 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Paumartin
Date: 2007-08-21 04:58
Thank you for those that responded to the "Priorities" topic. It sound like lessons, mouthpiece and reeds are the priority expenses to a cash limited high school freshperson clarinetist.
Unfortunately lessons are not very "sellable" to the parents. Maybe it is the commute, time, hassle arranging an appointment etc.
How about books, DVD's or book/CD or book/DVD combination. Any that you would recommend to the incomming high school freshperson.
I am asking too much and I apologize... but would you mind categorizing your recommendation from the clutzy... to the average... to the virtuoso freshman.
Thanks again
Peter
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Author: OmarHo
Date: 2007-08-21 15:38
If you are planning on self-teaching yourself or just want books as an additional resource to lessons, then I would recommend getting David Pino's "The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing" published by Dover. I like it because it's very concise and good for beginners to follow.
http://www.banddirector.com/ has some good instructional videos and articles.
However, nothing can beat taking lessons. For example, if you want to learn how to form a "proper" embouchure in the Pino book it says stuff like make sure that you have 3/8 of an inch between the top and lower teeth. But how are you supposed to correctly do that? A problem I had with following these directions was that they weren't natural for me, so I would form an overly tensed embouchure that would take about 4 seconds to form before putting the mouthpiece in my mouth.
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Author: Paumartin
Date: 2007-08-22 03:39
I suppose rather than ask for suggestions let me explain the situation. My son a high school junior has been chosen as the woodwind captain of their high school. He is obsessed about making the best of the woodwind section. But the resources are limited. And so he has to make the most of the resources. Big confession: I do not play the clarinet but I am interested in learning as much as I can in order to support my child.
My son is a fairly accomplished saxophonist winning several contest and competition. He is starting to learn to double on the clarinet. he has about 8 hours of private clarinet lessons so far. He is willing to share his skills to his fellow students to the benefit of the group.
My concern is that it is most critical to have the very best teacher when the student is starting to learn ( to avoid bad habits) so I caution him about teaching his peers.
The high school has a thrombonist as band director. There are occasional visiting woodwind teachers,
Mr. Blumberg since you are interested here is a link to the youtube of his performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Cb1CCvIIZ8
Thank you all for your help.
Peter
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2007-08-22 12:01
A local K-12 private school arranges for private lessons on campus. They are a boarding school with kids from all over the country so, for the most part, taking the kids to lessons isn't an option. But they have a very good band director and assistant band director and they care about the quality of their music program (as it sounds like your son's school does) so they bring the lessons to the kids. Private teachers on a variety of instruments go to the school one day a week. The school provides classroom (or possibly practice room - they have some nice ones) space. The kids arrange for lessons during free periods. The parents pay the private teachers directly. It seems to work. Such an arrangement could probably accommodate small group lessons if cost was an issue with the parents.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2007-08-22 12:23
He's at a quite good level for a 15 yr old (16, 17 for that matter) on Sax. The books can help give him "theory" on playing/teaching the Clarinet but nothing and I mean nothing can substitute a live person helping him learn to play correctly. Every other week lessons, maybe a longer one once a month, or whatever you can do to get him with a live teacher should be the goal. (one is good - that makes all the difference, there are plenty of hack teachers out there many teaching in the music stores).
Make sure that he doesn't have the kids he's working with get hard reeds. Telling a student to get a #4 Clarinet reed without taking into account the open facing of a student mouthpiece can be more of a problem than a fix - that's what a typical band director who knows little about the clarinet will tell you (get a hard reed) and that's not a good way to go. Encourage the section to play good quality reeds (never the generic rico bottom of the line and yes I'm an Artist for that company's high level reed).
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-08-22 13:20
Another idea along the lines that Jack was suggesting above:
I am employed at many schools as a clarinet clinician. I go in, I take the entire clarinet section and help them with anything from personal or ensemble fundamentals to rehearsing and (sometimes most importantly) HOW TO PRACTICE.
It is the band boosters of any school that compensates me, and I don't (necessarily) charge my full price as long as the program "looks after" me (read = I am the first recommendation instructor).
I make myself available to any student (whether they study with me or not) to answer any questions about equipment.
Why not approach the band director about inviting someone to come once a week or every other week?
This is not a substitute for private instruction...but class clarinet is the next best thing and can be focused on the music that the section is working on.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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