Klarinet Archive - Posting 000031.txt from 2004/02

From: Elgenubi@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Rhythmic help needed
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 14:12:09 -0500

Howard Bleich asked:
I am a beginner who lacks rhythm and can't count. My previous teacher had
words for rhythms. In 6/8 th time, to play a dotted quarter note, an eighth
note, and then a quarter, he told me to think "Amsterdam." He used to say,
"If you can't say it, you can't play it."

My present teacher wants me to play the Rose Etude No. 6 (Book 1, From the
French School). In 3/4 time, it has measures that consist of 16th and 32nd
notes, and 32nd rests, that interleave with measures of 16th notes in
triplet rhythm. My tendency is to slip it all into triplet rhythm.

Does anyone know of words that I can think to help me play this infernal
etude? Words that will beat a 16th note, 32nd rest, 32nd note; 16th note,
32nd rest, 32nd note, etc., without slipping into triplet rhythm?

With much appreciation.
Howard Bleich, MD

Well......
I am an intermediate player of some years, and you say you are a beginner, so
i will presume to tell you something very elementary. Forgive me if you are
way beyond this advice.
This etude at quarter note equals 92 would be fiendishly difficult to play
well. The elementary advice from me would be to practice and perfect it at a
much, much slower tempo. For me, starting out in 6, 8th note equals 60 or 80
would not be too slow. Then you could practice differentiating the dotted 16th,
32th figure from the triplet figure. (It's really a 16th note, 32nd rest,
32nd note, of course. In 6 you play it like a dotted 8th, 16th.) I can't
remember a good word for dotted 8th, 16th, but someone will remind us.
Good luck

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