Klarinet Archive - Posting 000270.txt from 2003/11

From: <arlyss1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Re: [kl] Flats, Sharps and ligatures!
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 06:22:43 -0500

Will wrote:

> I was forced to remember because he started me out >with > >All Sharps and All Flats scales (it's been so long I can't >remember their name ... uhgg!!!) He had me on
> those for 3 weeks until I could do it in my sleep.

This is an excellent idea not only for reading in those keys but ALSO for those of us who are NOT comfortable PLAYING in those keys. Making those keys FEEL automatic under our fingers is more than half the battle after all.

I would add to your teacher's superb suggestion two things:

1. Write out simple tunes in those most difficult keys for you to read. (IIR the rest of your post correctly, you had to write out the scales yourself and that was YOUR idea) Read these tunes once you've written them out. Also, play tunes by ear in those keys. That works really well for me, because then I am forced to feel my way around the horn AND use my ears.

2. Go into the Rose 32 etues, and the Uhl etudes, and, instead of doing what most do and start at the beginning, start with the most difficult keys to read. In the Rose of course, that would be the ones in the very back. Take them ALL very slowly at first -because you are not off the hook for other elements of playing either! I don't have the Uhl studies carved into my memory as well, but the Rose I can tell you has every key in them, and I truly think this will help with your reading and functioning in these keys. Same thing goes with Baermann III - work the most difficult scales FIRST, not the easy ones.

Patricia Smith
(whose practice session today promises the above frustrations - after all, what is life if one does not practice what one preaches!)

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