 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-08-02 03:01
I've taken most of the summer off from clarinetting (as seen by my absence here for those of you who may remember me) and have done mostly thinking and pondering how to continue. I'm currently working a wonderful 65 hour work week between two jobs and don't have as much time to dedicate to an instrument as I'd like. However I expect to go FT at the job I want and be able to quit my supplemental job sometime within the next six months.
As for music, I'd really like to do something with it at some point in my life. Basically I'd like to perform in some sort of group and actually get paid (however little). So I've decided to pick up the saxaphone once again (after about a 6 year lay off, and only SPARSELY back then anyway), and put clarinet on the back burner.
I'm wondering two parts . . .
A) I'm going to be trading in most of my clarinets and clarinet related objects for a discount on a decent saxaphone via one of the retailers on this board. I'll be keeping the clarinet with the least resale value (my Buffet Evette and Schaeffer) which is STILL one hell of a horn and of course will never part with my Greg Smith mouthpiece.
I'm not the greatest clarinetist out there, but I'm wondering how much time is recommended spending on my clarinet skills in order to maintain whatever I might have, while still dedicating as much time as possible to the sax for fast growth? I'm thinking about playing/practicing clarinet twice a week (one day for college bands/scales and one day all scales/studies) with playing/practicing the saxaphone the other five days of the week. I'd figure on at LEAST one hour per day, hoping for two (once again my jobs have to take priority and consider that they BOTH consist of loading trucks and stocking heavy items, I get worn out pretty quickly - not to mention my weekly mountain bike rides)
B) Also, although this may have been hit upon in other posts, I was simply thinking about working through JD Hite's saxaphone etude recommendations found HERE. The reason being that if Baermann is the clarinet "bible", wouldn't an adaptation of it be likened to the sax version? Sort of a "King James" adaptation of the original?
Any thoughts/recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks all!
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2005-08-02 03:04)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-08-02 03:21
Alexi - welcome back!
In the real world of gigs and playing for pay, saxophone technique, while important to a degree, is not as vital as having a working knowledge of standard tunes, jazz rhythms and style, pop tunes, chords, and saxophone effects (sub tone, growl, vibrato, slap tongue, etc...)
Charlie Parker may not have been able to read a Lazarus duet, but I guarantee he could play "These Foolish Things" in F# if he had to.
My recommendation? Have all your scales and arpeggios committed to rapid fire memory. Know how to spell chords (ex: C dim7). Know your alto and/or tenor sax transpositions.
Listen to the great saxophonists for style and improv ideas.
Get a fake book. Learn 2 new tunes a day, both the lead line and the chords. After the first week you will have more than a dozen tunes in your repertoire. In a few months you'll have enough material to go out and play your first gig.
Good luck! ... GBK
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2005-08-02 03:34
Alexi,
I'd second GBK's suggestions. Learn how to improv, and try to transcribe some solos, I always start my students first with Miles's solo on "so what" as an introduction, and then branch out to other things. Are you gonna buy and alto, or tenor sax? Depending on which one you get, you might want to try transcribing some sax players like dexter. When i was learning, i did a lot of work on jackie mclean, still one of my favorites, ole jackie mac.
Good luck
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-08-02 13:54
A lot depends on your goals. As GBK pointed out, much of gigging is a matter of musical skills as opposed to pure instrumental skills, so don't neglect this side of things. Playing songs by ear can be successfuly integrated with your scales, arpeggios, and other exercises in key familiarity.
Beginning on sax, you will obviously go through a spurt of concentrated sax study. How much you practice clarinet depends on what role you expect the clarinet to play in your plans. For me, it plays a heavy role, and I maintain a certain regimen of technical exercises to keep my pinkies from bumping into each other, and my fork fingerings from tripping me up.
Once you're up to speed on sax, you'll probably be able to play a lot of your exercises twice as fast as on clarinet in the more difficult keys. That will allow you to reallocate some of your exercise time to developing those musical and ear skills. Once this is going well, take those ear skills back into your clarinet playing for the challenge of working out your technique on the fly.
And once again, be constantly learning songs. Outside the world of the reading, most musicians--particuarly substitutes--are hired as much for their knowledge of repertoire as their relative skill level. For those who make things up as they go along, good taste is probably the most valued commodity.
Allen Cole
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2005-08-02 16:16
Alexi:
My only recommendation is to NOT sell your favorite clarinet. Sell everything else but keep the one you really like. If it's not the E&S then keep them both if you can justify it. The reality is you'll never be able to find this clarinet again, and the price you are given for it is really pocket change over your lifetime. Even if you don't play it for 5 years someday you'll kick yourself squarely and firmly in the derriere for having sold it.
Of course, as you've already said, keep your mouthpiece as well!
MOO,
Matt
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-02 16:41
Sure, I remember you Alexi. My only comment is that I don't think too much of trade-ins as being any bargain. I'd suggest putting your clarinet stuff on ebay. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.....bob
Bob Draznik
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