 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2014-07-28 01:41
I've been reading with interest the current topic, "Tired Mouth Problems", but rather than hi-jack that thread, I thought I'd start a new one.
I'm well into my 70's, and so far, I'm still able to play a Vandoren #3 reed (on a Vandoren M15 mp). I really can't tell that I've lost much stamina, if any, over the past 6, or so, years, but I also realize that it might be just a matter of time before that happens.
Since I only started playing the clarinet 6 years ago, and with about an hour per day of practice, I am playing better today than ever, but I know, that won't last forever.
I was just wondering if there are any of you players in your late 70's and 80's (90's?) who still can play at nearly the same level that you always have?
BTW, I play single-lip.
CarlT
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Author: Ben Shaffer
Date: 2014-07-28 02:09
Adult Learner here.... I started playing Clarinet at age 63. I'm coming along OK, but wish I had started when I was younger, but at this point can't do anything about it. The main thing is to enjoy the time you spend now on the Clarinet
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-07-28 02:28
Carl, guess I am in your age category, wrong side of 75, and have been playing 60 years.
I still use the same strength reeds (VD 3 / 3.5 on A2 crystal or VD 4/4.5 on M13). Wish I could say my level and stamina were unchanged but sadly they are somewhat though not enough to seriously impair my enjoyment - yet!
I use double lip and have found in past 5 years that my endurance has slipped a bit, I suspect because it takes longer for the blood to circulate back in to revive the lip muscles when taking breath.
Lungs still standing up OK though.
Slight touch of arthritis in both little fingers starting to cause occasional glitches, almost always when going for C#/F#.
I guess nothing can last forever - make the most of it while you can.
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2014-07-28 04:02
My age is unlisted! But, I am still playing dixieland (trad jazz) every chance I get. The reason being that, I get to rest a lot between everybody's solos!!
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Author: FDF
Date: 2014-07-28 05:04
As a 77 year old player who returned to music after retirement, I can say without hesitation or embarrassment that I am not as capable at fingering, breath control, and general stamina as I was when I was in college playing several hours a day. Also, my tennis game isn’t as good and my golf game isn’t as long. Muscles do deteriorate with age and daily exercise is required to maintain something similar to what you had a day or a year ago. I can still hold my own with most youngsters in all my activities because knowledge is useful and talent has always helped, plus I continue to practice. Keep active. Exercise daily. Play adagio. : )
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2014-07-28 07:28
Hi All:
I started playing the Clarinet at age 10, & I've been going full blast ever since!
I'm 71, I've had some health issues along the way, but none stopped me from returning to the Clarinet. My chops are fine, as are my lungs, fingers, & ears. I work full time on Broadway in WICKED, & try to do 6-8 shows a week, in addition to my freelance studio work in NYC. I'm in 3 NYC Orchestras & a 5 time GRAMMY winner.
With all that, my love & ability for the Clarinet remains strong, & have no complaints! So guys, keep up your good playing & report back your successes!
http://newyorkpops.org/john-j-moses-principal-clarinet
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-07-28 13:22
The golfer, Lee Trevino said: "You lose three things when you become a senior golfer: your nerve, your memory, and I forget what the third thing is."
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: gkern
Date: 2014-07-28 18:16
Well, as I creep closer and closer to 77, my fingers are not as agile as they once were, and it takes the old brain a little longer to relay those long 16th note runs with accidentals to the fingers. But then, I have only been playing about 5 years again after a 53 year layoff, and the enjoyment I get out of playing more than offsets any deficiencies in technique that I exhibit.
I have a passion for vintage clarinets, and an SML King Marigaux tops the list; whether playing it or one of the others, I use Mitchell Lurie 3-1/2 or 4 reeds with a medium closed mouthpiece. I can usually practice for 2 or 3 hours, with an occasional break, without the chops breaking down, and sometimes go to band rehearsal after such a practice session. I only wish my knees were in that good of a shape... My golf game has fallen off the charts, so the clarinet is about all I have left!
Gary K
Post Edited (2014-07-28 18:17)
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2014-07-28 19:01
Played for many years; stopped at 80 but just today tried to play a few notes. Could play most notes. but with much difficulty reaching the keys . I suggest not counting on playing at all if and when you reach 89, like me.
richard smith
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Author: kevinbarry
Date: 2014-07-28 20:00
Now aged 76, started in my teens, played semi-pro for five years then stopped. Quite recently I took the clarinet up again after a 40 year lay-off and practised for a year before joining a local concert band. I am now on third clt (back in the day I was 1st) and struggling but enjoying myself.
I find my reading is not what it was, especially on third. Oddly,I am better able to read the first parts which seem to have fewer tricky passages clearly meant for second violins. Those guys never have trouble breathing it seems. This may be partially an eyesight problem but I am better on runs than syncopation with constant changes. I particularly dislike the rapidly tongued staccato chunks with 24 to the bar as I tend to lose count plus end up with a sore tip to my tongue. My breath control is less good than when I was 22 years old, my fingering is I think only a bit slower but my high notes are a somewhat dicey. I once could play C above top C safely and in tune every time. I top out at G right now. My main problem is a sore right thumb joint, osteo-arthritis, and I am trying out a Kooimans thumb rest. As I have only had it for a couple of days, it is too soon to be sure if it will fix it but is seems to be helping a little. At least I have no trouble reaching any of the keys. I play a Van Doren B40 mouthpiece, number 3 reeds, and have just bought a Ridenour Lyrique as a present for myself. Love it!
And I enjoy playing again, especially in the band, a lot. We had my first public concert last week.
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Author: William
Date: 2014-07-28 20:04
I started playing clarinet in fourth grade and am still going strong 65 yrs later. The only thing I notice is a bit less stamina, but I think lack of practice time has more to do with that than age. I used to practice four hours a day--now, I practice only repertoire that requires it. I feel that I am playing better, now, than I ever have but find it harder to learn new musical works--proving that teaching an old dog new tricks may be truly difficult. Nevertheless, I play all the clarinets and double on all the saxophones and flute. I play in a regional professional orchestra (2nd clar & bass as needed), a local professional wind ensemble (we all get paid per service for a series of weekly concerts June through August), two other adult community bands and a sixteen piece swing band every Monday afternoon. I plan to keep on "keeping on" for as long as I can not letting "age" be an excuse. Last summer, I sat in with a band from Rhinelander, WI and played next to a gentleman in his late nineties whose fingers were so arthritic he could hardly find the tone holes--but still played with a big, resonate tone (yes, and in tune). He may not play on the NYC stage, but--in his own world--is having just as much fun. It's not about being the best clarinetist in the world, but more about being "in" the world of clarinet and music. OK, just got back from a week long vacation in Northern Wis chasing Muskys and need to remember where I last saw my clarinet--if I can only find my specs............
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Author: MichaelW
Date: 2014-07-29 00:50
I'm 74 now. As a boy I had violin lessons for 6 years, never really learned it but still have valuable recollections: circle of fifths, musical forms, and many other details in theory and practising, and my clarinet teacher says I'm rather good in intonation. So at age 70 I began playing (and restoring) clarinets, and for two years now I have weekly lessons. On my humble level I have no problems with breath or embouchure endurance, thinking that Vandoren 2 ½ on my good Oehler clarinet are enough for me.
A little trouble with right thumb arthrosis, „Rhizarthrosis“ which had begun many years earlier after I had built a boat with vibrating electric tools- and an old tinnitus that makes my right ear ring at high tones- are both bearable. But certainly I'm restricted in finger speed and, more important, in memorizing complicated, e.g. chromatic passages especially in, as kevinbarry points out, 2nd or 3rd parts. I have to repeat them often.
Very interesting: GBK's link from July 24: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=409933&t=409933 . As an old neuropsychiatrist I hope indeed that this way of training might help keeping up my mental capabilities- as well as my efforts in writing in English here (please don't laugh!) which I haven't done for decades. Michael
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-07-29 01:15
Dear Michael W,
I have, over the years, develped a method for developing rhythmic coordination. I believe it could have applications outside of music: dyslexia, stammering..I have tried to get some neuropsychiatrists and neurologists interested in in (Oliver Sacks, David Leavitt (or is it Levin? -in Canada). They expressed interest, but didn't follow up on the project. If you would like to have a look at it, please contact me "off board" at my personal e-mail address. I would like to get the honest opinion of somebody from the scientific community. Congratulations on your English! I imagine you are in Germany.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-07-29 06:13
I can still hear the trumpets behind me just fine!
Karl
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2014-07-29 07:58
Norman wrote: "I am in your age category, wrong side of 75"
I think you are on the right side of 75. Many people do not make it that far.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2014-07-29 10:45
David: in reference to hearing loss: tell conductors this too. I've encountered some who don't hear very well anymore. Yet they go on conducting. Kurt Masur heard everything out of tune at the end and it was always the fault of his orchestral musicians. He gave them a very hard time.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2014-07-29 23:48
I retired from the National Symphony in 2000 (at age 70 -- you do the math) and have continued to play clarinet and bass clarinet since. I perform with a clarinet quartet "Mpingo" along with a couple of retired Air Force Band members and the widow of a NSO colleague. Also play with the Virginia Grand Military Band, Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band, the McLean Orchestra, and , recently, was surprised and delighted to have been invited to be a member of "superband" Windworks of Washington. (Check out videos of inaugural concert this summer on YouTube.) My mind does sometimes seem to wander a bit counting out long rests, and I don't think I have the stamina to do an extended gig, but, especially after a spate of band playing, seem not to have lost too much finger and tongue dexterity. My wife claims I always listen to the TV too loudly, and I have difficulty understanding speech when there is too much ambient noise, but it doesn't seem to have impacted my playing -- ensemble and pitch wise.
Next Vintage Band Festival in Northfield Minnesota will be in August 2016. We'll see if I'm still up for that -- 4 days of two and three concerts a day , not to mention rehearsals, playing an 1897 antique Albert-system clarinet!
Contact with high school and college students helps keep me from getting too much of an old fogy attitude. People always seem surprised when they learn my age; maybe clarinet playing (and wrangling three rowdy Jack Russell terriers) have helped keep me "young."
Larry Bocaner
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Author: afmdoclaw
Date: 2014-07-30 06:13
Sad to say that playing your clarinet is not the first thing to go.
Too bad they don't have a little blue pill for your instrument like they do for--ah-- lets see-- your instrument.
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