 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: T Webb
Date: 2010-08-30 05:59
Hi,
I played clarinet many, many years ago in high school band and for the last two years have been playing alto sax. However, I recently purchased a student grade clarinet (Yamaha) and want to 'come back home' to the clarinet.
I feel in order to reach my clarinet potential private lessons would be invaluable. However, originally from the Dallas - Ft Worth area with a rich music culture, I am now settled in Australia with no lessons conveniently available. I live a half hour from the nearest loaf of bread! Lessons would be a bit farther!
Knowing little about Smartmusic, I'm wondering if Smartmusic could that be considered the 'next best thing' to private lessons?
I welcome any comments, suggestions.
Thank you!
Ted Webb
Southeast Queensland
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2010-08-30 06:08
I think the next best thing might be just to Skype lessons. I'm not sure if Smartmusic would be considered a good alternative. Someone else may have some input though.
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2010-08-30 12:05
SmartMusic is at best a way to enliven a practice session and provide some feedback about accuracy of a player's notes, rhythm and intonation. I know a number of teachers who use it to enable students to self-monitor their practice sessions, (in theory) avoiding having them practice and habituate errors. That's perhaps useful as far as it goes, but the program has no way to diagnose technical problems or suggest solutions for them. It can't help with embouchure, articulation technique, reed selection or adjustment, or any of the many things students generally need private instruction for.
A solution to your dilemma might be a less frequent trek to wherever a good teacher can be found (an hour's trip once a month or even every two weeks doesn't seem unreasonable) in combination with SmartMusic or just recordings of some or all of the material you're practicing. The teacher can help with the problems that are specific to the clarinet and SmartMusic (or your own ears in comparing your playing to a recorded model) can monitor your accuracy in executing the notation.
Karl
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-08-30 13:19
Maybe a combination. Find a teacher that can skype, and go for a face to face lesson once a month, with some skype "checkups" inbetween. While they can't fix everything via skype, they can check progress and tell you where to focus next for the next face to face lesson.
Alexi
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Author: Ronish
Date: 2010-09-02 06:18
I think it depends on how far you want to go Ted with the clarinet. Is it just to play in a little local band in Q? I know I`ll get howled at for saying this, but do you really need a teacher? Some great teaching books are available. A lot of folk who say "you must have a teacher" at least in the area I live in, are teachers. Hmn!
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-09-02 15:09
If it's possible, one or even two hours away, taking a lesson every other week for a while would be invaluable to get you on the right track. That's assuming you find a good teacher of course. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2010-09-02 16:09
Yeah - good teacher matters a whole lot. Just an ok teacher probably won't be able to do a lot. I see that all the time with kids who just spin their wheels under "ok" teachers.
Get SmartMusic as it will help a lot with counting, and motivation, but it won't replace a good teacher.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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