Author: Liam Murphy
Date: 2009-04-10 04:43
BBoard,
>>>Yes, I have read older posts on this subject. These are my thoughts/questions.<<<
I've often heard it recommended that I practice "long tones"
I've never woken up once with the urge to tire myself out droning away on any arrangement of 12 notes.
I must be missing something.
How can this activity be seen as valuable use of practice time?
What do long tones achieve? A better awareness of intonation and tone? I see how long tones could help, just they appear to be a supremely inefficient and aggravating means of achieving such goals.
Couldn’t the same ends be achieved though the practice of scales, arpeggios or *gasp* actually playing music? These alternative activities consolidate a player’s understanding of music/theory, thus must be more productive. Right?
Incidentally, I have no problem practicing scales slowly, just not for 4+ seconds per note.
Long tones appear to me to be a silly pedagogical fad that has infested far too many teachers' teaching.
Please let me know if and how I'm wrong, or to what extent I'm right.
As a side note, many players I've seen/met who preach the way of the long tone have awful sounds (in my opinion)
- Liam.
Post Edited (2009-04-10 04:50)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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