Klarinet Archive - Posting 000237.txt from 2001/09

From: HatNYC62@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Long tone discussion again
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 04:43:35 -0400

I wanted to reprint here what I recently posted on the BB about my feelings
re: long tones vs. scales. Of course one could always do BOTH, but my
argument is to take the long tone time and ADD it to whatever scale time
there is. Here is why.

I still think long tones represent an unnecessary stealing of time away from
scale practice as part of a proper warm up. The difference between a working
clarinetist and someone who can't get work almost always comes down to
rhythm, intonation and technique. Minute colors in tone are almost impossible
to hear under most circumstances one would encounter professionally (we don't
play concertos and chamber music every day. certainly never etudes on the
job). In any case, clarinet players are more sensitive to this sort of thing
and most others will not even notice things other clarinet players find very
obvious.

The only clarinet players who mostly play for other clarinetists are
professors and students. Thus the importance of what I call 'clarinet player
issues' is greatly magnified when one is in school.

I realized far later than I might have that it is much more important to play
well and make a lot of music than to worry about what other clarinet players
might say about something I was doing. Thoughts like those can put
limitations one what you can express musically.

On the other hand, not having great technique, excellent intonation and
perfect rhythm will inhibit what you want to do musically more, because no
one wants to listen to a player who does not posess all of these things,

If you practice 20 extra minutes of scales every day at age 15-18 you will
save an hour or more of technical practice when you are in college.In
addition, you will have to practice every piece you play longer because you
have less basic technique.

If you listen to recordings of great clarinet players like Marcellus and
Wright, that tonal concept will get into your ears and help you produce it
far more efficiently than anything else you can do.

Should you ultimately become a professional, you will discover that you have
almost no time to practice anyway, and you certainly won't want to squander
any extra time on long tones.

David Hattner, NYC

www.northbranchrecords.com

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