Klarinet Archive - Posting 000277.txt from 1997/05

From: Jacqueline Eastwood <eastwooj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: College Auditions)
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 12:59:26 -0400

On Fri, 9 May 1997, Lorne G. Buick wrote:

> Baermann also includes scales in 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, 7ths, and octaves
> - possibly overkill? or am I just saying that because I can't play them?
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> LGB Lorne G Buick St. John's
> lgbuick@-----.net Newfoundland
> Canada
>
>
>
I can't remember which of my teachers said this (Clark Brody, Russ Dagon
or Joseph Longo), but when I was *young* I was told that "every piece of
music you'll ever have to play is contained in Baermann 3 -- the notes may
be in a slightly different order, but it's all there." Now that I am at
"a certain level of proficiency", whatever that means, and my practice
time is very limited, I find it far more valuable to work on various basic
exercises daily, in a concentrated & methodical fashion, than to run
through lots of solo pieces and etudes for hours on end. For me, I get
where I want to be faster because I've got the nuts & bolts of it down
already; whether I need to learn something new or dust off something old
makes no difference.

WARNING: Slight boast ahead! ;^)

I've recently been working on the solo in the Overture to "Semiramide" by
Rossini, out of someone else's opera excerpt book. When I remembered
that this was also in the IMC excerpt book, vol. 2, I went to dig it out.
I had made notes in this book about how it should be done according to
Marcellus (i.e., for placement auditions at NWU). I then proceeded to
amaze myself by being able to execute the passage in question *exactly* as
my notes indicated. This tells me two things: 1) that my practice method
seems to be working (I'm always worried that I don't have enough time on
the horn!) and 2) I'm not such an incompetent as Marcellus would have had
me believe -- it just took me a little longer than some to get my act
together.

Sorry for the ramble. My main point was to sing the praises of Baermann
vol. 3!! Have a great weekend!

Jacqueline Eastwood
University of Arizona/Arizona Opera Orchestra
eastwooj@-----.edu