 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2012-01-23 03:24
I studied clarinet starting at age 8, through high school, and even went to a darn good music school for college on a partial music scholarship. But in my sophomore year of college, I decided to go down a different path. I started another major and never looked back.
Anyway, 20+ years and a professional business career later (and perhaps as part of a mid-life crisis) I returned to the horn and have been practicing for about a year and play with a pretty good local community band. I'm enjoying playing and practicing again and steadily improving -- my embouchure and tone are getting to be good, my intonation is coming back, and I'm more musical than I ever was years ago.
Just one thing -- I can't seem to play all those fast runs and fireworks like I used to. I'm sure that I'll get better with more practice, but it's really slow going at this point. I frequently debate in my head whether it's just that I need to keep pounding away at the scales and arpeggios...or if I've just gotten old, arthritic (yes, diagnosed), and slow. Maybe some of each.
So....any returnees have any perspective? Any older folks working through arthritis have any input? Any helpful comments appreciated.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-01-23 04:16
I returned 4 years ago after 45 years and can identify with all the points you mention. My eyes are not what they were, my fingers are a bit stiff and arthritic and it takes me longer to memorise a part now than I remember it took way back when. I have problems with fast passages, although that is getting better. On the plus side, I now play far more fluidly than I did then, and with much better tone. I used to play on a #4 reed, now I'm quite comfortable with a 2.5. As they say, getting old ain't for wimps!
Tony F.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-01-23 05:11
You may wish to do chromatic scales and easier keys like C,G, F. Start slowly everyday using that frustrating metronome. Start with quarter notes and work your way up to 16th notes around 128 or so. As they get easier perhaps add a new scale every week or 2 and continue trying to play the above scales a bit faster. Give youself a few months, because training your brain and fingers to work together won't happen overnight. Keep us posted with how you are doing.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2012-01-23 05:16)
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-01-23 05:20
Oh, don't force yourself, or get a bit frustrated. People spend lifetimes trying to play as fast as possible. The brain will adapt to muscle memory. That sometimes takes time but it sure is worth the effort.
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2012-01-23 11:15
Thanks for the advice and encouragement! As I suspected, what's needed is practice, practice, practice -- funny how it is still the best answer to many clarinet issues.
Well, that and patience (which I still don't have as much of as I need, but I'm learning to apply liberally in matters of the horn) and a good pain reliever.
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2012-01-23 12:26
I had to leave a professional playing career and take nearly a decade away from playing due to a heart condition. While coming back is daunting and can be frustrating, there are real benefits to age and maturity. For one thing, your knowledge of music and style has hopefully continued to grow, away from the instrument, and your practice sessions can be much more productive as a result. Also, you can use this time to approach the instrument in a different way.
You can look into different methods than the one you were raised in, for instance. For my comeback (which is still a continuous process), I changed instruments to the ones I always wanted to play, changed approaches entirely, and started with Division 1 & 2 of Baermann--the idea being that I would finally build my playing the way I really wanted to, rather than what had been expected of a conservatory student in the early 1990s. So far it has been a most enjoyable musical journey.
Check out all the methods you never played as a kid--Lazarus, Baermann, whatever it might be. One of these might provide a fresh path that you'll find deeply enjoyable (getting you away from the "why can't I do this as well as I used to?" that will confront you with the old books you once mastered).
Good luck, and congratulations on coming back to the horn: it takes humility to start down such a path, but that humility has it's own rewards, too.
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
Post Edited (2012-01-23 12:31)
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Author: Maria P
Date: 2012-01-23 12:34
I'm a returning player after a 20+ year break. I played through high school and regularly with the school band - then gave up, started work, brought up a family etc. I started playing again 5 months ago, and I'm now playing with an ensemble weekly as well as weekly lessons.
I've found that I now have to practice a lot more than I did years ago (and that's for things I found quite easy then). I also find that it's actually having the time to practice as well as having a family life now - but it's definitely worth it (can't believe I left it so long lol).
Maria
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Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2012-01-23 14:50
My experience was similar: I returned to the clarinet after a 15 year hiatus, played for six years, then had another 15 year hiatus! It really does take time to regain one's technical facility, do it can be done. It just takes time, steady work, and patience with oneself.
Klarnetisto
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2012-01-23 19:18
So many returnees! I'm a little surprised to find so many who left the horn and then came back.
I agree with the posts that recognize just how hard it is to find time to practice while managing the demands of work and family. It's a constant challenge. And, obviously, it's critical to getting back to where you want to be with regards to building skills, technical facility and ultimately performing.
So, yes, I'd also echo the need for patience with oneself....wow, that might be the hardest part since it requires me to admit that I'm not 19 without any real responsibilities anymore!
Thanks for all of the responses! It's so nice to know that I'm not the only one!
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2012-01-23 20:28
I relate very much to the issue of fast passage work seeming more difficult than it did when I was first playing the clarinet many, many years ago.
I have come to believe that for me this struggle is a matter of cognitive quickness and mental flexibility, rather than any mechanical deficit. I just can't seem to get the ol' eyes and brain to grapple with great cascades of notes, especially when they are non-repetitive (i.e., every passage changes slightly) or not in a recognizable pattern.
When I take the time to learn the specific passages in context, I'm good to go. But I do sometimes feel a degree of resentment that it takes what seems like an eternity to get these things under my fingers, whereas breezing through such stuff was once my strong suit.
Susan
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2012-01-23 20:29
Just had to add a note since this is a story very similar to mine, I started about the same age and had about the same number of years playing, I was above average in ability, but then I took about a 40 year break, except for a nine month interlude playing in a small church "orchestra" in the mid 80s. I took up the clarinet again a little over a year ago and joined a community band in September. (One difference, I'm retired). I have constantly lamented that I am not as good as I was in eighth grade, where even then I seemed to pick up some of the fast parts after just a few run throughs. But I have recently realized that days that I measure myself against in the past had a long playing history behind them, so I should be patient -- I've only been back at it a little while!. I also recently discovered what should have been obvious: practice the fast parts, runs, etc. VERY slowly and correctly, gradually speeding up, but never so fast that it can't be played correctly. Do this until you get up to speed (it may take multiple sessions), or someone yells STOP, I can't take it anymore!. (Thanks to eddies clarinet page: "you can't play anything fast that you can't play slowly." Doh!). After adopting this technique and getting up to speed on some difficulty parts, I realized that I am now better than I was in eighth grade! Oh, that I could only play as well as I did when I was a senior in High School!!
Laurie (he/him)
Post Edited (2012-01-24 14:46)
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Author: Neil
Date: 2012-01-24 02:41
A couple of things I did when returning:
I got a book of rock 'n' roll songs that I was familiar with and practiced tonguing. (Surfin' USA was great for that.)
After joining a community band, I would type the music into Finale Notepad and play along with the playback, which can be adjusted down to any speed.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2012-01-24 03:59
My teacher tells me that my loss of dexterity is simply a result of my unrealistic recall of my youth.
Bob Phillips
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2012-01-24 05:19
how does your teacher recall your youth? ;^)
In my case, as my wife puts it, I just need to reestablish the neurological pathways, which takes time. But sometimes there is a little stiffness of joints and tendons involved, so I do stretches and rubbing of finger joints to loosen up.
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2012-01-24 14:19
Bradfordlloyd said: "...what's needed is practice, practice, practice..."
Yes, that's certainly true; however, be careful that you don't practice incorrectly. My favorite saying (borrowed from this board) is, "Perfect practice makes perfect". Conversely, you will do harm by NOT practicing perfectly.
As has been pointed out many times here, practice slowly enough to get it right, and don't place too much emphasis on speed, for speed will come with good practice. You must have some discipline, but it will certainly pay off for you.
Although I am not a "come back kid" (never played before age 70), after 4 years of "practice", I am hooked for life. Very near the top of best things I've ever done for myself.
Just my $.02 worth.
CarlT
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2012-01-24 14:20
Posted twice. Sorry.
CarlT
Post Edited (2012-01-24 14:31)
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Author: Jon Shurlock
Date: 2012-01-24 15:43
Practice is a dangerous, double-edged activity: practice makes permanent, so make sure it's perfect!
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Author: alto gether
Date: 2012-01-24 19:20
Two things:
(1) Welcome back! My return after 40 years was triggered discovering good cheap used alto clarinets online. Couldn't afford one in high school, $100 now was trivial. Never did get my Bb/Eefer embouchure back before I fell in love with contra alto.
(2)Arthritis. At least a small fraction of cases of arthritis are allergic reactions. My wife teaches guitar and had to quit for ten years. Finally she found out that she was sensitive to nightshades - tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchinis and other summer squashes. As long as she avoids these completely, her fingers are fine. For almost everybody, it makes no difference, but it's worth trying for a few weeks. And a warning: if you ARE sensitive to these and go without them, you will be dangerously more sensitive to them once you've gotten used to not eating them.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-01-24 20:43
"My teacher tells me that my loss of dexterity is simply a result of my unrealistic recall of my youth.
Bob Phillips"
It's a known fact that the older you get the better you used to be!!!
I find that Voltaren takes away some of the problems with arthritic fingers.
Tony F.
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Author: grannybflat
Date: 2012-01-25 01:11
I have to agree with all the above. I didn't start playing until I reached 60 and I find that with daily fish oil my arthritis is improving, I'm sure it's also got a lot to do improving my manual dexterity. I'm getting better at fast pieces but if I'm challenged on my timing I merely comment on it being my interpretation, I don't play in any bands so I can choose my own pace. In my mind it's the pleasure of making music that's the most important thing and there are so many beautiful slow pieces out there.
The old saying that youth is wasted on the young is so true.
Good luck and more power to us oldies I say!!!!
Jen
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2012-01-25 03:24
I enjoyed reading all the suggestions given. I am having trouble with arthritis in my right hand and will try the fish oil. But as far as practice, I do scales. It helps if I have a piece of music the band is working on, and especially work on just the runs, and "run away notes." Once I learn something, It's in my brain for good. The clarinet solo on High Society took me a LONG time to learn, but I've got it at last. Also, the Clarinet Polka is a good song to work on, just for fun. Start out slowly until you get the hang of it. Good luck to you.
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2012-01-25 14:26
"So many returnees! I'm a little surprised to find so many who left the horn and then came back."
When I graduated college (mid-1960's) and lived in Northern Virginia, I had never heard of a community band. I'd pull my sax out of the closet once a year or so and blow the cobwebs out. I moved to Albuquerque 14 years later and still had never heard of a community band. A year later I saw a community band at July 4 picnic and joined it the following week.
Life was different before the internet.
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2012-01-26 01:23
Again...wow, so many responses. Thanks!
I agree that the internet changes everything and makes it easier for people with interest in, say, clarinets and/or forming a community band to find each other. It really makes returning to the horn a pleasure.
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2013-08-27 19:18
Just a quick update...
19 months later, I've found a teacher that I'm pleased with, I'm improving slowly but constantly, I play regularly with a high functioning wind ensemble (who just toured China, actually), and I'm liking playing quite a bit more than I did the first time around.
Yes, the progress is slower, the practice time limited, and aging body parts/memories/cognitive abilities/eyesight doesn't help. But it's fun to be making music again....
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Author: gkern
Date: 2013-08-27 21:18
An update on the update - all those things are true - but! Without the bands. the constant practice and work on scales. I do not know what I would do with my time.
I will never attain the level I strive for, but I'm having one hellofatime trying to! Scales are getting easier, and with a lot of practice, the 16th note runs and flourishes are getting better in band. But 53 years off was much too much...
Gary K
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2013-08-31 20:10
I'm a 40+ year returnee...and loving every minute. When I retired, I knew I'd get back into music (guitar, piano, accordion...but never thought it would be clarinet). When I heard my high school band teacher would be conducting for a new start-up band, I jumped at the opportunity. I sat third chair my first year because I didn't even know if I'd remember how to play. Second chair my second year, then up to first. Now I'm playing in one of our local college bands, a community band, local music theater orchestra...and having a ball. I've learned how to practice efficiently and effectively, thanks to lessons which I never had as a kid (except on the accordion). What a journey it's been. The "practicing more efficiently and effectively" has been my saving grace.
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2013-08-31 20:12
The biggest challenge has been trying to find a way to support the clarinet with my right, terribly misshapen, arthritic thumb. Now I use a combination of a rubber cover for the thumbrest (rubber banded to hold it on) and a neck strap...the perfect solution. Won't it be fun to meet all these "returnees" when we're all playing together "with the spirit in the sky."
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-08-31 22:03
Roxann,
I must have bought my thumb in the same shop as you. I find that a Ton Kooinan thumb-rest helps greatly.
Tony F.
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