Author: mrn
Date: 2009-11-22 05:35
Gabriel--
Your story sounds very similar to mine. I went into engineering and eventually into patent law. I can identify with what you're feeling--the burning desire to play, etc.
I started back up again a couple of years ago after several years of not playing (after I started working). I did have to regain a little bit of lost finger technique and tonguing speed, as well as embouchure strength, but it came back quickly. I think I play better now than I ever did before.
Practicing scales and arpeggios helped a lot. It's funny--I used to hate scales, but I actually get a lot of enjoyment out of playing scales and exercises these days because I can better see the improvement. In a way it's been good to pick up the instrument again after a bit of an absence from it, because it's given me an opportunity to rebuild my technique without some of the old bad habits I used to have.
By the way, there's a really great book for getting yourself in shape in short order that I've been playing out of recently. I've found it to be really helpful. It's called "Vade Mecum du Clarinettiste" and it's by Paul Jeanjean. It's specifically written for folks like us who don't have gobs of time to devote to practice, but truth be told, it's great for anybody. It has exercises to loosen up your fingers, work troublesome finger patterns in the left and right hands, improve tonguing, review scales and arpeggios, etc.
These days I play in a regional symphony orchestra. Both the principal player and I took up the clarinet again after some absence from it (his absence from the instrument being longer than mine).
So take heart, it WILL come back to you, and perhaps even sooner than you think at first!
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The Clarinet BBoard
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