Klarinet Archive - Posting 000385.txt from 2002/09

From: Meridith Morgan <morganm@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] sightreading blues
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 00:01:26 -0400

Jeremy--

One big thing that my (college) band director talks about is taking 10 seconds
and scanning through a piece before you sight read it. Look at the "road
map," key(s), time signature, tempo, and general dynamics. Also look for any
places where this changes. In the case of a key change, find the first few
notes after the key change that are different because these are commonly
missed. If you see any unusual rhythms, try to hear them in your head.
Generally just look for places where you might have problems, especially
places where alternate fingerings may be necessary, such as around the clarion
B/C/C#/Eb and chalmeau E/F/F#/Ab. Then just before you start playing, look at
that first measure (or at least the first note) and try to hear how it's going
to go. As you sight read, keep your eyes a little ahead of what you're
playing and subdivide the beat as much as is reasonable.

As far as sight reading material for practice goes, I try to select things
with unusual rhythms and in more complicated key signatures. And as someone
else said, knowing scales is good, too. Probably whatever your clarinet
professor requires you to learn and remember......clarinetists who are taking
lessons here learn all major and minor scales and arpeggios, V7s, diminished
viis, and major/minor scales by thirds and fourths. One way to improve your
rhythms in sight-reading, practice scales in varying rhythms....for instance,
do triplets up and sixteenths down.

Good luck!!!

Meridith

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>From: "Jeremy Yager" <bomber@-----.com>
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>Date: Thu, 19 Sep 2002 17:46:56 -0400
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>Subject: [kl] sightreading blues
>
>Hi List,
> I am looking for suggestions on improving sightreading, and reading
>ability in general. I have always been awful at it, and I am now looking to
>take that weak point and turning it into a positive.
>
>Is there a better approach than the 'grab a handy book and read until you
>turn blue' method?
>Are there music books that are specially put together to be sightreading
>challenges?
>
>I am a college student, and am playing on par with the older music education
>majors.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Jeremy Yager
>
>
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