Klarinet Archive - Posting 000239.txt from 2001/09

From: stewart kiritz <kiritz@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Long tone discussion again
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 04:43:37 -0400

Howard Klug recommends that the long tones be incorporated into passage or
interval studies, rather than long tones on one note. Maybe that is another
way of skinning the cat. :-)

----- Original Message -----
From: <HatNYC62@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Long tone discussion again

> 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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