 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetgiggirl
Date: 2002-09-16 12:41
I played the clarinet at school to grade 5 level and, 20 years later am considering taking it up again. I would like to play traditional jazz, perhaps in a small band but I have been told - and believe - that I have a very poor sense of rhythm. Am I wasting my time trying to progress?
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Author: wjk
Date: 2002-09-16 14:44
By all means try! Playing the clarinet again will add so much to your life. I'm sure with practice, (and lessons if needed) you can overcome any obstacles. I started playing clarinet again (mostly jazz) after many years, and its been wonderful. Listen to great jazz clarinetists--- Noone, George Lewis, Goodman, Shaw. DeFranco---among others---and best of luck!!!!
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Author: David
Date: 2002-09-16 15:19
Poor sense of rhythm? Sez who? That's not the problem. All you need to avoid is sounding like Bianca Castafiore singing "Summertime."
Although the Milanese Nightingale's interpretation of the Jewel Song from Faust is rightly famous, she never could swing.
Give it a whirl. Playing jazz is something you either take to, (Benny), or are completely crap at (me). You sound as if you like it, so you're probably at an advantage, if anything.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-09-16 17:50
If we took to heart all the things others say (or said) about our playing we'd likely be afraid to touch the instrument ever again.
Trying to progress is Never a waste of time, Clarinetgiggirl. Part of the 'problem' is when we, as you state above, begin to believe what 'They' tell us. Listen to your heart, listen to yourself play, listen to others (WJK lists some), and don't be too critical of yourself [for now anyway :] Twenty years is not long by most standards; lots of us here have that beat by a long shot What you knew and played then will come back pretty quickly.
Take it from there and...
Happy Tootin'
__________
[p.s. -- don't forget Chris Barber, Papa Bue etc.]
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-16 18:28
Listen to a metronome. If you cannot discern that it produces sounds that occur in a regular, repetitive fashion, then yes, you do have a poor sense of rhythm. Otherwise, you're just fine. Your sense of rhythm may need to be developed, but that's not an impossible task.
So if instead of "tick, tock, tick, tock" all you can do is "tick, tick, tick, tick," don't worry about it. We have ways of making you tock. (I really just could not resist that.)
Seriously, establishing regular rhythm can be done, if you can recognize regular rhythm.
Regards,
John
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-09-16 20:35
Here is one way "to make you tock", although the rhythm is a tad "wooden" if you want to improvise. Spend about $100 or so on e-Bay or at your local pawn shop or music store and buy a keyboard with a precussion system built into it. Set up your drums, etc, for the rhythm the piece calls for and let her roll for a few bars to get the idea of it and then , "fall in man". Works for me!
Bob A
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-09-17 13:42
Perhaps what "they" are implying is that your sense of syncopation is not too good. Here's an idea...try taking some dance lessons to get your body in tune. A metronome is a good idea for establishing a steady beat but jazz doesn't so much rely on a steady beat. You gotta break the rules to play jazz
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