Klarinet Archive - Posting 000323.txt from 1997/06

From: "Lisa K. Clayton" <clayton@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Learning how to SWING???
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 1997 02:58:27 -0400

At 08:15 PM 06.19.97 +0200, Ricardo Quintas wrote:
>Hello there, my name is Ricardo and I'm a Jazz enthusiast.
>I'm a amateur clarinetist and my main interest regarding
>musical study is Jazz.
>
>Right now I'm trying to play with a Swing fell... but
>I really don't know what are the best techniques to
>achieve that.
>How can I play a major scale swing it?
>...maybe It's impossible to teach how to swing, but
>nevertheless I would like you people to help me on how
>to start studying this subject

This is problaby the weirdest answer you'll get, but hey
it worked for me.

Best way *I* found to get the rhythm and feel of swing down?
Learned to swing dance, specifically Jitterbug and East Coast
Swing. It taught me to feel the rhythm in my body rather
than as a "counting exercise." Of course, YMMV*.

In addition, listening to great swing music, such as Benny
Goodman, helps you get a feel for the way the rhythm's played.
But for me the best way to do it was dancing. BTW, it
worked the same way with waltzes, too. Go figure.
And no, I DON'T do the Macarena.

*(translation for non-geeks: Your Mileage May Vary,
or in plain English, this may or may not work for you).

Lisa K. Clayton
clayton@-----.edu
"In Search of the Elusive Haynes Silver-Walled"