Klarinet Archive - Posting 000327.txt from 2003/11
From: Anna Benassi <acb@-----.is>
Subj: [kl] playing in all keys - etude book suggestions
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2003 04:19:44 -0500
Hi, all.
I am in the process of trying to get my intermediate students to
branch out systematically into keys with many sharps and flats
(hopefully w/o boring the poor dears to death), and so I've been
making a survey of all my own sheet music. The pieces I have
discovered may be easier than, for example, Uhl, who is quite
interesting but (sometimes too) challenging for an intermediate
player. Here goes:
(1) Lazarus method, volume 2 (if I remember correctly) has a section
with one intermediate etude in each key. The same Lazarus book also
has a section with scales, arpeggios, and scale variations. One page
is dedicated to each key. These are easier than the Baermann scales
and, I think, more palatable for the growing student.
(2) Abe Galper's scale books are also quite impressive. I have not yet
used them with my students because I've been too slow at getting
copies of them into the shop here in Iceland (and don't want to
bootleg via photocopier), but they are well worth scrutiny.
(3) There is a sax book by Ferling, Quarante-huit études (arranged by
Marcel Mule, pub by Leduc) with two etudes in each major and minor
key. These etudes are well organised - one slow, one fast in each key
(several have been transcribed for clarinet and can be found in Rose
32), and they are short, about 1/2 page each. They cover only the sax
range, of course, but we can surely benefit from playing them.
(4) Robert Stark has a few etude books in all keys. These are
published by International. One is called 24 Etudes in All Keys, and
the other is called 24 Virtuosity Studies. If I remember, they are
harder than the above stuff, and I remember their being less musically
satisfying. But if you're into cod liver oil, by all means go for it.
Builds strong bodies twelve ways.
(5) Last, but certainly not least, Howard Klug's small-but-growing
business, called Woodwindiana, publishes (among other things) several
etude books by Randall Cunningham. I have purchased all of them and
recommend them highly for teachers of intermediate students. Two of
the books - Eighteen Preludes and 15 Advanced Studies - go
systematically through the keys and offer an etude in each. These are
musically satisfying for the student and, IMO, quite pedagogically
sound. You can contact Howard for orders at Hdklug@-----. BTW, the
other Cunningham books are also well worth the modest price.
And the advice already given - to play favourite tunes by ear and from
notes in all keys - is excellent. Best of luck to you.
BTW, if others have further suggestions along this line, I'm all ears.
Best,
Anna
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