Klarinet Archive - Posting 000015.txt from 1999/09

From: "Benjamin Maas" <benmaas@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Another Teaching question (rhythm)
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 15:28:25 -0400

Since we've had so many teaching questions lately, I figure I'd ask
another....

I have a student who just entered 7th grade. He has been studying sax with
me for about 10 months by now. He is extremely dedicated and a joy to
teach. HOWEVER, he has absolutely no sense of pulse, time, beat, etc...

I work with him with metronomes doing rhythmic exercises from rhythm books
on a regular basis. Part of his practice schedule is to practice rhythm
without the horn in his mouth (counting, etc...). We then work on things
like scales using these rhythms we have just worked on. Over the past few
months, we have gotten to the point where he is doing ok with the exercises,
but if he sees the exact same rhythm in a piece, he falls apart. He is
consciencious, but the fact is he can't follow the metronome to save his
life. If the horn is in his hands (not in his mouth), he can hardly even
count with the metronome.

He has a great sound, his technique is building slowly (he has only played
for a year), and is a great kid. I just wish I could bring his rhythm up to
the level of everything else in his playing.

--Ben

Benjamin Maas
Freelance Clarinetist and Recording Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
benmaas@-----.com
http://www.fifthcircle.com

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