Klarinet Archive - Posting 000941.txt from 2004/10

From: kimi <kimi_kimy@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Playing scales three octaves up
Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 21:33:10 -0400


--- Nicholas Yip <clarinets21@-----.com> wrote:

> I would suggest that she does the best she could do.
> She is in the program
> to LEARN music NOT compete. Unfortunately it is seen
> that most band programs
> are deeply involved in the competition aspect and
> seem to overlook the
> musical education. Do the parents, students and the
> district complain about
> not getting straight superiors?

I can tell you this much, getting a superior seems to
be a big thing because I heard their band director
more times than once tell the students that if they
didn't get a superior, not only would it make them
look bad but it'd make him as a director look bad as
well as the school look bad because this band is
supposed to be the pride of this county. And well ok
yea maybe that is so, but my biggest complaint as well
as what my daughter has commented on, there is some in
the band that can't even play a piece of the music
given to them but yet they are out there marching
during competition season because the director is
forced into having a particular number of students in
the band and because of such a big number in the band,
he has little to no help making sure that those that
don't know their music, has more time spent with them
learning it, not to mention that the pit percussion is
pretty much ignored till the last minute. I won't
even get started on that one becuase I have two in the
pit and let me tell you it has been less than
satisfying for both of them. They are kids that want
to learn and have the need to be doing something,
sitting in class twiddling their fingers while the
rest of the band is doing something because there is
just to many students, is for well I won't say, I'll
be nice. I realize that the band director is only one
person, and this county seems to be a bit mixed up in
that they spend way to much money on the sports end,
but they have high expectations in relationship to the
band and expect it to get done without the help. SO
ya know what more can one man do?

As to my daughter and her playign octaves and the
chair position, I just think that chair positions has
become important cause usually the lower the chair,
the more boring the music becomes, so I don't blame
her for not wanting to be at a bottom of the chair
list.

:)
K
>
> Anyhow, in practicing scales she has to be able to
> do one octave first, then
> two before three. Do one octave perfectly five
> times. If she messes up have
> her do it again. Start slow. Do the same for two
> then, three octaves.
>
> It is is also not all about being first chair. I
> really don't know why most
> students think being first chair is special, but it
> is not. I have been
> first chair for years. Nothing special here. Second
> and third are also just
> as difficult. Others can agree.
>
>
>
> Nicholas Yip
> Clarinetist and Music Teacher
>
>
>
>
> >From: kimi <kimi_kimy@-----.com>
> >Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> >To: klarinet@-----.org
> >Subject: [kl] Playing scales three octaves up
> >Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 17:05:35 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> >My daughter is in her four year of band now. Her
> >skills with the clarinet have become quiet
> impressive
> >for one that is just fourteen.  She is currently
> >working on a grade four solo piece that she will be
> >playing in the spring for competition. 
> >
> >One of the things I have heard her talking about
> that
> >has her stressing out is that it seems they have to
> >try out for seat positions on both the concert and
> >symphonic band at school.  They are just finishing
> up
> >marching band and they won A superiors all across
> the
> >board.  The thing is, she seems to be stressing
> >because evidently they have to be able to play
> three
> >octaves up on some particular scales that the
> >instructor has told them they'd have to be able to
> do
> >to place in a chair position.
> >
> >Does anyone have any advice or comments on this
> three
> >octaves up thing?
> >
> >Thanks
> >
> >Kathy
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> phone.
> >http://mobile.yahoo.com/maildemo
> >
>
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