Marcus Mcrae - Double Reeds
Teen Jazz Artists Online
Hosted by Sax Player Shannon Kennedy
Name: Marcus McRae
Instrument: Double Reeds
My name is Marcus McRae. I have been playing the oboe for 2 years, the
bassoon for 2 years and clarinet for 4 years. Both of my parents had a
background in classical music so it was just natural for me to learn to love
music and to want to play. In fifth grade, we were able to try various
instruments. I heard the bassoon and the oboe and loved them. I asked my
teacher if I could play one or the other but he said no. I never forgot how
much I loved the oboe and the bassoon though. I did not like the brass
instruments - too loud. The strings were too high and shrill. I picked up a
flute and got a sound off of it. I was so happy. I could not play clarinet at all
though. My teacher advised me not to play clarinet but I did anyway. I was
determined to prove him wrong and I did. I was principal clarinet in band and
made my school district's honour band. At our last concert, I played a
movement form the French Suites. The music director of the middle school
was to attend was there. She told me that she wanted me to be in the
advanced band instead of the sixth grade band. For the first few weeks, we
did not really have a seating arrangement. The older kids thought that they
would push me around, so I was last chair. I didn't say a word. Then we had
a playing test in front of the whole class. They were all amazed that the
sound that I got came from the quiet, little sixth grader that sat in the back.
That quiet, little sixth grader was first clarinet again. One day, my
teacher-who plays clarinet- played a piece for us. It was the von Weber
concertino( if you play clarinet, you know this piece). She told us that she
would give anyone a copy of it who wanted one. I knew that I could never
play it, but it would be a nice challenge. I got a copy of the concertino and a
recording of it. I brought it the next day and played it for her. She was in
awe. She told me that she had played the piece in college. She gave me the
Mozart concerto for clarinet, the clarinet part for the Kegelstatt trio( also by
Mozart) and von Weber's first clarinet concerto. I learned all of these pieces.
I was in my school district's honour band for all three years of middle school
and was even first chair. In sixth grade, however, my teacher needed a
bassoon player. I loved the bassoon, so I quickly volunteered. She put it
together for me as I watched in awe. It was HUGE!!!! She told me to be
careful with the bocal because it might break and it was really expensive. I
was afraid to touch the bocal for months! When she handed it to me, the bell
rang. I came back after school and played it. I loved the bassoon.
Unfortunately, my parents didn't but they always supported my music. I was
really nervous to play bassoon in class and when I did, it broke. I was really
embarrassed. I kept trying and I still play bassoon. But then I wanted to play
oboe. She gave me an oboe and I gave her back the bassoon. I didn't play
bassoon for a year. In seventh grade, I learned to play oboe-I hated it.
Despite this, I moved up to wind ensemble and played oboe there. Everyone
said that it sounded like a duck and my oboe career in seventh grade was a
disaster. I broke my first reed before I got it home, I broke a reed before a
concert and one of my other reeds wouldn't play for another concert( I later
discorered that the staple was filled with cork grease and that air could not
go through it). I had neglected my clarinet for a year and a half but played it
again in eighth grade. I didn't like it anymore and volunteered to play
bassoon. It was then that I heard the third movement of the Marcello
concerto. I loved the oboe from then on. I became obsessed with it. My
teacher told me that I should go to OCHSA which is an arts school here in
Orange County. She had some other students tell me about the school. I
auditioned and made it. I am here today.
Today, I play bassoon in OCHSA's wind ensemble. I play oboe and clarinet in
other classes. Honestly, I have neglected the clarinet and no longer playing
it. I love the oboe and the bassoon and am constantly working on my
repertoire which includes pieces by Mozart, Haydn, Marcello, Jolivet,
Cimarosa, Bach, von Weber and several other composers.
In the future I will keep working on my repertoire. I'm already thinking about
college. Perhaps, I will go to Mc Gill University in Montreal (Je suis
Montrealais) or maybe San Francisco Conservatory. I would like to play in an
orchestra or teach. I also seem to be very talented for reedmaking so maybe
that could become a career. My future is definitely going to involve music.
