 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DrH2O
Date: 2009-05-13 12:26
I need a change of pace.
I've been diligently working my way through Baermann, Rose and Opperman in my weekly lessons and although I can definitely see how much it's helping me develop technique, I need a change of pace over the summer months. Sure, I might just be trying to avoid doing all those upcoming Baermann patterns in 5+ flats and sharps, but realistically I'll be able to tackle those with more enthusiasm if I work on some different things for awhile - the question is what?
I'd love to hear some ideas on things I could work on that would be a change of pace, but still contribute to my musical development. FYI, I'm still realtively new to music and the clarinet (~2.5 yrs) and in addition to lessons I play in a community band (weekly town concerts in the summer).
Thanks,
Anne
Clarinet addict
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-05-13 12:35
Pick up Artie Shaw's and Benny Goodman's method books and work on them.
Bob Draznik
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2009-05-13 14:04
definately duets. the voxman books 1 and 2 (especially 2) are fun. i do those every so often with my teacher.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-05-13 14:54
and get with 2 other members of your community band for trios
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-05-13 15:38
I'd learn to transpose. As you advance, it will be essential. Start with a familiar tune -- say Three Blind Mice -- and play it in C and then in D. Do the same with I Dream of Jeannie With the Light Brown Hair.
Then go to easy etudes and read up a step. If (when) you get tangled up, play a measure or two without transposing and then play it again transposed.
Then play the second oboe part in your community band.
If you have a similarly ambitious clarinetist friend, play easy duets up a step.
Until you get an A clarinet, you'll also need to be able to read down a half step, and even if you do have an A, there will be times you need to read down (or up) a half step because there's not enough time to switch (particularly if the conductor makes a cut from one section to another).
Another possibility is to get comfortable on another clarinet -- Eb, alto or bass -- or on sax.
The main thing is to learn something new -- stretch yourself a little.
Ken Shaw
Still another is to learn to read bass clef. You'll need it in case you every have to read a viola part, where you simply read bass clef. I've had great fun playing in string quartets that couldn't find a violist.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-05-13 18:35
Ken Shaw wrote:
> Still another is to learn to read bass clef. You'll need it in
> case you every have to read a viola part, where you simply read
> bass clef. I've had great fun playing in string quartets that
> couldn't find a violist.
Ken, do you mean alto clef? Viola parts are usually written for alto clef.
Bass clef is good to know, too, of course, for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that a number of bass clarinet parts are written in bass clef. Another good reason is that if you can read bass clef, you can play parts written for C instruments on an A clarinet without much effort.
Post Edited (2009-05-13 18:41)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-05-13 19:02
Alto clef parts can be read as bass clef one octave higher on the clarinet, which incorporates the Bb transposition required. This requires knowledge of bass clef. Knowing alto clef alone does not transpose it.
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Author: DrH2O
Date: 2009-05-14 01:50
Thanks for the ideas - I'll talk to my teacher at my next lesson about these ideas. I regularly sight read duets with my teacher as part of my lessons but working up a duet would be fun, so would learning some jazz. I'm not ready for transposing yet - still working on sight reading fluently as written. I have and use smartmusic to practice band music - maybe I should start using that to work on sight reading more.
So much to learn!
Anne
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Author: D
Date: 2009-05-14 05:36
Anne,
I know transposition sounds scary, but it is not impossible. There are tricks to learn and you soon pick them up. It's pretty much what you do when you are sight reading something which is going far too fast in band or orchestra. Aim for the first note of the bar or phrase or the long notes or repeated notes. Play the runs up and down in something approximating the correct key signature and rhythm. Pick out the accented/punctuation type notes on the next run through. It's amazing how quickly people will be fooled that you played most of it! And on the next run through you probably will have. Find a charity shop or public library and raid their collection of well known tunes which come with an accompaniment CD. Get the ones for C instruments, i.e. flute, oboe, initially as they are widely available and you'll get a choice. I think you will surprise yourself. It really really really isn't as awful as it sounds and once you've figured out how to transpose one transposition it is much easier to do others.
D
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Author: Bart
Date: 2009-05-14 14:38
Anne - the main point I get from your post is that you want to do something that's *fun* (and useful at the same time). New and fresh stuff. Shift the emphasis from building technical skills to doing something fun to recharge the batteries.
You could consider picking up some improvisation books and playing along with CDs/tunes by ear - they're fun and useful things to do.
One of the starting volumes in the Aebersold series with a play-along-CD could do the trick. Relatively new in the play-along arena are the starting/intermediate clarinet books by Kellie Santin. Her improvisation book (Creative Clarinet - Improvising) is good fun - there's a variety of styles, from blues, latin and funk, to various jazz styles. Typically two tunes per category, with a head, some solo ideas, chord & scale warm-ups for each tune, and a play-along CD.
Or just find some CDs from jazz clarinettists you like, select a slow tune and play along - try to pick things up by ear. Listen for expressive features, copy those, and take your eyes of the pages and pages of sheet music for a while.
Post Edited (2009-05-14 14:42)
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Author: pelo_ensortijado
Date: 2009-05-14 21:49
to edit to barts post:
get one of those computerprograms that slows down the track you are playing without changing the pitch. and start plowing through your jazz/world/blues/whatever cd-collection. :D
when i was in highschool i use to do this often in the evenings before the teachers locked the studio/computer-room. so much fun!!!!
good night
/niclas
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Author: allencole
Date: 2009-05-15 06:09
I would definitely vote on some combination of tranposing, playing by ear, and jamming along to recordings. It's all very good for you, and anything you learn about standard repertoire in different styles involving the instrument is great for you.
How much of this can be incorporated into your lessons, I don't know. Not all teachers work theory, ear training and jazz. You, however, can learn much of that on your own. I think that increasing duet traffic would be a very wise change of pace.
BTW, if you're interested in jazz, playing by ear, etc. don't back too far off of Baermann III. You want those scales, scales-in-thirds and arpeggios to be well-rehearsed in every key.
Allen Cole
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Author: Bart
Date: 2009-05-15 11:37
Getting a copy of the Real Book (published by Hal Leonard) is also a good idea. It'll give you hundreds of tunes to play and countless hours of sight reading practice, all for a reasonable price at $20 or less, depending on where you buy it.
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Author: awm34
Date: 2009-05-15 12:28
I've been playing in a trio with three (yes, three) other members of my community band since January and my playing has improved markedly.
There's no hiding out in a trio!
Alan Messer
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-05-15 12:45
For a change of pace get the Kroepsch 416 daily studies book 1. There very good for technique and if you observe the markings for musicianship too. Each exercise should be played slowly first so they are even and controlled and then the tempo should be increased over the week. You mighty want to choose a few difficult solos as well and work on them daily as well. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: allencole
Date: 2009-05-16 09:23
Amen to that, Leila. I think that most students are ready to tackle transposing in some form in the very early stages of playing. Even if it's not sight-transposing, you can play be ear in different keys and get used to the process.
Allen Cole
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