Klarinet Archive - Posting 000402.txt from 1996/06

From: Audrey Podmore <apod@-----.UK>
Subj: Re: Suggestions for the new Adult Clarinet Student
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 16:01:29 -0400

I think it would be very difficult to learn the clarinet without a teacher and
without any musical training. However, if that's what you want to do, my
advice would be to make use of music education software to learn the theory
side of things. At the same time, listen to lots of fine clarinet playing and
buy a copy of "The Clarinet - a comprehensive method for the Boehm clarinet'
by Frederick Thurston and Alan Frank, published by Boosey & Hawkes. You would
also need a tutor that has more exercises at an elementary level.
Unfortunately, one cannot plug a clarinet into the computer so that the latter
can detect inaccuracies. There are wind controllers (the Casio Digital Horn is
one of these - I don't know if that's what you were thinking of) but they are
at the professional end of the market, so they are not supported by beginners'
instructional software. They are not clarinets. There are devices which can,
in theory, convert your clarinet playing into signals intelligible to a
computer. However, in practice, they create more problems than they solve! You
don't say which computer you use. If you care to tell me what kind of setup
you have, I will endeavour to recommend some software.

Good Luck!

Audrey Podmore
freelance teacher/facilitator
"LINK-IT" Contact, National Council for Educational Technology
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