Klarinet Archive - Posting 000337.txt from 2004/12

From: "rien stein" <rstein@-----.nl>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Congratulation, Rien! (was: [kl] doodad)
Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 16:50:23 -0500

Don Hatfield wrote:

<<
So this was a university-type course and examination?
>>

Sorry if I gave you this impression, no it was not that high-level. But I
did not write that I had passed a conductor's exam, but an
assisten-conductor's exam.

Conducting in itself, the technique and practice of it, filled a large share
of our program, of course. But as to theory: When this course started we
were considered to be absolutely blanco. We did a lot on interval and chord
recognition, had to sing prima vista from paper (I never was allowed to sing
in my life, so this was a drama, final score: 50%), and take melodic and
rhythmic dictations, but only one voice. Scales were but a small part of the
curriculum, but we had to learn 20 pages with musical expressions, lots of
dances, many of which I never had heard of before, and so on.

Here in Holland students are assumed to take examinations in a program based
on four two-year-intervals (what can be done by only the very best, three
years seems to be the average for those who take them, and of those who pass
their first exam, about 95% also takes the second one, but the fourth one is
taken by only 5%). This fourth one is of about the same level as college
entrance examination for music. We are assumed to have that level now.

The part of the final examination I enjoyed most of all, except for
conducting itself, was, to find a study piece and a recital piece for each
of these exams, and explain why that was a good piece for that level. I have
about one meter of clarinet music, so that was a good opportunity to take
out and see all music I have once again. Found even a piece, a concerto by
Pleyel I had never studied and had completely forgotten to exist!

Hope I have been clear enough now.

Rien

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