Klarinet Archive - Posting 000200.txt from 2005/01

From: "Ted Casher" <tedcasher@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Rhapsody In Blue gliss
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 20:25:48 -0500

Ted Casher here. Back in 1952, I was taught by Leo Thayer, Sr, to start the
gliss upon reaching 4th-line D. I have been using that method ever since.

Leo Thayer, Sr, was the go-to clarinet teacher in Worcester, MA in the
Forties and Fifties. I encountered him at New England Music Camp, where I
studied with him for a month. I still remember everything he taught me. It
was one of my nicest experiences in taking clarinet lessons during those
years. Leo Sr. has played with the Sousa band. His son, Leo, Jr., lives
near Bangor, ME, where he is still active as a tenor/clarinet player, and is
a retired principal.

I played the gliss all during December, when I was doing 17 educational
concerts with the Schoolhouse Band, all through Rhode Island. RI, being a
very small state, makes it geographically possible to play three or four
concerts in one day, going to 3 or 4 different schools. We played in front
of some very cute children, and they all liked the gliss, and they all liked
my Klezmer playing on the Hannukah song.

Off topic, we witnessed the sight of two fairly young lady teachers fleeing
from the hall in a panic, when faced with the prospect of singing a phrase
of "White Christmas" over the wireless mic!!!! This is a result of getting
rid of elementary music programs in the Seventies. For shame, for shame!!!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org