Klarinet Archive - Posting 000905.txt from 1997/03

From: "Scott D. Morrow" <SDM@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Section warm-ups
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 14:54:14 -0500

>I am presently leader of a clarinet section of 4 (apart from me). One
>player is technically good, another is fairly inexperienced but keen,
>and the other two players are not great technically. As we are earn our
>living from playing, this wide range of abilities is very frustrating to
>me - when I run section rehearsals, I'm basically covering what should
>be done as individual practice, ie running (not very difficult) passages
>slowly over and over, then gradually increasing speed etc etc, which is
>boring for the player that can play the stuff (and, I suspect, those who
>can't).
>
>I would like to start some group exercises to at least address issues
>such as poor tone and intonation, and wonder if anyone on the list has
>suggestions or ideas for such exercises. My dilemma is that I need to
>keep everyone interested, and although the standard of some is not very
>high, as we're all "grown-ups" I don't wish to insult anyone at the same
>time.
>
>Can anyone offer any ideas? (Sorry for the long-winded letter).
>
>Kelli

In my opinion, one of the most important things a section should
practice in a sectional is playing as a section. This might sound dumb or
simplistic, but I've found that when a section doesn't listen to eachother
and try to blend as a section, it just sounds like a bunch of people
tooting blithely away, oblivious to what's going on around them! I'd work
on blending exercises that require each of the instrumentalists to be aware
of changes around her/him; perhaps each take a pitch of a chord and have
one of you vary dynamics as you all hold the note and try to match (you
could take turns being the "leader".). Try playing a phrase and "swelling"
together in the middle. Listening exercises will also help section
intonation, as you'll all get better at listening to eachother and
adjusting accordingly.
Then, of course, the next step is to apply these section skills to
the entire band/orchestra when you play together.

-Scott

Scott D. Morrow
Department of Biochemistry
School of Hygiene and Public Health
Johns Hopkins University
(410) 955-3631

SDM@-----.edu