 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2009-06-16 15:17
I have a couple interesting questions to raise, and some advice to seek.
I start teaching a 5th grade clarinetist on Friday. Our district starts in 4th grade, so she already has the basics, and has played one concert. So I ask the much more experienced teachers on this board: what should I do? I've taught high school students before, as a service to my marching band, but never someone this young.
Also, the district is requiring me to use the Band Method Book (That they use for group lessons). I want to have her work out of the Rubank Elementary Level Book, but I was given a big no on that one. However, he encouraged me to photocopy excercises if I so desired. My second question, is how much is appropriate? I don't want her to be bored in the fall, as these lessons are only for the summer, but I don't want to break copyright laws.
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-06-16 16:50
Yep. What David said. I do like the Rubank, though. If sthe student is decent, the seecond half of the Elementary method as well as the early parts of the Intermediate should suit most students of that level well.
As an aside... what say should the school district have as to what you teach the students privately? They are called PRIVTE LESSONS for a reason, after all.
Jeff
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2009-06-16 16:58
It gives me a weird vibe. I understand dictating fee, as I'm teaching at my high school, but to dictate what I ask a student to do is a bit odd. I was considering making purchases their choice, encouraging her to get a High School Musical Song book, or something similar.
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-06-16 17:24
I haven't taught young students for some time but when I did I always made sure they were assigned at least one "song" and one duet for their level of playing. I used to find the Rubank books very boring so I always looked around for other books in print for that level that I found more interesting. Keep the students interest. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-06-16 17:50
For solos, I wonder if 60 Rambles for Clarinet by Leon Lester would be worthwhile for your student at her level. It's been written about here before. I think GBK recommended it not long ago.
I used it a while back to grease the wheels, so to speak, on simple sight reading and rhythm when I first returned to playing. Each tune is a page and they're all different. Gives you a sense of accomplishment.
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Author: D
Date: 2009-06-16 19:36
How about taking the method book they insist on as a guide. Split it up by looking at how far through it you are supposed to get by what time and then break that down into smaller sections. You then get your lesson plan frame from this, i.e.
Month one, be comfortable playing G major and F major and reading minims and crotchets.
Month two, playing chromatic scales and A,B,C major and reading quavers and semi quavers.
Month three A,B,C,D,E minors, plus arpeggios and changing from 4/4 to 3/4 time, etc (this is all totally random by the way!)
So after you have your frame work you then look at adding the bits in from other books you like to make it make sense to the student and give her something to build on for the future.
I agree with an earlier poster that good sightreading skills are something which lots of students don't get 'taught', they have to pick it up along the way. Therefore it is an easy win. If your student has worked on it then that will really show.
Also giving some attention to good reed maintenance, adjustment, etc will probably never have been covered for her so that would be another big change.
And the other cliche of course....teach to the individual. No point making her get the High School Musical song book if she would rather being playing Mac the Knife or Summer Time or Mozart.
I think, establish some clear boundaries for yourself, the pupil and the funding body over who gets a say over what right from the outset. Covers your posterior if things go wrong, and also the kid knows what to expect. By adding things into the frame work their book supplies the pupil will keep moving along with her peers but will also get some benefit from her extra tuition. You can't go too far off on a tangent. If she can do F# minor melodic three octaves but not C major one octave when all the rest of the band can then things can get sticky.
And regarding copyright and their comments on your book of choice. First, tell them a big fat no on the copying as it sets a bad example to the child. If cost is an issue then charity shops, libraries, older students etc can all be sources of cheap second hand copies. If they think it teaches in the wrong order then respect the order their book works in for your main frame and use the bits you like to embellish your teaching. If they actually have a sensible reason for telling you not to use it I'd love to hear it.....surely almost all books have a value in some way - even as sight reading practice.
Frankly if they are going to completely hogtie you then either take their money and do the job by the 'book', or walk away. It's not worth stressing over.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-06-16 20:08
weberfan wrote:
> For solos, I wonder if 60 Rambles for Clarinet by Leon Lester
> would be worthwhile for your student at her level.
> It's been written about here before.
> I think GBK recommended it not long ago.
I'm a big fan of the Leon Lester 60 Rambles for Clarinet, and always use it with my younger students.
The tunes are varied in style, range, character, rhythms and technical problems to solve. They are also short enough in length to make them manageable at one or two per week.
John Walker, who composed the piano accompaniements for the Rose 32, is now completing a similar piano play along version for the Leon Lester 60 Rambles. He recently sent me a demo copy to proof for tempo and note corrections. His new piano accompaniments make these tunes come alive with interesting harmony and some clever musical ideas.
It will eventually be published by Carl Fischer and it will be a nice addition to the original book.
...GBK
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2009-06-16 22:11
Many of the band method books have supplementary books that go along with them. It might be worth looking into this.
I think Rubank is good, but I very seldom use the elementary book. It has excellent material in it, but I agree that it can be dry. The intermediate and advanced books are good, but I think they should be supplemented with something else (especially the intermediate book).
I've spent years working with students this age, and I will predict a few things about your student (although I could be wrong): 1. She will have rhythm issues. She will have an understanding of whole notes, half notes, dotted half notes, quarter notes, and possibly eighth notes, but will have some difficulty when some or all of these notes are together in a selection. 2. She will have tonguing issues. If she does know how to tongue, things won't be very smooth. 3. She might have a poor hand position. 4. She might need some help with embouchure.
I agree with David Blumberg about rhythm. That, and smooth tonguing, should be top priorities this summer. Don't be afraid to write out supplementary materials--I do it all the time.
Don't worry about the amount of material you get through this summer, and don't try to change everything (or undo every bad habit) all at once. You might cover a lot, and you might not get through very much. The best thing you can do for your student is to help her acquire good fundamental skills.
After you teach your student on Friday, please let us know how it went.
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2009-06-17 03:13
I'll take all this advice, and will report back.
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2009-06-17 13:27
Why not use a combination of the band method and a good method book suitable for use in private lessons? For a private lesson method you might consider using a mthod book that is part of an exam system (here that's the Galper Clarinet method), and perhaps a supplementary collection of solos, one collection of pieces that a lot of my beginning students like is the Summer Sketches by Paul Harris (the first 3 or 4 pieces only use the chalumeau register). Another couple of collections that are quite fun are the Harold Dexter Songs for Clarinet, and a collection by Paul Reade, I think it's called First Solos for Clarinet.
You should make sure she has a good quality instrument, mouthpiece and reeds. For beginning students, and some intermediates, I love the Legere reeds, the student strength ones are great, and sometimes the other students in their school music classes think the Legeres look cool!
Meri
Please check out my website at: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com and my blog at: http://clariniano.wordpress.com
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