Klarinet Archive - Posting 000351.txt from 1996/04

From: Jacqueline G Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Orals
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 12:45:01 -0400

Hi, Jay,

Having taken and successfully passed my orals last year, here are some of
the things I remember brushing up on:

A brief history of the development of the clarinet -- read up on Jack
Brymer's book and F. Geoffrey Rendall's book.

Tuning problems of the clarinet and how to solve them.

Who is where -- (actually this was more than just clarinettists, also
included conductors and other musicians) -- for example, who is principal
in Dallas? Who is the conductor of the St. Louis Syumphony? This is
tricky to "study" but your library should have bound volumes of orchestra
programs for some of the major symphonies.

I also got "score identification" -- what a treat. If you can't name the
piece (which I think I managed to get one, and it was a fluke!), then you
have to make educated guesses on period, composer, or something and then
explain why you came up with that answer. For instance, a symphony with
pairs of winds but no clarinets could be an earlier Haydn work.
Something with masses of bizarre wind instruments and a gargantuan string
section would be Mahler or Wagner.

Have fun and try not to be too nervous -- usually, these folks are not
out to get you! Take your time to formulate coherent, thoughtful
answers. And make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before -- don't
try to cram at this point! Caffeine also helps if they're in the morning!

Jacqueline Eastwood
University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
eastwooj@-----.edu

On
Thu, 11 Apr 1996, jay eric niepoetter wrote:

> I'm taking my orals next week. 1 hour of questions about the clarinet.
> Anybody have any questions for me to practice on? :)
>
> Anybody have any good / horror stories about taking orals?
>
> Just wondering & a little bit nervous,
> Jay
>