Klarinet Archive - Posting 000058.txt from 1998/09

From: pollyg@-----. Gulakowski)
Subj: Re: [kl] Memorization
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 18:55:27 -0400

P: Here's a yahhbut. Third clarinet player, would rather be a
cheerleader but didn't make it and the band does more trips, marching
band music in a 4 note range and uninspired rhythm, no idea whats a minor
or that you're even part of a chord... This thread started as how to
memorize marching band music.

I can see the value of your technique, Lee, and for melody/solo stuff it
makes a great deal of sense. But every kid that's in the band is not
there because they like music or even want to learn about it. In this
situation, getting that show on the field is what it's about. You know
the football team really NEEDS the band! How many high school variations
of the Notre Dame Victory March are there out there?

Paulette

On Wed, 02 Sep 1998 07:58:05 Lee Hickling <hickling@-----.Net> writes:
>In my experience as a performer and a teacher, the best way to
>memorize is
>not measure by measure, or backwards, or forwards, but a phrase at a
>time.
>Memorizing what is, in effect, one damn note after another, all
>unrelated,
>is extremely difficult. It also encourages a performance that focuses
>on
>technique to the detriment of musicianship. A feeling for phrasing is
>one
>of the key components of musicianship.
>
>It's also very helpful if one has enough knowledge of harmony so that,
>even
>on a wind instrument, one is aware that this measure is on an A minor
>chord, and the next two are on a D major chord, and so on. If I could,
>I'd
>have every wind instrument player take a year or two of piano, using
>one of
>the methods that teaches harmony from the very beginning, and
>including a
>lot of drill on chords and scales. On the piano, one gets a feeling
>for the
>structure of a piece of music much more that on a melody instrument.
>You
>don't have to become an accomplished keyboardist to derive this
>benefit.
>
>And if you're interested in improvisation, a solid grounding in
>harmony is
>almost as important as a trained ear, and beats the stuffing out of
>the
>too-often used approach of learning a bunch of lick.
>
>Lee Hickling <hickling@-----.net>
>
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