Many thanks to those on the list who expressed ideas concerning the twitchy clarinet player.
After yesterday's rehearsal, I approached him, and brought up the issue using the "impossible-to-follow-two-conductors-at-the-same-time" analogy. I gave him a specific example [including the words "takt" and "ictus"] and added that the "cues" he was giving were at times, actually anticipatory-- which is very distracting for all those sitting behind and beside him. He was a bit startled at first, [perhaps, erroneously concluding that I possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of conducting technique?!] but then apologized profusely, telling me that while he WAS aware of it, he didn't always have the presence of mind to restrict his movements. He even went so far as to tell me that if it happens again to please mention it to him, [YES!] as he didn't want to be the cause of tentative/wrong entries due to his movements confusing or distracting other players in the wind section. We had a quick laugh about "performance nervousness or nervous ticks" [thanks Hans!] then went for a beer af ter [thanks Conja!] with no apparent hard feelings. While I'm no master of diplomacy or negotiation, I do feel that the point was made, and no one was injured in the process. Of course, time will tell, but I'm optimistic. I'm keeping the video option close at hand, just in case we have to move to level two. [thanks David G.!] Again, my sincere thanks to all. Sincerely, martin bender On 2011-04-04, at 9:23 AM, Bill Tyler wrote: > The eternal mezzo forte. > > > > --- On Mon, 4/4/11, Larry Jellison <[email protected]> wrote: > > From: Larry Jellison <[email protected]> > Subject: [Hornlist] Amateur Ensemble worst peeve > To: [email protected] > Date: Monday, April 4, 2011, 1:12 AM > > I can't control myself any longer from asking this question, after reading > all > these suggestions about the irritating clarinet player. > > The question: What bugs you the most about playing in an amateur ensemble? > > For me, it is the conductor who is happy to see anyone walk in with a French > horn, and welcomes them without auditioning them or questioning them about > their > playing ability. Often these are ex-trumpet or ex-trombone players, or > ex-French horn players just returning to playing and have no embouchure > development. Somehow these "hornists" think it is just fine for them to > join > the horn section when they can't play or can barely play. Why is it that > possessing a French horn gives these folks such immediate chutzpah? I have > resorted to much complaining to the conductors over this. > > Regards, > Larry > _______________________________________________ > post: [email protected] > unsubscribe or set options at > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/tower_music%40yahoo.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > post: [email protected] > unsubscribe or set options at > https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/axe102%40rogers.com "All great things are decided not by machines or gadgets, but by willpower; whoever has it will finally prevail." Winston Churchill _______________________________________________ post: [email protected] unsubscribe or set options at https://pegasus.memphis.edu/cgi-bin/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
