Klarinet Archive - Posting 000267.txt from 1997/02

From: Gary Van Cott <Gary_VanCott@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Musical literacy
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 04:27:21 -0500

Gary VanCott = NHIN
02/08/97 08:06 PM

Fred Jacobowitz wrote:
Gary,
The easiest way to learn more about music in general is to
take some music appreciation courses at a local community college
and to start reading. Go to the encyclopedias and look at the
bibliographies of the CLARINET articles! Talk about lots of
references. Read, read, read, and then ask questions about what
you've read. There is no panacea. The way to learn is to spend
the requisite amount of time doing your homework. There is no
substitute for this.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

******************
Fred,
It would be wonderful if I could take this approach, but with a family, a
full-time job, and the playing I am doing I am really too busy (I am also
age 48). I did take a full year of music history in college (long ago, of
course) and believe that I have a reasonable understanding of the basics.
However, my knowledge of the kind of topics in Stan Geidel's original post
is less than I wish it was.

Perhaps it is selfish of me to want to "Reader's Digest" version of
knowledge others have worked years to obtain. On the other hand, I think
most professions are able to provide more precise guidance on how to
acquire the core knowledge. I find it surprising that no one has been able
to recommend a comprehensive book on (clarinet) performance practices.
Aren't music faculty subject to the same "publish or perish" dictum as
their colleagues? As I mentioned on another occasion, a computer CD would
be the perfect medium providing both visual and aural examples.

I have noticed in some of the posts from students in Europe that they
appear to have a structured clarinet curriculum with tests required to move
from one level to the next. I am curious if any of the material they learn
in this course (or courses, as what they do in Italy may not be the same as
in the UK) is on performance practice and how it is presented.

Gary Van Cott
Las Vegas, NV

Gary_VanCott@-----.com

   
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