Klarinet Archive - Posting 000183.txt from 1997/05

From: GJdeVries@-----.com
Subj: Re: chromatic exercise
Date: Tue, 6 May 1997 22:09:44 -0400

Kathi,

I'm sure that many of the list members have exercises applicable to the
chromatic scale that they have used for themselves and their students. Here
are some of the ones I use:

1) Small groups of notes:
Start on the lowest e and play *five notes* of the chromatic scale up and
down over and over again without pause (e to g# and back to e) gradually
increasing the speed. Then, start one half step higher and play the next set
of five notes. You should continue this pattern as high as you can go.
This can also be done using three, four, and six or more notes of the scale.

2) Different rhythms:
Play the whole scale using a *dotted eighth note followed by 16th note*
rhythm (long note first, use your metronome and gradually increase the
speed). Then reverse the rhythm (16th note then the dotted eighth note) and
try to reach the same speed.
Play the whole scale with an *eighth note followed by two 16th notes* rhythm.
Reverse the rhythm (two 16th notes then the eighth note).
Play the whole scale using an *eighth note followed by triplet 16th notes*
rhythm. Reverse the rhythm (triplet 16ths followed by an eighth note).

3) The whole scale in different groupings:
Play the whole scale in *16th notes* starting on e (use your metronome and
gradually increase the speed), then start on f, then f#, and then g.
Play the whole chromatic scale in *triplets* starting on e, then f, and then
f#.
Groups of five, six and seven notes can also be useful.

****CAUTION****

These are some of the most fun and exciting exercises you can find. Do not
allow yourself to become addicted. ;-)

Jay deVries

>>Kathi,
>> My teacher fully believed in an exercise that I still use to
>>warm-up with. It goes like this:
>> e-f-e-f-f#-f-e-f-f#-g-f#-f-e-f-f#-g-g#-g-f#-f-e and so forth as
>>high as you want to go. played at a fairly rapid tempo it requires a bit
>>of dexerity and helps with all of those wonderful chromatic fingerings we
>>all love.
>> elizabeth
>Thanks, I'll try that. It has been getting kind of old just sitting down and
>playing the chromatic scale up and down a million times. Does any one else
>have ideas for a chromatic practice? TIA
>Kathi A