book on this very topic that you should read. I can't remember the name of the book so maybe someone can chime in. I did find out about it through this board after all. Just as an FYI I am a woman. Sorry if my post was too long.
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Author: D
Date: 2009-06-04 17:59
As a rough guide have a look on youtube at recital performances and see which ones come across best and are in similar venues to yours. Personally I think showing any flesh other than the lower arms and face is a no no, but then I've got very very pale skin so it looks really obvious....and I also look like a corpse with a red face once I've been blowing for a bit.
My personal preference would be
flat or nearly flat dark shoes
dark well tailored trousers, certainly don't want to show off my legs in public ick! - not linen as it creases too much
smart top in a dark fabric, such as a well tailored shirt - not linen, and something that wont show sweat
unobtrusive hair clips
necklace would be fine if it is unobtrusive but I wouldn't want to wear anything the audience can particularly see
small earrings fine
Keep in mind that part of the audience will be looking up at you, do you want them looking at your knees?
The other part of the audience will be looking down on you if the seating is tiered, do you want them studying your cleavage?
Clean your shoes
Under no circumstances wear anything which is too tight.
You want people listening to you, not looking at what you're wearing so low key is the way to go. If you all have to wear dresses then I'd recommend tights/stockings which are at least tinted enough to take the glare off legs, if not black.
If you wear glasses make sure they are super clean as well.
I'd avoid suit jackets as they remind me of job interviews and ladies ones are almost always hopeless to play in if they fit better than a sack.
It's great you are thinking about this now, something less to worry about on the day.
Hope it all goes well.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2009-06-04 18:07
Mondeluna: Please update your profile with a valid email address. You can hide your email address from the BBoard, but I require a valid email address on file for all BBoard members.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-06-04 18:35
If you're playing as a soloist, by all means wear a nice dress. Not skintight, not low-cut, not sparkly/shiny fabric. For my junior and senior recitals I wore two different floral dresses, just below the knee. The junior recital was in November, so I wore a long sleeved dress with a higher neck (not a turtleneck though!). For my senior recital (May) I wore a dress with pouffy sleeves that stopped above the elbow and a neckline which was just a touch higher than a true scoop neck.
I see nothing wrong with wearing a thin chain necklace, even one with a tiny charm/stone. Ditto earrings...delicate/studs better than dangly/flashy.
If you're playing as part of a group, you need to all agree on what you're wearing together and coordinate the style/level of glamour.
EDIT:
I forgot to reply about shoes/hose! Heels are fine if you can walk in 'em...nothing higher than 2.5'' IMO though...and probably a nice pump-style would be best. Hose too! That's my old-school quality coming out...I am 40 after all...lol.
Post Edited (2009-06-04 18:37)
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Author: Bluesparkle
Date: 2009-06-04 18:43
Since you posted your question here on the clarinet board, I assume that's the instrument you play. In my opinion, it is difficult to play (sitting) in a skirt, unless it is a full skirt that you can arrange so that your clarinet bell is between your knees and the skirt fabric isn't in the way. I have made the mistake before of wearing a straight skirt, and when I sat down to play, I realized I had to lean back in the chair because my clarinet bell was resting on the fabric at the top of my knees,as there wasn't enough slack in the fabric to push between my knees to make room for the bell. Never wore a short skirt, but I imagine that you wouldn't want to sit the way you'd have to sit in a short skirt.
I've taken to wearing nice slacks and a fancier top. There are some pants that have full legs, and when you stand, it looks like a long skirt. I'd like to find a pair of these for myself. A little more formal, perhaps.
I vote no short sleeves, and moderate jewelry is fine. I tend to like small but sparkly. As far as the heels are concerned, I go back to the question of sitting. Can you play in your regular sitting position with heels on? Don't want to affect your embouchure. Showing toes isn't great in my opinion, either.
As far as I'm concerned, comfort overrides fashion any day. Now where did I put my Birkenstocks?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2009-06-05 00:12
Lower heels (1 1/2" to 2") and a long black dress with three quarter sleeves. Or, you could wear formal black pants and a black blouse with heels unless they are requiring a dress. And, not too low-cut on the neckline.
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2009-06-05 07:46
As, from what you say, your institution has not laid down guidelines for dress, I would say wear what you feel suits you , the occasion and the piece. You do not say whether the concert is evening or earlier, which could make a difference.
If you are playing seated, does that mean you are playing as part of a group? In which case, as others have said, you would be wise to confer with the other performers to ensure a reasonably consistent appearance.
One other thing which no one seems to have mentioned about necklines, do think about how it will look when you bow after you've played! High up on a stage or platform, if you're not careful you could be showing just about everything!
As far as jewellery goes, I think a reasonable amount of discrete decoration is fine - obviously, not something so flashy that it will distract from the music and nothing that might get caught in your instrument etc but I think there is no need to avoid it completely. Equally, be guided by what you think works with the rest of your outfit - if you are wearing a very plain dress, say, you can probably get away with something a little more elaborate in the way of jewellery and vice versa.
Hope this helps
Vanessa.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-06-05 12:42
David Blumberg wrote,
>>Wear a dress - trousers are for guys....
>>
>>I'm old school on that one. >>
Old school? Jeezy peezy, David, usually I agree with you, and this time is no exception: You're so right about "old school." Old as in: when dinosaurs walked the earth.
"Trousers are for guys" sounds like something my high school principal might have said in 1962! -- at which time, girls were forbidden to wear trousers to school, band teachers were telling us, "Girls don't conduct" and "Girls don't play the drums" and "Girls don't play the trumpet," P.E. teachers coached us in wimpy half-court basketball and, by California state law, girls on the track team were not allowed to run more than a mile.
>>Look good, but possibly not so great that you are only remembered for how great you looked.>>
Okay, I agree with that part, too. If looking good means wearing a nice pair of trousers with sensible, low heels to make sure you're not teetering around like a bimbo, then go ahead and wear trousers. This is 2009, not 1959!
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: dgclarinet
Date: 2009-06-05 12:58
This is another moment that I'm glad to be a guy. My biggest worry in a situation like this is remembering to wear black socks.
Hammer, you never said much about the performance..other than the people attending usually dress nice. You might want to ask the people running the event if it's formal black or springy type clothes (yes, I'm a guy) or what kind of clothing would be appropriate. If you show up wearing a long black dress and everybody else has on pastel...that might be kind of weird too.
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Author: hammer_sickle01
Date: 2009-06-05 18:32
thanks for the responses (and the laughs as well).
I forgot to mention the neckline but you all seemed to have taken care of that for me. I'm pretty ehm...not busty and rather petite so I know to wear shirts/dresses that dont come with revealing tops...otherwise they tend...not to fit. haha
anyway (after taking everyone's input into consideration) I've decided to wear a dress that comes past the elbows and that hits just below the knees (it's also flowy so when I sit down in it there's extra fabric for it to fall between my legs so I can be comfortable holding my clarinet in the middle...and without flashing the audience. win-win situation) with 1" (or it's 1 1/2 not sure) closed toe heels. ...im still undecided about the pantyhose so I'll ask the other players, but if I'm still left without an answer I'll know to bring some that night and use my judgment to change into it if I feel its necessary. (after getting glimpses of what the other players are wearing). same thing with the necklace.
BTW: there are no soloists so we all pretty much have to be uniform. I'm performing with a woodwind quartet (im the only girl in this one which is really the initial reason why I came here to ask)and then 2 diff pieces with a chamber ensemble (around 40 players in total) and it's around 17:00-19:00 ...they havent really specified yet but I think that's considered evening time.
thanks again! i really did appreciate it.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-06-05 19:49
When in doubt, a black (women's) suit is always good, and decently addresses all physical (imaginary or real) deficits. Red or black top or white blouse, black blazer jacket and trousers. Conservative, I know.
Millions of men can't be wrong! :-)
(well maybe they are, what do I know)
--
Ben
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-06-06 00:02
I would keep it simple. What you have picked out sounds fine. If I may, I would strongly suggest hose that are black in tone. They have hose that are called "charcoal" - not dark black, but more grey in tone that works well with black dresses/skirts.
Shoes - a small 1 - 2 inch heel is best.
Jewelry - I always like to wear my pearls with concert wear. Simple, classic, elegant, and not distracting. Pearl stud earrings or small dangly pearl earrings are nice.
Make sure the fabric "breathes" - it can be very hot on stage, and if the fabric does not breathe you will be bathed in sweat.
good luck!
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2009-06-06 01:09
Tunic tops are in fashion now and can look dressy if worn with nice pants and a dress shoe with a bit of a heel. I have some in black and black/white with various sleeve lengths which work well for concerts as they tend not to be too clingy and have a flowing look. If the top is a V-neck, consider a camisole to prevent any cleavage sightings.
It is hard to find a dress/skirt which is long enough so you don't flash the audience when you sit down with the bell between your legs but which isn't hopelessly dowdy, especially for a young girl like yourself. And if you are the only girl in a quintet, you'll stand out less wearing pants.
If you wear something with shorter sleeves, bring along a small black or white cardigan. You can quickly cover up if the event is more uptight than you thought or if the room is freezing.
All in all, you should feel that you look cute!
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2009-06-07 01:30
A nice black dress shirt (or sometimes, white, depends on the ensemble), some nice pants, some good quality dress sock and/or pantyhose, and some nice flat or low heel shoes. (I can't wear high heels anyway!)
Meri
Please check out my website at: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com and my blog at: http://clariniano.wordpress.com
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2009-06-07 18:30
This was so interesting. Don't wear polyester anything, I did that once and it was so uncomfortable. I wear black slacks with wide legs, they are comfortable, and black everything else, no jewelry at all, just make sure you are going to be comfy and not itchy in your clothes!
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Author: Claire Annette
Date: 2009-06-14 21:34
Oooo...I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on this one, David.
I did the "old school" dress thing in high school and college. Even with a floor length skirt, there are issues that trouser-wearers don't encounter: wet spots where the bell of the clarinet is closest, constantly shoving the skirt between the legs to make room for the clarinet bell (I play with my bell no further out than between my knees--usually closer in), and picking the dress out of my...well...let's just say that slips and skirts have a way of adhering to the behind after a lot sit.
Trousers are my choice for concert wear. I like to play with my legs apart and I feel much more comfortable, able to concentrate on my music rather than on my skirt. I like to wear a three-quarter length sleeve (black top), a conservative neckline, trousers, and shoes without a high heel.
Now here's where I get old school: I don't think concerts are a time to be showing skin. I hate seeing girls dressed in strapless dresses at a high school concert. To me, they are trying to draw more attention to their bodies than they are their music or their band as a whole.
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2009-06-15 07:02
This was mentioned once but probably worth emphasizing... If a skirt is chosen over dark dress slacks, please be sure the skirt is long enough to cover the knees WHEN SITTING! I attended an event where the musicians were on a stage and one of the older, experienced violists wore a skirt that allowed the audience to see too much from our lower point of view. When you're playing you can't be thinking about being discreet!
I too believe that black or dark hose or socks is important even when wearing slacks. The recorded video shows up light skin as the pant hemline is raised when sitting.
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