Klarinet Archive - Posting 000338.txt from 1997/01

From: "David C. Blumberg" <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Pitch recognition A or Bb
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 1997 22:26:12 -0500

It's quite easy if I know the piece. The fingerings used (E-4th space for
instance) stick out like a sore thumb. I can "feel" the difference between
an F played on A Clar., and an E played on Bb Clar. The same for the other
notes. It's pretty obvious to me. Is it amazing for someone with perfect
pitch to know what pitch it is? No. It's just something that is done by
them. Maybe I should have written "virtually 100%" - got to give a little
room for the "DOH" factor.

At 08:56 PM 1/21/97 -0600, Daniel A. Paprocki wrote:
>David B.
> That's amazing that you're batting 100% (or 1000 in Major League
>Baseball) on the A - Bb recognition test. I don't even know if my family
>dog (a Shi Tzu) could tell that well.
> Sometimes I'll be in orchestra and not know what the 1st is playing
>without looking for visual clues. If I'm in the hall and listening, well -
>to be honest I really don't care. I'm more concerned if it's in tune,
>musical, blending well, has a nice (notice I didn't say the "D" or "B"
>words) tone, etc. I used to try and tell if a player was on A, Bb, German,
>English, student, Bonade, Drucker, what ligature they're using, what beer
>they drink, are they left or right handed, etc. I don't anymore.
> Most conductors only care that the right notes are played at the
>right time, in tune, musically, it sounds like a clarinet, and the player
>doesn't cause trouble (by asking what clarinet he should use or explaining
>why he can't make a switch in 2 measures at 140). I think the final
>consensus of the Dan P./Dan L. show was that we agreed to disagree.
>
>Dan P.
>
>***************************************************************************
***
>
> Daniel A. Paprocki
> Instructor of Clarinet
> Malone College
> Kent State University - Stark Campus
> dap@-----.us
>
>***************************************************************************
***
>
>
David C. Blumberg
reedman@-----.com
Principal Clarinet Riverside Symphonia
Adjunct Woodwind Instructor Univ. of Penn,. Bryn Mawr College