Klarinet Archive - Posting 000224.txt from 2001/02

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Klose method/question for pros
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 15:02:01 -0500

At 11:44 AM 2/7/01 -0800, you wrote:
>I read the Robert Spring article on his warmup, and wondered if Klose
>alone could potentially make one's technique as good as Spring's. My
>question is: can using the Klose scales and excercises exclusively (not
>including necessary etudes and pieces) help reach my goal of technical
>perfection? It would be helpful to know if any professional players on
>this list used, or
>recommend the Klose method in their teaching. Any advice on scale work
>would be helpful. BTW, I use Langenus 3 a bit also. Thank you all in advance.
>
>All the best,
>Richard Redmon

Richard,

You should probably ask Bob Spring what he has done to reach his technical
level. I doubt Klose' alone will help you even begin to approach Spring's
level of technical mastery - nor would a host of other technical books. If
I am not mistaken, Bob practices a minimum of 2 hours per day every morning
- and then another two hours later in the day. This has been going on for
at least the last 12 years. My guess is that he put in at least 4 hours
per day for the past 20 years.

Of course, hours alone don't do it. Hopefully you have a teacher to guide
you - and a good one. John Mohler and David Shifrin were two of Spring's
teachers (hey - they were mine too!) - and they were both influential on
him in many ways.

But then, Bob is on the list - so he should speak for himself I guess. I'm
just reporting the things I have heard from Bob, his students, and what I
experienced in person with him at Michigan in the '80s.

Regarding technical practice - learn your major and minor scales by ear at
the fastest possible speed with control, even fingers, and a great sound -
and then learn them faster. Learn the major and minor thirds and arpeggios
also - all by ear. Then learn 5ths, the whole tone scale(s), and the
diminished 7ths sequences. In Klose, there is quite a bit of good
technical work - but the stuff in the back is messy and difficult - and
doesn't apply as well as it could. Consider Uhl books - bk 1 and 2 as well
as other etude books listed by many on the list.

Good luck.

Sincerely,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Clarinet Professor
Director, Symphonic Winds
Advisor, Recording Services
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
(309) 556-3268

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

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