 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jsc
Date: 2009-04-08 07:22
Given only a short amount of time to practice, what would you do in 1/2 to 1 hour a day? No recitals, no gigs every weekend, just keeping the chops going.
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2009-04-08 08:06
In this sort of situation, I pick a favourite piece and have a good go at it. Weber concertino, Mozart concerto or quintet, Finzi bagatelles or concerto or Saint-Saens sonata are my current favourites. Not the most original choices, but I like them. There is a pleasure in playing the bits I can play well & can concentrate on the artistic side of 'making music' rather than the technical side of how to get from one note to the next. On the bits I can't play, its another matter...
If nothing inspires you, there's always scales :-)
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2009-04-08 08:18
In terms of "chops", I would strongly recommend that you did some long notes, tonguing repeated notes going up a scale, slow octave slurs etc. I would spend perhaps a third of a practice session on this, then do some scales (try and work out a rotation system so that you practise them all every few day) and then spend a little time on some pieces.
Vanessa.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-04-08 12:54
Well, I say rudiments since all other things are comprised of these.
Scales and scale related exercises.....thirds, interupted scales etc.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2009-04-08 12:57
I would probably pick a different scale or arpeggio pattern each day and go through it in every key and then go again a bit faster if there was time left over. One day would be all Major scales, next day all Minor arpeggios, next day something else...
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-04-08 12:59
30 minutes?
major and melodic scales in all keys, arpeggios and thirds in all keys ; plus 5 or 6 etudes. thats just getting warmed up however, that will maintain you , but its hard to increase your skills with limited practice time
hour?
the above plus work on a solo or some fingering exercises for 30 minutes
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: arundo
Date: 2009-04-08 17:04
Like yourself, I only have an hour a day to practice. I returned to the clarinet about a year and a quarter ago after a twenty-year hiatus. Of course, I began with Baermann, and agree that that's the basic book. However, time is of the essence to me -- at age 59 -- and I'd like to play a recital soon (the last time I played one was 40 years ago). Consequently, in the hour a day I have, I play only my recital program. But in addition to Baermann, I'd suggest you play one piece you love (perhaps, the first of Schuman's Fantasy Pieces?)
mark dickman
7738565490
markdickman82@hotmail.com
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Author: jsc
Date: 2009-04-08 17:24
I am proud to say that I haven't put my clarinet down ever but at the same time ashamed to say I haven't practiced regularly since my senior recital 11 years ago this month. Currently I play in 3 groups but most of it is has not been a problem until recently when I played Bizet's Carmen Suite and there was one measure that killed me in the 1A movement. Bb in the staff to C above it - six sixteenths at about 96 in 3/8 time. arrggghhhh! And so, this has prompted me to try to make my practices more regular.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-04-08 17:35
jsc wrote:
> recently when I played Bizet's Carmen Suite and there was one
> measure that killed me in the 1A movement. Bb in the staff to
> C above it - six sixteenths at about 96 in 3/8 time.
> arrggghhhh! And so, this has prompted me to try to make my
> practices more regular.
Or..you could have played the entire Entr' Acte on the Bb clarinet, putting the movement in the key of G, instead of Ab, and the passage would have been A4 to B4. It also would eliminate the messy sixteenths of Db5 to Eb5 ...GBK
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Author: jsc
Date: 2009-04-08 18:02
I tried in Bb but the next measure was a problem. Doesn't matter, as much. Had the concert already. I just don't want to be in a similar situation. So practice, practice, practice.
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2009-04-08 18:46
Scales, running up and down, and then
The clarinet solo for High Society - over and over and over.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-04-09 05:44
I use Jettel's Klarinetten-Schule vol. 2 rather than Baermann III. It's similar in concept, but more comprehensive and "up to date."
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Author: dgclarinet
Date: 2009-04-09 11:58
If I only had half an hour a day (well, come to think of it, that's about all I do have), I'd hit the basics mentioned above (Klose, Baermann, Jettel..take your pick) for a few minutes, then play something you really like playing. For me, nothing but scales would end up in forgetting to open the case...quite often. If you're not worried about an audition or a job or a recital..then just enjoy playing. I understand that most clarinet players (including me) have a hard time with the concept of just enjoying music, but it's possible.
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Author: Pappy
Date: 2009-04-09 13:02
I generally get 90 minutes to two hours on most days that don't have a gig or long rehearsal. On each of those days I do 1) long tones (particularly of "long" tones, like long B, C, D, or low E, F, G etc), all of the scales and arpeggios from Klose' (page 123 - circle of 5ths and the major/minor arpeggios right after the chromatics a couple of pages later). Then chromatic "returning" scales and pages from Baermann III, usually for the key (and related major or minor) of the piece I'm having the most trouble with at the time. This all generally takes less that 1/2 hour. Then I work on my pieces du jour - usually the ones for A clarinet first then Bb (not sure why - I have smaller hands and it seems to work best for me to transition from A to Bb rather than the other way around).
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Author: Sarah M
Date: 2009-04-09 14:21
I have fun with the following (it wasn't my idea...and i forget where I got it from, sorry)
"Deal-a-Scale"
It’s a good way to practice scales before juries when you have to play scales in a random order (rather than circle of fifths or some other order found in scale books.) You can use this in any amount of practice time you have!
Here's the basic concept: First, find a deck of playing cards that will easily fit into your clarinet case. Follow the diagram key below (you might want to write it down and keep it with your deck of cards until you memorize it) and you are ready to practice your scales! Draw a card out from your deck and find the key area and type of scale that it corresponds to on the diagram key below. Continue until you have played through the entire deck. (Or, if you are only working on a few key areas at a time, separate those cards from your deck until you have learned all of your scales.) Not only is Deal-A-Scale a fun way to practice your knowledge of scales, but it assists you in being able to recall a particular key area and type of scale (harmonic minor, natural minor, major, etc.) at the drop of a hat...or a card, as the case may be! Enjoy!
FACE/NUMBER CARD = KEY AREA
Ace = C
Deuce = C#
3 = D
4 = D#/Eflat
5 = E
6 = F
7 = F#/Gflat
8 = G
9 = G#/Aflat
10 = A
J = Bflat
Q = B
K = Chromatic Scale
SUIT = SCALE TYPE
Hearts = Major
Diamonds = Harmonic Minor
Clubs = Melodic Minor
Spades = Natural Minor
Jokers = Wild/Your Scale Choice
EXAMPLES:
3 of Spades=D Melodic Minor
Jack of Hearts=Bflat Major
Deal yourself a hand of scales today!
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