 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: LBViola04
Date: 2003-06-04 02:58
I teach clarinet to many levels of clarinet students and am pretty sick of using the same old methods. I have been using the Rubank method books, but they are not "fun" for kids and they move along way to quickly. Does anyone know of another good method to use for beginner and intermediate levels?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2003-06-04 05:12
My guys respond very well to the Standard of Excellence band book, published by Neil A. Kjos. It uses play-along CDs to help enhance the experience. Accent on Achievement (Alfred) is also good.
Essential Elements 2000 is published by Hal Leonard and contains some Rubank excerpts.
I have tried all of these and would definitely favor them over the Rubank Elementary method.
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-06-04 10:38
Hi,
It has been a long time but I really liked to use the Hendrickson Clarinet Method. Also, Nilo Hovey had some good method books as I recall. Both were superior to the Rubank series.
Also, the First Division series, not the band methods, when you got into the more advanced books were OK. Dated but with tunes, etudes, scales, and fingering exercises in each key and then you moved on to another key.
HRL
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2003-06-04 13:14
I'm with Allen Cole about some of the newer band books. If the student is in a band program at school, I choose a different method than the school is using so the student gets some variety. However, I have not dropped the Rubank completely. I still use it as a technique book because it gets their fingers going in ways that the band methods don't. The students don't seem to mind a small dose of Rubank.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-06-04 14:55
I believe Rubank to be a useful method, but it has been around longer than I have, And I've been here for about one-fifth as long as the Clarinet itself,
Allen, your comment on Standard of Excellence is good to read. I have wondered about the use of CDs for early students to "play along," and your positive comment really makes sense.
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-06-04 17:20
A hefty dose of Rubank never hurt anyone. I still use it, but not exclusively. The problem with the Rubank is the "look". When compared to the printing (and colors) of the newer methods, it seems to give the feeling of being outdated. Perhaps a more updated edition is now due?
Aside from some of the books previously mentioned, I also like the lay out and progression of the Learn to Play series (Alfred) and the Ed Sueta Band Method. Both keep the student moving along at a brisk pace ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2003-06-05 05:12
I use the Learn to Play duet books for clarinet and flute, and really like them. I've often wished that either the Learn to Play series or Belwin's Student Instrumental Course would be updated to include some play-along accompaniments and other aids.
I agree with GBK about Rubank Elementary's packaging, but the problem runs much deeper. Very little fingering guidance is included, compared to the Intermediate Method, and two different E-flat fingerings are NOT differentiated. (Both side-key and fork Eb/Bb are key #7) The band books are far superior to Rubank Elementary in comparing alternate fingerings. They are also faster to have the student learn different scales and different keys- which reflects more modern thinking.
Also, the band books have more user-friendly fingering charts and include a lot of helpful hints on the same pages as the exercises. Considering this, Essential Elements 2000 might be represent the best of both worlds for Rubank fans.
One big issue between the Rubank and the band books is that Rubank is more thorough. On the other hand, I think that the students get the point perfectly well from the band books, and learn just fine if held to a standard of near 100% execution--something made practical by the CD's. Once through the first-year band book, though, I would definitely add other materials. I personally favor the Learn to Play duet book, and Belwin's Tunes for Clarinet Technic [sic].
The CD situation is very interesting. You'd think that students would simply use them to play pieces by ear. In fact, it sets a standard for playing the piece and really cracks the whip on the student.
For beginners, I like to use Standard of Excellence with the CD's and the Master Theory Workbook. This provides a framework to work the students on rhythm at an early stage--and without the distraction of fingering the instrument. This works well with the band books which provide a lot of variety. Students can sound out rhythms in their pieces and then check the CD to see if they are right.
One final suggestion. Get yourself a notation program. You will see needs that no book covers, and can make professional-looking worksheets for students. I have a couple dozen of these that I use, and am making new ones all the time.
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-06-05 11:57
Hi,
The use of a CD (or even cassettes) with students is something I wish was available 25 years ago when I was doing a lot of teaching. I would always have students do a solo book as part of the lesson, with me playing the piano (I could struggle thorugh the Mozart and the Weber but a lot was missed). Students always had that to look forward to at the end of the lesson - not my piano playing but the accompanied solo :-).
Mature students that have the benefit of accompaniment can then easily adapt to entering a solo contest. Younger students seemed to enjoy the "support" that accompaniment provides for them. As a hidden value though with CDs, the student gets a strong sense of meter and quickly realizes that "the beat goes on" and they must be very steady in their playing.
Allen Cole's suggestion of a notation program above is a very good idea. I once had a sax professor, Lou Marini Sr., that used his own hand-written exercises as the core for all lessons - best sax teacher I ever had!
HRL
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2003-06-05 15:41
One other book that might prove of interest is Master Solos (Intermediate Level) from Hal Leonard. This is an older book that used come with a cassette. Now it has been reissued with a CD containing both demo and accompaniment tracks. Most solos are Grade III, and piano accompaniments are relatively easy. The book also contains extensive performance notes to help the student with some of the 'detail' items.
There are versions for clarinet, flute, and alto sax and all have very good pieces. Older students and adults can also use these books for short notice performances, or for church performances where something like Weber would be too lengthy or ostentatious.
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2003-06-05 16:31
The Rubank books are extremely thorough. However, they must be supplemented to keep the students from being bored and they do need to be used under the guidance of a good instructor.
To those people who say the Rubank moves along too quickly, I think that is due to a misunderstanding in how to use them. The Rubank Elementary book is intended to take TWO years to complete. This means going through it at a pace of only 1/2 lesson page per week not a full lesson page. This is much more appropriate and makes it possible for the teacher to add the interesting supplemental material.
From what I have seen of method books, Rubank is the only one that does a decent job of introducing and drilling the alternate fingerings within those first two years of lessons.
The Rubank Intermediate book is mostly a consolidation of what was learned in the first book with only a relatively small amount of new material. It should take only about a year to complete or could even be skipped entirely for many students.
The Advanced books work best if you follow the programmed learning table at the beginning of the book. This is intended to give a balance of scale work, drills, interpretation, ornaments, melodic material, etc. The pace should be adjusted to the individual student. Any given lesson may take one week or several weeks. Again, the teacher needs to include interesting supplemental material.
Those students who have been "Rubanked" so often seem to be the better players. Students who have not been through this methodical approach often seem to have to "go back" and pick up missing material to achieve the same level of playing.
The "fun" methods, while keeping the student's interest, seem to lack the in-depth drilling needed to achieve a high skill level. Students using the "fun" methods end up having to go to the old standards (Rubank, Klose, Baermann, etc) at some point in time anyway if they have an interest in becoming top notch players.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-06-06 04:33
I use the "Clarinet Student" books for beginners and intermediates. I've tried Rubank, but with the kids I get, they can't seem to grasp the "drill" nature of the book, and with parents' attitudes about purchasing "extra" material, using lots of other stuff becomes more difficult for me.
After the second of these, though, it's on to Rubank Advanced. Nothing better for 8-10th graders depending on their background!
I actually prefer the "___ Student" books to the Standard of Excellence. I think they move faster than the Standard of Excellence and that they cover more ground. And there's only so much I can handle in terms of little drawings in the books! (I think it's Accent on Achievement that has those...) For some reason, I'm a little more old-fashioned than those books!
I have been known to "Finale" stuff for some students who seemed to progress faster musically than their small hands would allow!
At any rate, when teaching, _you_ need to make the calls about what _you_ can stomach in terms of Rubank or more "modern" method books. You also need to reach your "audience" and give them BOTH a little of what they want AND what you feel they "need."
And if the kids are in a school band, this can influence what you give 'em, as mentioned above. There are kids with whom I work on stuff completely outside of what they do in band, and there are kids with whom I work on the exact same method books they use in band. It all depends on the kid!
Katrina
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jerry McD.
Date: 2003-06-06 13:19
Lots of great advice above! I like the beginning Rubank method books alot. I agree that it is very 'dry' and supplemental material must be used to keep up the interest. I try not to piggy-back what the kid is doing in band for several reasons, first the youngest players are not actually playing in band, they are in group lessons for most of the first year, second I don't want to get into the situration where the student says "my teacher said" and I don't agree with it. I absolutely want the student to learn things properly, but I don't want to undermine the classroom teacher either and I believe avoiding similar method books can help avoid that. Once a kid gets to a certain level try the Hal Leonard play alond books with cd like the Disney Songs, Movie Themes, and now I think there is even a few more. This allows the kid to learn to play something they recognize as well as make music, and as Hank said 'the beat goes on....'
Jerry McD.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2003-06-07 20:26
'Elementary training for musicians' by Paul Hindemith.
I recently read this book and felt I should have read this book 20-30 years ago. He lamented too many Yale students lacked even in elementaries for music and wrote this book. If used properly by good teachers, this book will improve basic musical abilities of children.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2003-06-08 05:41
Along the lines of the Hindemith, the Master Theory Workbook (Kjos)provides a great course in basic musicianship, and avoids the annoying habit of being too oriented towards piano or guitar. The first three books stick to matters which are appropriate for lessons on a band instrument, including lots of rhythm work. If it came with a CD, it would be nearly perfect.
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
