Author: DougR
Date: 2023-01-19 02:53
I'm old enough to remember when all the major orchestras were all-male (except Doriot Anthony Dwyer on flute in Boston). And in the time that's passed since then, I've become aware of so many factors influencing WHY youngsters choose a particular instrument that I frankly wouldn't be able to guess a primary motivating factor--"all of the above," maybe, to greater or lesser extent depending on the player and situation.
(Parenthetically I'd just mention that there are so many claims on a kid's time these days, and so much music on social media that appears to arise merely at the touch of a button, that for a young player to decide to study an instrument AT ALL is kind of miraculous.)
I'm really curious about what sustains young players in their desire to get better, to keep practicing. Jen mentioned French horn, and the phenomenon of her son seeing the instrument and going "Yeah, I want to play THAT." I don't teach music, but if I did, I'd be wondering "How do I help the student sustain his/her interest in the instrument through the hard patches, when it's so easy to give up?" (especially key on French horn, which is legendarily tough to master.)
One way, maybe, is YouTube. My own experience is being regularly inspired by individual players I see there. I'm also becoming aware of the inspirational value in deliberately seeking out YT channels hosting such players; I'm finding it makes my daily practicing more attractive. I'm beginning to regard that sort of "searching out" on YT as an important ELEMENT of my practice time, too, rather than separate from it.
For instance, a YT search of the words "French horn" yields a whole bunch of orchestral horn soloists, a number of explainer videos, and some clips of French-horn-only chamber groups playing. (My own principal instrument is bass clarinet, and that's true for the bass also.) The clips communicate not only stellar playing, but also the players' attitudes and approach to the instrument, AND! maybe awaken one to the possibility of seeking out playing opportunities for French horn in an ensemble (brass quintet for example) in one's own community.
(I do this kind of "surfing YouTube" myself on a daily basis, by the way; from time to time I need to 'artificially' amp up my interest in practicing with doses of dazzling professional playing and YT is a great place to get it.)
Also, for anyone who's unfamiliar, another source of inspiration I find is ScoringSessions.com, a photographic (and sometimes video) archive of actual film scoring sessions---VERY revealing in terms of what an orchestra of 'the best of the best' looks like. (I look at these photos, and immediately get the thought "Hmm, gotta go practice!")
Here's a link to a John Williams scoring session for Star Wars "The Force Awakens." Fun stuff! (Count the French horns!) https://www.scoringsessions.com/2016/02/29/john-williams-scores-star-wars-the-force-awakens
Let's keep opening doors for young players, everybody! (As best we can!)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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