Klarinet Archive - Posting 000021.txt from 1999/09

From: "Karl Krelove" <kkrelove@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Another Teaching question (rhythm)
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 16:38:05 -0400

Dinner will be on the table in five minutes, so there isn't time for a
lengthy treatise right now. "Counting" and playing to a metronome are fairly
abstract things that most kids his age can handle. If he isn't there yet, he
needs more than anything to feel what playing rhythmically is. It seems to
me two things would be very helpful in the long run: you modeling and having
him echo either on exercises or short sections of any literature he's doing
(you can even do this without the sax if he's not too self-conscious about
singing, stamping, clapping, etc.); and playing along with him, asking him
not so much to "count" as to just stay with you. I'd do a lot of both at
each lesson, even when I'm not specifically calling attention to poor rhythm
in something he's playing. Give him lots of opportunity to experience good
rhythm, even if he isn't responsible for it. Eventually (perhaps over months
or even years), he'll get it as well as he is going to get it. The trick is
not to frustrate him in the meantime by a) expecting anything you or he does
to work instant miracles or b) focusing lessons so narrowly on this weakness
that he feels no strengths in his playing.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Benjamin Maas [mailto:benmaas@-----.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 1999 3:28 PM
> To: Klarinet List
> Subject: [kl] Another Teaching question (rhythm)
>
>
> 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
> conscientious, 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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