My friends were telling me that the clarinet is to plain and it is nothing compared to a saxaphone or JUST a flute. They say it has no unique sound, it isnt good in any kind of music. Like Sax is meant for Jazz, Flute for concert, Drums For Marching....what about clarinet? They also said it was a girly instrument and it just makes me look stupid. I've thought to quit band and leave band behind and do nothing about it for the rest of my life. It's hard for me because i wanted to stay in music for the rest of my life, but throught this experiece i think i should drop out and do whatever i think is best for me. I dont know should i stay or forget about it? Is clarinet plain or is it just not meant to ever be made? I need help...

Is everything really worth it?

Well, you need to show those darned naysayers who's boss, Gordo. Smack 'em upside the head or something. That'll teach them to diss your clarinet.

Really though, you should do what you want to do and stop caring what other people do or say. If that means sticking with band and the clarinet, good. If it doesn't, fine.

You also might consider that they're making fun of you and your clarinet because they know it upsets you. Don't get upset, and they might stop doing it.

i think they started right after i studied so hard on a piece for camp until then when i played in front of a judge i messed up so much. i was depressed that day and after that they started it. I was so good before that and now i just cant play as good. I blame most of it to my director because she always does things her way. I try to do sumthing, but NOOOOOO its her way not mine. Thats why im not such a good player. She doesnt give out the correct pieces. Me as a 2 1/2 year player and 1st chair on my band playing what begginers should play. I have no good sheets and i know i may be able. i havnt tried anything hard yet. why if my director would just turn her back on me.

DO NOT QUIT, this is why
i am a guy who plays the clari, and its great.
they say it has no unique sound? not true - we have a very unique timbre, and with a little practice, can sound like the sax, the flute, and even the trumpet (being called the clarinet, meaning "little trumpet" as it sounded similar to the trumpet). Clarinet also can display emotion and feeling easily, with choice of quiet and sad, or loud, powerful, and even screechy and...insane... We also have a large dynamic range, in addition to one of the largest ranges of notes in the woodwind section - more than 3 octaves.
The clarinet family is among the biggest in the orchestra, having more than 20 different types (e.g. bass, Bb, A, C, E, piccolo clari etc.) Also, its repertoir includes, but is not limited to jazz, blues, swing, klezmer, orchestral/symphonic, concerto, solo, duet/trio, chamber.
the clarinet is also among the best instruments for the ablility to jump controllably between registers (flutes are poor with this, and sax's [most of the time] have difficulty jump, squeeking more often)
our only downfall is difficultly in fingurings, which was largly fixed with multiple fingering due to the Boehm system.
who ever said those obviously do not know what they are talking about
in addition, the reason there arent many pieces for classical clarinet is that it is a relativly new instrument.
the clarinet is a great fun instrument, and does require skill to play, so dont quit because some idiots dont know any better
and if they still call it a girls instrument - just say that it makes it a great way to meet chicks...
mabye that'll keep them off your back...


Josh, aka kato

I think that there is no more haunting sound than a clarinet... in the right piece of music.
I'm not so much a fan of complicated technical pieces and appreggios on the clarinet.

Where the clarinet comes into it's own is a touching longing or yearning quality.
Sadly I don't see many composers who take advantage of it.

This might be part of why some people think the clarinet to be plain.
There is lots of depth there to be discovered.

James

Remember this: The clarinet was, by far, one of Mozart's favorite instruments, along with obscure ones like the viola. To me, the clarinet deserves more place in music than any other instrument.

i can easily play all my notes from the lowest in order to the highest including all the flats and sharps. it just seems that there arnt many songs that shows the clarinets ability to play good or anything like that. a profesional today said i play VERY good but i dont see anything in me. I need more challenging music to shine. i guess i may stop playing for a while if i dont get the right music before auditions for camp this year. its just difficult for me.

see if you can find a private instructor you can take lessons from. that way you can work on things suited to your ability levels and continue improving- and they'll be able to suggest things for you to play.

problem is that my parents dont even support me. i told them before but they said it was a waste of money and nothing else. that was one of the reasons i wanted to quit. I asked them if i can buy my own clarinet but they said i dont need one. does anyone know a good song for me to play? i can play ALL my notes i can most of the rythems and i know i have great sound. I bet i can teach my dad a lesson but i need a difficult piece. if it doesnt work im quiting.

If your own parents don't support you, then you have a serious problem. I've seen, and know, parents who are like this to their kids, either because they never had it themselves, or they don't want their children becoming better than them. I suggest Mozart's Clarinet concerto, or, if you want a touching piece, find Saint-Saens "The Swan" for cello in tenor clef, than just treat it in A Major (add two more sharps than the key signature). If nothing else works, learn it on your own, if possible, just don't give up!

It's not that my dad doesnt want me to be better than him its just that he wants me to stay on our wrentched family buisness. I first wanted to be in music to find a way out from the job, but now that ive gone far in to music (almost three years now) i started to like it soooo much. Im from california so i wanted to go to CSUF but my dad wants me to go to UC Merced which is really close by. Im not sure Merced has anything to teach about music but i know fresno does. So ive argued before but he wants me to stay close by to help on the job.
I couldnt find any of the music Grieg-Bizet told me to look for, do you have it so you can send it? Well atleast i know someone is or trying to help. If only i did have friends to talk about this. You guys reeeally do help.

<Added>


My email address is gordog209@hotmail.com if you want to send anything for me to try. Thanks...

What could i learn from music? Does it help to stay and live with it for the rest of our lives? I've played a few difficult pieces only at Stanislaus Band Camp and Honor Band from Merced and Mariposa County in California. This was the only places ive shown my parents that im good enought to play, but the day after the concert my dad will totally forget and never talk about it again. How i said...What could i learn from music? Does it help to stay and live with it for the rest of our lives?

Music has been an integral part of the human race ever since the first invented instruments. I can't really think of any other benefit of music besides giving joy to other people, so here is what some people say: I obviously don't like money if I'm going into a music career. It's true. Most musicians or people involved in music don't make very much, but that's the majority. There's a small percentage that includes the really famous composers and musicians who are sought after for their musical talent. And yes, I'll get those pieces to you right away.

Thank you so much grieg-bizet. Maybe I should continue since I've came up with so many ideas. Im going to camp this year, next month. Ill tell what chair I got and everything. You really are helping! =^-^= ...Thanks for the sheets...And everything else...

There are also some really cool arrangements of Bach's Badinerie in B Minor, and Mussorgsky's Tullieries for clarinet on 8notes.
You're welcome!