Klarinet Archive - Posting 000374.txt from 2000/12

From: David Glenn <notestaff@-----.de>
Subj: Re: [kl] Scales?
Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2000 06:35:54 -0500

"andy.mich" wrote:

> Hi,
> Please can anyone help. I'm trying to learn my scales and finding it very
> hard going. I can play quite well now 2 octaves of f, g, a, c, d, bb and e.
> I feel however, that although I can play these scales, I can't picture right
> off which notes are in them. Now, progressing is getting a little
> difficult. I feel like I am playing these scales parrot fashion without
> really knowing them. Please can anyone suggest how I should best approach
> this mentally to try and get an over-all feeling for scales and keys. Maybe
> if I just keep going it will all fall into place naturally? I apologise if
> this question is a little basic, but I'm a bit stuck.
> Thanks.
> Shell.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi Shell,

Your question is impressive. It shows mental awareness of the situation
which most pupils don't bother to think about.

Here are some suggestions:

1) Take one octave of one scale and concentrate on it more or less
exclusively for say a week
2) Say the note names at a slow steady tempo. Repeat this -slowly- until
it is fluid
3) Do #2 by memory
4) Read and say the note names (still slowly and steadily) and finger
each note on the clarinet as you say it. (You give the command to finger
by saying the note name.)
5) Do #4 by memory
6) Read and play the scale and "say" the note names (try to imagine) to
yourself as you play.
7) Do #6 by memory
8) Start over from the beginning every day for a while because doing it
once succesfully does not mean you learned it. You have to give it a
rest and do it again.

This was all with one octave of one scale. Only after this is easy, go
to the next octave or the next scale. Enjoy the confindence which comes
by this work. The clou here is asscociating the note names with the tone
and with the fingering. It is a very common mistake for pupils to only
associate the printed note image with the fingering. The limits of this
method sound like what you described.

Now put your two octaves together when you're ready. Do the scales in
lots of variations. Articulation for starters: slurred, tongued, slurred
in twos, two slurred and two tongued. Rhythm changes, dynamic changes
not to mention scales in thirds, fourths etc. are all possible.

Don't forget to do your arpeggios in the same fashion! And other chords.
Keep it up and you'll be ripping in no time!

Good luck!
David

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