Schools Enjoy Magical Musical Moments

Nearly 80 students at Martinborough School, Kurunui and Wairarapa Colleges were treated to hour long sessions of musical expertise from clarinettist and internationally recognised music teacher, Mark Walton. Mark was coming to play in the Martinborough Music Festival and offered to spend time with young people who love music and /or play a musical instrument. 

It has been his mission most of his working life to explain the value of music in helping achieve career goals for those who are musical rather than academic and to promote it as a universal language – “it will take you anywhere in the world. It is my language”.

Few at Martinborough School had heard of the clarinet, let alone seen one. Mark told of how he originally wanted to play the trumpet because it was made of lovely shiny brass; he also loved the sound it made. His parents had asked friends who were visiting from England to buy a trumpet for him but they were just too expensive. So they bought him a second-hand clarinet instead. 

Mark said that he was disappointed at first until he saw that the clarinet was partially constructed from brass too. Mark showed the children the brass component on his clarinet. He then played the well- known melody My Hat It Had Three Corners to demonstrate why he fell in love with the sound of the clarinet.

Since every child had heard of a recorder, it was this instrument that Mark used to demonstrate how the clarinet was made. Separating the recorder into it three parts – treble, tenor and bass, he showed how the clarinet was similarly constructed, although the clarinet has a fourth section. 

Asking for an assistant, Dion Luimaihetau volunteered. Mark reconstructed the recorder by asking Dion to play as he joined it together again. Then with clever finger work, Mark was able to make the most attractive sounds on the recorder as Dion blew into it much to the astonishment and joy of everyone. 

There was no shortage of volunteers to play the recorder for Mark. They loved the session and asked many questions. Six lucky children got the opportunity to perform for him. 

At Kurunui College, Mark outlined experiences that helped him achieve. He told the students that he was not very good at school work.  So he decided that being the best clarinet player in the world was going to be his goal. In the same way that top academic students apply themselves to their books, Mark applied himself to mastering the clarinet- “6 hours practice a day every day except for Christmas Day when I did four, but made up for it by practicing for 8 on Boxing Day”. 

Mark idolised Stanley Drucker, the highly respected clarinet principal with the New York Philharmonic. When the orchestra visited Christchurch with conductor, Leonard Bernstein, the teenaged Mark went to the performance. After the concert, in a “boldness be my friend” action, Mark went backstage and introduced himself to Mr Drucker and told him how much he admired his playing. Stanley Drucker responded by inviting him to dine with him at his hotel and to talk about the clarinet.  Without hearing him play a note Stanley Drucker offered to teach Mark should he come to New York. Winning a scholarship allowed him to take up this offer later.

The Kurunui students, unlike the Martinborough children, were very reticent to play their instruments for Mark. Fortunately a willing student, double bass player William Taber, had agreed to perform a duet with Mark – Catch Me If You Can. Composed by Mark, this was the first public performance of this delightful piece. Just before the session closed, Adam Butler was persuaded to play his saxophone performing a few tantalising bars of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five.

Mark Walton is a gifted teacher. The Martinborough Music Festival team were able to provide this musical learning opportunity with a Grant from the Martinborough Community Board. The Festival is FULL HOUSE three days out from the first performance.   Winifred Bull