Klarinet Archive - Posting 000506.txt from 2004/01

From: Rob C Chaney <robratc@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Best Etudes/Method for Learning Scales?
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:21:01 -0500

I agree with the memorizing the scales early. I am two weeks away from
contest (solo- I will be playing a piece called Novelette) and I just
learned chromatic scale this week. I have only been playing the Bb scale
for about 7 years. The the only scale I have known until now when I have
to play the chromatic, Bb, and at least 3 or 4 other scales that I have
to learn in the nest 2 weeks. And everything except chromatic must be in
2 octaves.

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 18:54:18 -0700 (MST) AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne
Lenoir) writes:
> Dear Mike,
> Do you know all of your scales, say for one octave, and can you
> play
> them all the way around the Circle of 5ths?
> If you are really "learning" your scales for the first time, I
> really do believe that memorizing them is the best way to go. The
> reason
> that I believe in memorization first is because they are easier to
> learn
> without staring at a scale sheet. You will have the rest of your
> life to
> sit in front of a music stand and "read" your scales, whether from
> Klose, Baerman, or Rubank.
> I know this for a fact because all of the band directors in my
> school district have regular "stand-up scale tests" where the
> students
> have to stand up and play the scale that they have been assigned
> for
> memory. The 7th graders usually play one octave versions and the
> 8th
> graders are strongly encouraged to play the 2 or 3 octave versions.
> At
> this time of year, right before solo & ensemble contest, they have
> almost made it around the entire circle. It takes a good part of
> each
> clarinet lesson for me to get them prepared for their "stand-ups",
> by
> learning the scale "with them", one note at a time, until they can
> go
> up-&-down by themselves and play the arpeggio at the end. I try to
> make
> it to the band room every week on the day when they do their
> stand-ups.
> The first time attended this event, I was very surprized at how much
> the
> kids enjoyed the stand-ups. Whenever anybody did a particularly good
> job
> on their scale, the other band members would shuffle their feet,
> just
> the way they do in orchestras.
> I also teach "FLUTAPHONE" at the Golden Montessori School to 1st
> &
> 2nd graders. We have had all kinds of fun learning simple tunes to
> cover
> the holes and go down the scale. Just for fun, I had them make
> believe
> that they were all seventh graders playing their "stand-ups" on a C
> Major scale. I taught them the scale and the arpeggio, and each of
> them
> stood up and played it alone. When they played alone, just like in
> Jr.
> High, everybody was as quiet as a mouse. At that age, they love to
> stand
> up and play for the rest of the class of about 6 members. I told
> them
> that they all sounded great and "passed" their stand up. They wanted
> to
> do it again the next week.
> I think that once you can play all of your scales for one
> octave,
> that it is your choice to work on any materials containing scales
> that
> you personally choose. I think it should be your choice. They are
> all
> good. ANNIE
>
>
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