The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kate Simon
Date: 2001-08-11 21:40
Hi! This is a question primarily geared towards other teachers, though any suggestions would be helpful. I'm going into my second year of teaching private lessons for a living, and am wondering if anyone would suggest some good solos for ensemble/solo competition, which happens late winter to early spring. Last year I just went down to the sheet music store and browsed for a while, trying to find stuff that fit each of my students. However, it is sometimes hard to determine the worth of a piece without playing it and hearing it, and I would love some suggestions to guide my searches this year. I have been working with students whose abilities range from a middle schooler just starting out to high schoolers wanting to try for state solo competitions. Thank you for your help!
Kate
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-08-12 00:24
When I was in 7th grade, I played a piece by Mozart called Waltz Fantasy. It's rhythmically fairly simple but has quite a few notes and two high Fs. It's a New York NYSSMA level 4. It’s fun to play. In elementary school, I played some easier stuff, my favorite was titled Gypsy Moods (someone Hovey wrote it, I think? I'll find the music later) and it's really cute- three sections, slow medium and fast and only one page total. The first "real" solos that I played were the Mozart Quintet and the Weber Concertino and then the Weber f minor. If you find the "Study" page here, there's a list of suggested beginner solos.
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-08-12 02:51
For ensembles I recently picked up a piece called "Galway Pipers" at a local music store. It's for 1st ans 2nd soprano, 3rd sop (or alto clar), and 4th sop (or bass clar). I had a friend of mine (a trumpet player that dabbles in clarinet) help me play through various parts on various pages and it seemed like a decent arrangement. Maybe for your players who are not the best, but not the worst? I was able to play through each part cleanly, aside from a few mistakes, but my friend had a little difficulty with some of the fingerings. Defintely learnable, though, and fun to play. I think the first part goes up to a couple of Cs (first C above ledger lines), and some of the alto/bass stuff can be a little tough for beginners, but maybe it will suit your needs.
Good luck
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2001-08-12 11:21
Hal Leonard has rereleased Master Solos: Intermediate Level. It now has CD accompaniment/demo instead of the old cassette. The pieces are grade III & IV, I believe, and the piano accompaniments are not difficult.
The CD contains both demo tracks with a clarinetist, and accompaniment tracks. The book contains copious notes on performance practices, etc.
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Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-08-14 19:52
kate:
Be sure that you check with the schools, band director, etc., to see if there is a prescribed music list from which you MUST choose a number. If there is and they don't play one that is on the list they could be disqualified!! I have taught in Texas for 37 years and this is the way it is done here. I know in other states and areas the field is open as far as selections are concerned. Check it out!!
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