 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: abrogard
Date: 2003-06-05 00:45
Because of the difficulty getting part music or in fact any sheet music at all I commonly play the melody lines of any music I can find - piano music, guitar music, trumpet, sax, most commonly.
This means that I'm rarely playing in the key the song is meant to be in because I don't transpose and I use a Bflat clarinet
And it means that I'm playing unadorned melody lines which are, essentially, the singer's part, not an instrument part.
Would you say I'm doing myself a disservice?
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-06-05 02:45
How much guilt do you want?
What was your initial purpose in reading the melody line? Practicing sight reading? Personal enjoyment? Rythm and meter exercises?
An old Colonel I worked with remarked on more than one ocassion:
"When you are up to your ass in alligators it's easy to forget that your original command was to 'drain the swamp'". So what was YOUR original intention?
Did you achieve it? If so what's all this about a disservice?
Bob A
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-06-05 03:02
I guess that depends on why you are playing the melody line in the first place. I do that sometmes as well simply because I like the melodies so much. Some that I have done this with are the flute part for Bach's "Air on the G String" and the dominant melody on Schumann's "Traumerei" for piano. I feel these are such beautiful melodies in themselves that I simply enjoy playing them as they are.
I don't see how this practice can be bad. If there's a melody line that you have a feeling for, trying to emote that feeling through your instrument helps you to develop your musicianship in such areas as phrasing, dynamics, articulation, and a whole host of other attributes that I can't think of presently because I've had a number of cokes with rye whiskey already this evening. And I might get slammed for this but when you think about it, every part is its own melody anyway. Listen to the various parts of Bach's "Air on the G String" and notice how each part could stand on its own as its own melody; especially after you've had too many diet cokes with rye whiskey.
Bob Schwab
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-06-05 04:40
There's nothing wrong with playing melody lines--and you don't need to ornament them right off the bat. If you have any interest in pop music at all, it pays to know as many songs as possible.
Once you are comfortable with the melody to a song, you can begin to make any decorations that you feel are necessary. First, just play the straight melody with the best tone and expression that you have. Note that many players ornament the melody because they are actually uncomfortable sitting still. If you have a phrase ending on a long throat B-flat, for example, a little noodling saves you from being stuck for 2 or 3 beats with one of the lousiest sounds on the instrument.
Keys are not that much of an issue, unless you're playing with someone else. In that case, it might behoove you to learn to transpose. You'll also find that some songs have traditional keys for instrumental performance. Misty in concert E-flat, The Saints in concert F, etc.
Learn songs and play what you feel. Nothing is wrong with that. Enhancements are up to you. Just let us know if we can help you with anything.
Allen Cole
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-06-05 14:41
abrogard -
Playing the music you love is the BEST thing you can do. That's what it's all about. When you play what you love with other people, it's even better.
Scales, etudes and practicing are just tools. You play them musically, but they're preparation for the real thing -- performing for your pleasure and perhaps for an audience.
I make sure that each time I pick up my clarinet, even if it's for pure woodshedding, a end up with great music -- a Stephen Foster song, a Schubert song, a symphonic solo, a Brahms sonata. It reminds me of why I play -- that it is in fact "play."
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: wyatt
Date: 2003-06-05 14:49
when you are playing solo it make little or no differance. just bear in mind that you can't play the same music when you are playing with another person.
just enjoy.
i find more pleasure in playing the melody line then if i play the 3rd clarinet part by myself.
bob gardner}ÜJ
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Author: David
Date: 2003-06-05 15:55
Tunes is what it's all about. There's plenty of good stuff about, but the really great stuff (usually) has a bit of a decent tune to it.
Point in fact, yesterday playing one of those band thingies "Down to the sea in Ships" Not bad, but when the inevitable "Blow the Man Down or Drunken Sailor" theme intrudes, it takes a bit of a dive (sic).
However it did also borrow "Am Meer" by Schubert. Never heard it before, but it was an ultra-simple, stunningly effective little melody.
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