Hi! I've know a guy who is grade 3 clarinet and is 12? Is that any good? How good are all of you an wht grade are you on anything?

I don't think there's a rule about being "good" at a certain age. I know adults who are grade 1 and are "good" and I know a 12 year old boy doing Grade 8 clarinet and is also "good"! There are so many variables and it really doesn't matter what grade you are on, so long as you enjoy playing.

I'd done grade 3 when I was 12/13, but I wouldn'tve said I was very good! I'd only been playing a year or so, missed out the other 2 grades, and hadn't had expereince playing in bands or orchestras. Like appassionata says, you can't judge "goodness" coz everyone works at their own pace.

i'm not very good

NAT!!!!!



Please be more positive!

Though I'll make some allowances because it was late when you were writing and you've porbably had a hard night of revision.... horrid for anyone. How's it going?

revision?! whats that! im bored completely of school. i want to leave asap! ive got coursework deadlines everywhere

I am desperate to be a better clarinetest. I know you will say just enjoy playing, but how do I get better quickly. I find playing pretty easy, which must be a plus?

yes here I am up on my high horse again.... GRADES DO NOT MAKE A GOOD MUSICIAN.....ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH...

*pants*

they're a measure og how difficult the music is NOT how well you play it.

say "aye" all those against grades!!!!!

aye!

LEt JUST say that the most important is your practice, the more time you spend on practice is the best grading system. I learn clarinet in my school band last year, and I'm playing the maximum grade 6 band method , more surprisingly is that I'm in the 2nd clarinet group.

QUOTE

A group of clarinet player separate into 1st , 2nd and 3rd. Which is according to their skills. see? Facinating?

But I tried to get clarinet lesson, but it isn't easy to find clarinet teacher in Malaysia!

If you want to be good (and this is instrument independent advice, since I don't play the clarinet) remember it's how well you play the pieces that makes you good; not which pieces you choose to play....

As I always say;

Playing an instrument does NOT necessarily make you musical, therefore you CAN be musical without playing an instrument.

I used to think "When I've passed Grade 8, I'll be really good".

But now...having passed Grade 8 (with a merit ) I realise that there is a world of piano music out there that is still beyond me...

Many will say that with Grade 8 I must be a "good" piano player - but I want to be better!!

I have found over the past few years that the more I play, the more I want to play, and the more I know about music, the more I realise there is to know, and the more I want to know.

I'll probably give up making music if I ever reach the day when I can say "I am a good pianist".

I dont know what a exact definition of good is. I dont think yuou have to be at a certain grade to be good.

I think you'll say someone else is a good musician if you see someone better than you, but because there's so much you can learn, and can't possibly learn it all, you'll probably never think you;re really good, but will keep thinking the people better than you are.

Does that make sense?!

It does make sense. I know exactly what you mean!

Even if you were the best player in your band you would still think that the other people around you are better. Plus some people are better at different things - you might be great at alternative fingerings in a piece but someone else might be great at doing fast runs!

Yup, you're utterly correct! It's about having passion for learning, and loving listening to the sounds - wanting to make that sound you've heard other people create on your instument - putting in the practise to get there!

i think a person is good at playing music when there is feeling for it. i think it doesn't matter how well you play your instrument, but how you play your instrument. what is good? i don't know...

grades dont matter!
My friend is grade 4 but i know she can play a lot more like a grade 7. Exams dont really prove how good you are, itds just a quick 1/2 hour assessment which doesnt show all of your skills, techniques and assets!

it depends how good you are, look at Benjamin Grosvenor, he's 11 got his Grade 8 at 10 and became the youngest ever finalist in the Young Musician Of The Year and made a smashing job of the Ravel Piano Concerto in G

Thanks - that Ben Grosvensor made me feel a lot better!!!!!

Would any of you like to be like him? I've thought about it, but thought I prob wouldn't,becoause you can't have fun. What do you think?