 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rockymountainbo
Date: 2003-05-07 13:21
Does anyone specialize or play dixieland? Just looking for some far-out tips and advice to specialize in it. It's never too early.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-07 13:26
You should get a lot of comment, I suspect nearly all of us have at least attempted to play a Dixie chorus of Saints, Musk[r]at, Basin St. , etc,etc! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2003-05-07 14:06
I play dixieland and its just about my favorite music to play. I had to really practice at Improvisation. What helped me a lot was listening to dixie recordings, and the Jamey Aebersold Jazz books with accompanying CD. You can probably order these through any music store and they also have a very large catalog. I play twice a month now. At first when I started, I played next to another clarinet player. Now I'm able to get up there and solo and it is so much fun. Our ages range from about 20 to 93. I wish you luck in this endeavor. It's such happy music.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-05-07 14:31
Go to N O, Jackson Square, listen [with amazement] to Doreen, buy a CD, and you'll be a "convert".. P F's not bad either. don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Donn
Date: 2003-05-07 14:47
Dixieland is HAPPY MUSIC! Listen to Fountain, Al Hirt, Henry Cuesta, Teagarden, Satch et al. Fun! I'm primarily a trumpet player, double on clarinet. Not active anymore, though. Enjoy!
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-05-07 14:57
I would rather play traditional and similar New Orleans Jazz than eat. Improvisational play is my favorite, and there's hardly a better way to get a delightful overdose of improv.
Get at least a basic understanding of music theory. Read what you can find that applies to what you are trying to do. If you glance at a book and think it may help you, it probably will. After you develop within yourself an understanding of harmony and counterpoint that becomes intuitive, along with sufficient facility with your instrument to express your thoughts well and properly, you've got it made. Practicing all sorts of scales and arpeggios, every kind of chord, will help. Develop the ability to play a chord note for note after hearing it; don't worry at first about what the chord is called or what the note names are, just play them. You can (and should) learn how to explain what you're doing after you learn how to do it. Listen carefully to the music you like. And most of all play, play, play. By yourself is good, with another player is better, with a group is best.
All of it sounds like a tall order? It is, but if that's what you want, the rewards are super. I wish you well. It's a great way to enjoy playing.
Regards,
John
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-05-07 16:15
Hi, R'Bo 
I fell in love with Improvisational Playing at a very early age and have been going that route, whenever possible, ever since.
I have no far-out tips (personally, I don't believe there are any), just the ages-old tried-and-true advice: listen, listen, listen - practice, practice, practice; play, play, play...
Happy Tootin' !
- ron b -
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2003-05-07 19:44
You can find Aebersold resources by plugging the following string into Google:
Jamey Aebersold dixieland
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-05-07 21:41
Well, I at least try! I like playing (and/or attempting to play) "classic jazz," which I think pretty much encompasses everything from trad jazz through at least 40's bebop. Trad is especially fun, though. Plus, that stuff was meant to have a clarinet in the combo! ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
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Author: msloss
Date: 2003-05-07 22:08
Ok, start with a bottle of Southern Comfort and a cigar. Umm, maybe I should ask how old you are first...
Definitely start with all the fundamentals John described. Next, ear training and learning the lead sheets and changes for all the standards is hugely important. I haven't played a dixie gig with a book since High School (learned that lesson the hard way when I showed up for my first "real" DL gig and they started calling tunes and keys and away they went.)
Also, listen to as much of the stuff as you can borrow, buy, or steal. It is an oral tradition, and you just have to get it in your soul. Listen to the groups as a whole, and then listen inside to the roles the instruments play, how they talk to each other, etc.
Most importantly, find some people to play with who share your interest. There is absolutely no substitute for just plain doing it. Even if y'all suck as a group at first, it is completely worth the effort. Learn by doing.
Don't forget your boater and sleeve garters and have fun!
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Author: Avie
Date: 2003-05-08 01:56
I have some books of Pete Fountain hits, The Jazz Soloest, Ben Paisners 30 Studies in swing and others I pick up when im not attempting to play Mozart, Webber, etc. I wonder how much it helps to have a special musical talent to play dixieland! Dixieland is lively Happy music. It has never gone out of style and probably never will. Its one of my favorites. Go for it.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-05-08 04:01
I earn a substantial part of my income from playing traditional jazz. Do lot of listening, practise a lot especially melodic shaping, scales and arpeggios. Know your repertoire well including the harmonic movement. Try and play with as many experienced players, sit in on gigs and try to get involved in rehearsals.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-05-08 05:14
Mark really nails it on the head. You need to listen both for styling, and so that you get to know the repertoire. In any situation where players are not reading from music, they are generally hired or invited because someone is confident that they know the songs. This applies as well to rock, country, bluegrass, folk, etc.
Technical preqrequistites are minimal. If you can play your major scale, a scale-in-thirds, and your I-IV-V arpeggios in every key, you already have a lot of tools at your disposal. Particularly considering that much old-style improvisation was arpeggio-based.
One note on Jamey Aebersold -- some of the play-alongs are very good, but his learning methodology is more appropriate for newer styles of jazz than older styles. Alfred publishes a dixieland play-along that might be more helpful stylistically.
The Pentatonic Scale (1-2-3-5-6-8 of the major scale, aka the guitar lick from "My Girl") is a good tool to use if you're an inexperienced improvisor. It confines you to the five pitches most likely to sound good.
But remember that what I'm describing are simply part of the trick bag. Listening to and absorbing the tunes & solos is the real key. You need to play your CDs to death, and check out some live groups as well.
Also note Mark's mention of melodic shaping.
Allen Cole
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Author: ned
Date: 2003-05-08 09:35
John McAulay's advice is fairly sound.
You DO need access to a good record collection though and try to copy, particularly those masters who were born in New Orleans - it's THEIR music.....................there you go everyone, I've said it yet again.
One thing I would comment on however is d-i-x-i-e-l-a-n-d..............it's not really on if you want to play real New Orleans style jazz, as opposed to the striped shirt and boater hat variety.
JK
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Author: rockymountainbo
Date: 2003-05-08 12:44
Thanks everyone. Sounds like I need patience, practice, skills and a mighty pre-hangover. All of these are things I have experience in...I will chug on (no pun intended). It's one of my main goals in life. Actually, I am hoping in 3 years to go to Jazz Fest, have 1 too many hurricanes and then just start jamming with a few guys on the street. We will see.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2003-05-08 18:44
I love listening to George Lewis. His "Jazz at Vespers" is one of my favorite albums
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