Klarinet Archive - Posting 000489.txt from 2001/02

From: "Doug Benoit" <dbenoit@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] beginning student
Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 13:17:40 -0500

Jennifer,

I apologize for my misunderstanding of your inquiry in tone
production. I read your message too quickly the first time,
and replied with some advice on getting notes in the chal
reg. I see now, after having read your message again, I
feel rather embarrassed to admit that I was far off!

very far off...

' Sorry!

Jay and Neil are right. They, of course passed
ENGLISH...unlike myself!

Anyway, I would also, in addition to their suggestions, get
your students to practice long tones everyday, in their
practice routine. No "one particular" step or change will
always be the answer, but a series of steps/changes is often
the answer. I have my beginning students stand up once or
twice in lessons. This accomplishes three things (it might
accomplish more..):
(here I go with the list thing again)
1) it takes away from the mundane lesson plan of one general
"always sittin'" posture, and because of this,
2) the student has a tendency to remember more of the lesson
3) it gets the student a better opportunity to fill up the
air arsenal, and helps teach them support.

Once the student learns to play well in both standing and
sitting, they will automatically learn better posture when
seated! The student will WANT to have good support in a few
months, becasue they will WANT the most air possible!

In your lessons, have little games arranged, like holding a
tone with a stop watch, and seeing how long you can hold the
tone. Then, have the student do it with a normal breath,
then, have the same student do the same thing with a
wind-musician's breath (not a normal breath). My students
are now almost beating me at this game (of course, we, as
teachers, plan out every game before the lesson, right?)

Doug

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