Drum Lessons in El Paso, TX

Instruments: Clarinet Music

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
As previously mentioned, I entered college as a clarinet performance and chemistry double major with intentions of a career in public health. I had aspirations to work at the Center for Disease Control or to conduct research at a hospital. As my life progressed over the years, however, I now believe that my disposition and particular skill set would have been well suited for law school. Beyond that I could imagine myself being a prosecutor or taking some form of public office. The thought of serving my home community of Portland, ME in some capacity has always been appealing to me.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I originally enrolled at Boston University in the Dual-Degree program studying to receive my BM in Clarinet Performance and my BS in Chemistry. I wanted to play my clarinet, but my intentions were to pursue a career in research and public health. Well into the first year of college, in order to keep up with the high demands of my teacher, I was forced to re-think my approach to the clarinet and its position within my life. I arrived at the decision to drop my second degree and devote my time and energy to cultivating a multi-faceted career in music.

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
There are a lot of things to consider when starting a child on an instrument. Among the most important - from my perspective - are that the student's fingers are able to cover the keys and that they are excited about playing the instrument. The physical capacity to cover the keys is essential to playing clarinet. The instrument will not respond properly if the tone holes are not completely covered. Beyond technicalities, the happiest and most successful young students are typically the ones that are enthusiastic about playing their instrument.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
My first encounter with the clarinet came when I visited family for Christmas in 2004. My cousin had just gotten a new clarinet from school and was going to be starting band after Christmas break. I was jealous (and a little too competitive), and bugged my parents to start playing as well. My first clarinet was a First Act factory model from BJ's Wholesale Club. The manufacturer packaged it incorrectly and sent me two bottom joints! I remember being so annoyed that I could not start playing immediately. I have since moved on to a few instruments, but still have my very first clarinet!

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
My day-to-day life is so sporadic, I find it difficult to have a set routine in my practice. Typically, though, I touch upon each of these categories for any given amount of time: -Warm-Up (long tones, scales/patterns, articulation exercises, etc.) -Repertoire (practice orchestral/chamber/solo rep for future performances) -Sight-Reading (etudes & repertoire to expand my musical vocabulary and style) In an ideal world, I spend about an hour in the first category (warm-up), as much time as possible in the second category (repertoire), and cool-down with the final category (sight-reading). By breaking up my practice, I tend to stay more actively engaged. It is important not to bore yourself!

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
Think actively and listen objectively. Most of my less productive practice sessions are a result of either distraction or mindlessly running passages. Distractions (phone, hunger, friends, etc.) lead to passive practicing. Those practice sessions tend to result in thinking: "didn't I figure this passage out the other day?" Constant running of parts has a similar effect. Be engaged while you play, and be deliberate with your practice. No practice technique is infallible, but maintaining focus is a good start.

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