Monday, September 17, 2012
I Discovered a Fear
I discovered that I absolutely hate large spiders. I cannot stand them!! Maybe it's because I've recently encountered two very large ones in our home over the last few days while Jacob's been away at work. I am too mortified to even kill them or smack them with a shoe. I have to stare at them and make sure they never crawl my way. Although they are horrific creatures, I cannot keep myself from periodically looking back at it to make sure it's in sight. My worst fear is that it will crawl up on my shoe or chair without me noticing and crawl on my skin. I shudder at the thought!! Meanwhile, I have these horrifying chill bumps running up and down my spine and arms all the while I can't keep my eyes of this nasty thing. Why do I hate them?! They seriously creep me out. Seriously, is there anyone out there brave enough to smash spiders? I may be tempted to call you in a pinch next time I find one of these nasty creepy crawlers in my house.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Thoughts on Being a Musician
Does one ever stop being a musician?
I was thinking about that today after clarinet master class. Just as always, I learn fascinating things in master class, and I have a great time with my friends there. However, I realized that the reason I enjoy master class so much is because I look at everything from the viewpoint of a music educator. I see some of the techniques we use to teach each other, and my mind is itching to try those techniques out in other situations or with other ensembles. I like to analyze things like "What is the objective here? What are we trying to get at? Did it work?" I must say, props to Dr. Hinckley for varying up master class just enough that I can always glean something new. =)
On the other hand, I don't see myself as a clarinetist. Sounds a little odd, but that's not the title I want to have. I see myself as a musician and as a music educator. The clarinet is just one of the few instruments (literally) I use in order to qualify myself as a music educator. Should music educators be competent musicians-absolutely! Should music educators be experts on a specific instrument? . .. that one . ..I'm not so sure. I have been playing the clarinet for years, and I admit . .. I can play it pretty darn well. It doesn't always come easy, and I do still struggle with many things. I decided I don't want to teach the clarinet. I want to teach music. Yes, somewhere down the road I will teach a roomful of 7th graders how to put the clarinet together and make a good sound. And somewhere down the road, I will most likely teach a roomful of string players how to hold the bow properly and make a good sound. For as little experience as I have on other instruments, I feel just as qualified to teach them as I do to teach the clarinet. So . . .why do I have to specialize so much in just one instrument?
Backing up to the original question. I don't think someone ever stops being a musician. One can stop being a performer (due to injury or other circumstances), but once you know as much about music as I do . ..it's hard to keep it all in. Teaching is as much of a performing art as performing in a professional orchestra, I think. You have to act, listen, assess, create, encourage, expand, etc.
I just prefer performing in front of a classroom.
I was thinking about that today after clarinet master class. Just as always, I learn fascinating things in master class, and I have a great time with my friends there. However, I realized that the reason I enjoy master class so much is because I look at everything from the viewpoint of a music educator. I see some of the techniques we use to teach each other, and my mind is itching to try those techniques out in other situations or with other ensembles. I like to analyze things like "What is the objective here? What are we trying to get at? Did it work?" I must say, props to Dr. Hinckley for varying up master class just enough that I can always glean something new. =)
On the other hand, I don't see myself as a clarinetist. Sounds a little odd, but that's not the title I want to have. I see myself as a musician and as a music educator. The clarinet is just one of the few instruments (literally) I use in order to qualify myself as a music educator. Should music educators be competent musicians-absolutely! Should music educators be experts on a specific instrument? . .. that one . ..I'm not so sure. I have been playing the clarinet for years, and I admit . .. I can play it pretty darn well. It doesn't always come easy, and I do still struggle with many things. I decided I don't want to teach the clarinet. I want to teach music. Yes, somewhere down the road I will teach a roomful of 7th graders how to put the clarinet together and make a good sound. And somewhere down the road, I will most likely teach a roomful of string players how to hold the bow properly and make a good sound. For as little experience as I have on other instruments, I feel just as qualified to teach them as I do to teach the clarinet. So . . .why do I have to specialize so much in just one instrument?
Backing up to the original question. I don't think someone ever stops being a musician. One can stop being a performer (due to injury or other circumstances), but once you know as much about music as I do . ..it's hard to keep it all in. Teaching is as much of a performing art as performing in a professional orchestra, I think. You have to act, listen, assess, create, encourage, expand, etc.
I just prefer performing in front of a classroom.
Monday, September 10, 2012
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