Klarinet Archive - Posting 000107.txt from 2008/06

From: Alicia Byer <aliciabyer@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] method books for beginners
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:59:43 -0400

Hi Fred,

Well, I've been forcing my poor kids to do the Rubank without realizing
that it might bore their delicate sensibilities, and they didn't
complain at all! I've been doing exactly what you said, choosing the
relevant exercises and writing out solo songs. to keep them interested.
They like that a lot, because I just ask them a song they want to
learn, like Happy Birthday or Jingle Bells and write it out on the fly
for them to keep. When they get to a high enough level, I choose a solo
book with other songs (they do love Disney or movie themes and I figured
that was fine to keep them playing). So I guess my gut instincts were
right all along, I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing some
fantastic method book.

All that said, does anybody have suggestions for jazz books for
beginners? Like just starting to learn blues, jazz phrasing, chords,
swing, improvisation, maybe a CD to play along with, things like that?

alicia

Fred Jacobowitz wrote:
> CAUTION!!! These are band books. They are essentially useless for
> private lessons. They only cover notes and keys that work with the
> particular tune the band is playing. They have virtually no exercises
> for the kids to use. They are excellent for band and well designed for
> it. Just like a van is well-designed for carting people around but not
> that good for parking and maneuvering in a city.
>
> Also, I disagree that beginners must be kept turning pages. I have
> never yet had a student quit because they weren't going fast enough or
> were bored with their progress. They almost always quit because they
> don't want to sit down and practice. Bells and whistles like CDs
> aren't going to work for very long. They still will have to practice.
> I tell all my beginner students that, "I GUARANTEE" that they will be
> first chair within 6 months if they practice as I teach them to (as
> long as the first chair players aren't taking lessons - in that case I
> tell them that they will be at least first row). **That** keeps them
> interested. I also write out some simple solo songs. They don't have
> to be pop or rock tunes - just the fact that they are a SOLO is fun
> for the kids. Don't sell kids short. They can and will stay interested
> (especially if parental 'reminders' are part of the deal).
>
> Finally, I did a pretty exhaustive search about 20 years ago at every
> music store in the Baltimore/DC area. There were only 2 or 3 methods
> worth the paper they were printed on and Rubank was clearly the best.
> Hymie Voxman really was a genius at clarinet pedagogy. Naturally, I
> don't use every exercise in them (some are really pedantic) but
> picking and choosing is easy enough. Like I said above, I supplement
> it with little solos and finally books of beginner solos (such as the
> AMSCO series or Mel Bay).
>
>
> Fred Jacobowitz
>
> Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
> Ebony and Ivory Duo
>
> You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
> ~Doug Floyd
>
> On Jun 21, 2008, at 8:42 PM, Glenn Kantor wrote:
>>
>> The most popular method books now being used are the Accent on
>> Achievement series and the Essential Elements series. Both books have
>> a cleaner, less cramped layout than Rubank, progress at a decent pace
>> and include reinforcing CD's with band accompaniment for each
>> exercise and song.
>>
>
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