 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Josephine
Date: 2001-01-03 05:18
OK. I'm a feshman in high school. I made the top band in our high school while in eighth grade last year. Since this is my first year in the high school band, I'm finding out about all this extra stuff we have to do. And since the top band is made up of mostly upperclassmen, they all know about the extra stuff, and I guess the band directors expect EVERYONE to know about them, which leaves all of us little freshmen in the dark. So I just got this thing in the mail that said I am required to try out for two honor bands. You have to record things on tapes, and send them in. The deadline is January 8th. I'm planning on making my tapes tomorrow, January 3rd. That's like the last day I have to do it. But here's where I need help...
For the first one, you have to include
fast selection
slow selection
Two scales, one of which must be two octaves
For the second one, you have to include
A solo or etude
Three scales
For the first one, I'm playing Poupee Valsante by Eduard Pardini, I'm undecided on the slow song. I'm also undecided on the scales. For the second one, I'm also playing Poupee Valsante for the solo, and the Gb and E major scales in three octaves. I'm undecided for the third.
This is where you come in: For the first one, I want to play one three octave scale, and two octaves on another. Which scales should I play? And for the second one, should I play G major or F major? What would impress the judges...I've never done this before...I really need advice ASAP!!! Thanks!
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2001-01-03 05:34
That depends on your level of comfort with your different scales. If you are fluent on the Gb and E scales that you already mentioned, they should be quite impressive. I don't think that the choice for scale #3 will be all that critical. If you are facile with your Eb, Ab or Db scale, I'm sure that any of those would be similarly impressive.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2001-01-03 12:57
What's important is HOW you play your scales, not speed or level of difficulty.
Concentrate on playing them evenly, smoothly, at a steady temo, in tune and with the fullest/richest tone you can. Play them at 100=quarter but not any faster. Mix-up articulations for variety: Tongue a scale, slur a scale, slur two-tongue two, etc. Do they all have to be diatonic? How about a chromatic scale three octaves slurred from low E to high E? Want to impress the judges? Toss in a couple of basic minor scales. If you're competing for a position or chair I'd be very surprised (at the HS level) if anyone will include a minor scale on their tape. You're already playing forms of other scales in the ones you know and chosen. Why not a simple NATURAL minor scale two ocatves like A minor (no #s or bs) or G minor (Bb, Eb) or B minor (F#, C#). All three "lay" very well and can be mastered in short order.
Be creative and original, make "music" out of them, that's what scales are. <:-))
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Author: William
Date: 2001-01-03 15:02
My suggestion would be to include a chromatic scale, low E to high G. That should be in every clarinet players "arsenal" of skills. Be certain to play evenly with the correct fingerings. For a "slow" selection, how about the 1st clarinet part to "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (Carl Fischer, Erik Leidzen, arr.) Not a techincal challenge, but it would demostrate the lyrical qualities of your clarinet skills. IMHO, you sound like a pretty good player already for your age. Good clarineting and best of luck.
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