 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ben1948
Date: 2018-07-25 03:13
Another counting question, and yes, I've definitely been a slow learner on counting accurately, I think that has slowed my progress more than any other single thing.
As most of you likely know, but for the benefit of progressing clarinetists of any age, KV622 is in 3/4 time, with quarter note tempo around 50, plus or minus. I believe it is within my capability and I'm getting close to the range of tempos I've seen this beautiful, beautiful piece played at--EXCEPT--for the parts where the quarter notes are subdivided into 6 parts (sextuplets I suppose).
Any suggestions on how to get the hang of counting this?
Ben Withers - began clarinet 2014 at age 66
benjamin.f.withers@gmail.com
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Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2018-07-25 05:17
The secret is subdividing in your head.
While the steady quarter note beats are 1, 2, 3,
inside that count you are thinking 1 & 2 & 3 &,
or for sixteenth notes, 1 e & a, 2 e & , 3 e & a.
For the Mozart concerto slow movement beginning, the beats are steady and you will play on;
1 2->3 &
1 & 2->3
1->2 & 3 &
1 & 2->3
It is pretty hard to explain in text but I hope it helps.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2018-07-25 05:51
ben1948 wrote:
> ...I'm getting close to the range of tempos I've
> seen this beautiful, beautiful piece played at--EXCEPT--for the
> parts where the quarter notes are subdivided into 6 parts
> (sextuplets I suppose).
>
> Any suggestions on how to get the hang of counting this?
>
The major subdivision in this movement, as Ken says, is the eighth-note. The sextuplet sixteenths, then, become two triplets, one fitting into the first eighth and the other into the "and" - the second eighth of the beats in question.
Karl
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Author: ben1948
Date: 2018-07-25 17:01
I hadn't thought of that, and that makes sense to me. Does that mean I'd be better off counting this in 6 rather than 3?
BTW, this is something I started working on by myself because I like it, and hadn't brought it into my lessons yet--I suspect my teacher would give the same advice.
Ben Withers - began clarinet 2014 at age 66
benjamin.f.withers@gmail.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2018-07-25 18:20
ben1948 wrote:
> I hadn't thought of that, and that makes sense to me. Does
> that mean I'd be better off counting this in 6 rather than 3?
>
You need to feel a "subdivided 3." They aren't six equal beats, but at tempo if you don't feel the eighth notes you'll tend to speed up.
Karl
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-07-25 19:11
Ben,
I would absolutely count any slow piece in double time: 3/4=six counts per
measure; 4/4=eight counts per measure.
There are in fact many examples of music such as the Raboud Solo de Concours, many of the Jean Jean etudes or Cavallini Caprices that require you to count the eighth note as a beat.
I noticed a similar problem that may have been exposed on your other post. Sometimes you need to half-time an example, where you count the half note as one beat (usually pieces written that way as cut time or 3/2 or 4/2 for example).
Let your common sense dictate how you count the music. It is how you PLAY it that determines the emphasis of phrasing.
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: donald
Date: 2018-07-26 04:57
Hi there,
When I'm teaching this piece I always start the student thinking in 6 (ie counting quavers/8th notes) and then once they are confident, and subdividing correctly, then I switch to feeling the 3 pulse (crotchets/quarter notes).
There is one exception- the sextuplets (or "6s") in bar 47. I like to play (and teach) these as 3 groups of 2 (rather than 2 groups of 3) but without pulsing the subdivision.
To help my students with this I will work with them counting 6 in bar 45, then switching to 3 in bar 46- so they can then carry the 3 into bar 47.
When I'm performing this movement (I've only performed the full concerto with an orchestra twice in all these years, but have often pulled this movement out to do with piano to fill out other concerts) I prefer to think/feel the pulse of 3, but still find it very useful to think in 6 at certain spots (esp bar 35 and bar 86 which I STILL tend to rush if I'm not careful).
Good luck! very beautiful music!
dn
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2018-07-26 06:33
Hi Ben, pick up a decent metronome.
What's interesting about decent is they don't cost that much. You can buy one that beats to the Mozart Concerto, then you can set the sub rhythm to "triplets," which I think you are having issues with. In the 3rd movement the same thing with the 6/8 key signature. You can again set the beat to 6/8ths and then set the 16th notes.
Pricing is about $40 for the very best ones. I would think you can get a tuner and a metronome combo for about $30 at a place like the Guitar Center or a decent music store near you. Maybe as low as $25 for the combo.
Hope this helps! Sometimes a metronome is your best friend because you can start the beat really slowly to FEEL it and increase the speed/tempo slowly.
This forces you to sub-divide in your head as you hear the metronome beating for you.
It's great that you are asking about rhythms now, early on. At auditions, even in community bands rhythm is the most important part. Then maybe sound and technique.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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