 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dan
Date: 1999-10-18 23:09
I am interested in pursuing Clarinet in college. I have played for six years, and Im one of the better players in my high school band... i was wondering if anyone knows what it takes to get into college programs, such as marching bands, symphonic bands, and degree programs.
My website: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shuttle/3051
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Author: Kristen D.
Date: 1999-10-19 02:56
Dan,
My name is Kristen Denny. I am a senior at the University of Tulsa. I am currently principal clarinet in the wind
ensemble and the orchestra. I am also one of the drum
majors in the marching band. Just wanted to let you know
who I am and where I am coming from before you choose to
listen to my advice.
My first question to you is do you know what college you
are looking at? If so, you can begin contacting the
clarinet faculty there to get advice on what you should be
prepared to perform in an audition. Generally you should
expect to have a prepared piece. They may ask you to do
some sight reading and play some major/minor/ and/or
chromatic scales. The more you are able to play, the better. If you are taking private lessons, your teacher can also help you prepare for auditions and applications. If you are not taking private lessons now, I suggest that you begin. Make sure you put some research into finding a teacher that can assure you they are capable for preparing for such an audition. The following is a description of major and minor scales. If you follow the pattern, you should be able to figure out all the major and minor scales.
First, I would suggest that you learn the circle
of fourths/fifths progression and the scales that follow
this pattern:
The circle of fourths (from left to right):
C-F-Bb-Eb-Ab-Db-Gb(F#)-Cb(B)-E-A-D-G
Begin with C--play the C major scale:
C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
Now play the relative minor scale. "A" minor is the relative minor scale to C major. It begins on the 6th degree of the C major scale and has the same key signature (in its natural form):
Natural A Minor:
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A (THE SAME ASCENDING AS DESCENDING)
Now try Harmonic Minor---you just raise the 7th note:
Harmonic A Minor:
A-B-C-D-E-F-G#-A (THE SAME ASCENDING AS DESCENDING)
Now try A Melodic Minor (Ascending--raise the 6th and 7th note in the scale. Descending--return the raised notes to their original state).
Melodic A Minor: (MOST COMMONLY USED)
A-B-C-D-E-F#-G#-A-G natural-F natural-E-D-C-B-A
Now look back at the circle of fourths progression. Try this process on the F major scale. (Hint: the relative
minor always begins on the 6th note of the major scale)
F Major: F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E-F
D Natural Minor: D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C-D
D Harmonic Minor: D-E-F-G-A-Bb-C#-D
D Melodic Minor: D-E-F-G-A-B Natural-C#-D-C Nat-Bb-A-G-F-E-D
Now begin with the next note in the circle (Bb) and continue.
Moving on to the rest of your question. When I was preparing for college, I was lucky enough to begin studying privately with the clarinet instructor at the university 6 months prior to my audition. I played the C Major etude on page #2 out of the Rubank "Selected Studies" etude book. This etude is used in many honor band auditions and is full of several techniques that can either show off your talents or expose your faults. I was very prepared and played a nice audition.
In an audition, your goal should not be to impress the faculty with flashy titles, but to display your abilities. In other words, don't go in expecting to perform a Weber concerto. Chances are, you are not ready for a piece like that--especially for an audition. They would tear you apart! Go with something that you are comfortable with, but at the same time contains a variety of playing styles that show off your best skills. Play something you can play, not something you would like to play later... there will be time for it eventually.
As far as marching band is concerned, if you can walk while alternating your step pattern (left, right, left right), you're in!
I hope this information can give you a start. Let me know if you have any other questions. I can say that I know how
you feel, because I have been there. I would like to help you more if I can.
Kristen
kristen-denny@utulsa.edu
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Author: Connie
Date: 1999-10-21 00:26
Excellent advice from Kristen. My daughter just entered James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA) as a music ed major, clarinet, and encountered pretty much what Kristen describes. For comparison purposes, JMU (admittedly not a Northwestern U.) boasts B. Mus. degrees in performance, composition, education, and technology. Their music ed.program approaches 100% employment after graduation; I didn't ask about the other programs. Sarah is finding the music load pretty heavy right now, and most of her time is taken up by the Marching Royal Dukes, "Virginia's Finest". I had the opportunity to see this 400-member marching band perform last weekend, and I was floored! So, when you're looking at colleges, this may give you some idea of what you might find. By the way, we discouraged her from entering a conservatory, because she doesn't need that for teaching, and because I wanted her to have some liberal arts background in case she changed her mind. And lo, she is finding that maybe music is not what she wants to major in. So don't limit your options any more than you're sure you want to.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-10-21 01:03
Connie wrote:
-------------------------------
And lo, she is finding that maybe music is not what she wants to major in. So don't limit your options any more than you're sure you want to.
---------
Excellent advice. I had a few "heart-to-hearts" with my son and with my wife before my son went to a conservatory. Seems like an awful lot of money to spend to get a shot at being unemployed ( 1/2 :^) - but he really wanted the chance and convinced me.
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Author: Daniel
Date: 1999-10-21 04:54
If you don't like marching band, i'd suggest 1) majoring in performance for an undergrad and get teaching certification, or 2) getting a teaching degree for your masters.
Some schools, especially the heavy duty public colleges, recommend that performance majors not be in the marching band (besides the fact that performance majors have enough classes as it is).
My current plan, for instance is:
1) Transfer to UNT for a Bachelors in woodwind performance (aka. Doubling major)
2) Try for Eastman, Northwestern, one of the Michigans, or another highly reputable school for a Masters in Mus.Ed.
3) Perhaps go on for a Doctorate to another reputable school.
As i hear, UNT is trying to disuade undergrads into majoring in doubling, so i may have to alter my plans slightly to:
1) Undergrad in Clarinet Performance at UNT,
2) Masters at Eastman or other school in Doubling, and
3) Doctorate in Education.
Either way i'll be able to avoid marching band for my education major.. (in case you haven't seen some of the posts in the last couple of years, i'm highly against maching band.. heh)
And with either plan, one would be highly marketable for nearly any kind of job that came their way... band director, junior college woodwind professor, clarinet professor, musical theater pit doubler, orchestra player or sub, etc., etc., etc. :-)
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Author: Judy
Date: 1999-10-21 11:25
I agree with Mark 100%. Don't go the performance route unless you can't live without it. For music ed and other related fields, your grades and scores (SATs or ACTs) will play a larger role. In general, it will be more difficult to get into the top performing groups than to get into marching band. James Madison University may be an exception, their marching band it fabulous. Also, most schools do not make marching band a requirement for music majors. If possible, visit a NACAC performing arts college fair before you are a senior. You can access the NACAC home page from the Sneezy home page. At these fairs, you can talk with admissions personnel. They are extremely helpful and can answer all of your questions. Feel free to e-mail me privately.
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