 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jack Stewart
Date: 2011-11-05 21:17
I audition for All-Region with these etudes on December 3rd, and (hopefully) at Area after Christmas break. I have posted a Youtube video with a decent quality recording (sorry for the background noise, did not have the house to myself), and am looking for comments and criticisms to aid in my quest for perfection. These were "cold" runs, so there were a few technical errors and musical things missing, but they are fairly representative of where I am at right now. I will definitely play the first and third etudes faster at the audition but I here I have played them slower for cleanliness and to hear detail (or lack of) more easily. Any audition/preparation tips, in addition to musical/technical ones would be greatly appreciated. I am a junior in high school this year and have had past audition success, but like most of us I do have difficulty with nerves.
Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPmeRH6Fah8&feature=channel_video_title
Thanks,
Jack Stewart
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2011-11-05 22:29
First of all I like your sound.
In the 1st and 3rd etude almost all the beginnings of the 16th slurs are too hasty. However you know the etudes well, this might make a feeling you are uncertain about some phrases. Same goes for the phrases when the first note of a four 16th group is attacked and the rest 3 notes are under a slur (Im not sure about the correctness of musical expressions). In this case the last 3 notes belong to the next first note of the following 16th group. If you keep this in mind, these parts will be more even, and will have calmness.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-11-05 22:46
Listened and it overall sounds REALLY good. As an outsider listening to this, if it were a performance, this is what I personally would like to hear..
I'd like more dynamic contrast in the 3rd etude. To me it sounds like you're playing between mp and mf. I'd like to hear it stretch louder in those spots. I can tell you're doing subtle shaping of the phrases, but I'd like to hear more shaping so you make SURE I understand what you're doing dynamically. Also, another personal preference, I'd like to hear more separation during those tongued notes. I know this etude, and know it's slur three tongue one for a lot of it, but it all kinda goes together too much. I'd like the tongued notes to be more obvious that they're tongued.
Also, around 4:40, it's a nice trill, but it's such a slow piece, and then you go immediately into this REALLY fast trill. I'd like to hear the trill start out much slower, and grow into the trill, and not get AS fast as you're trilling it. Just doesn't seem to fit the piece.
And in the beginning, just one pitch thing at about 28 seconds in. Just sounds really sharp to me, and it's the exposed note at the end of the phrase. Around 40 seconds in, I hear a bit of a grunt/undertone when you're starting those phrases. I'm wondering if you're starting the air with your throat instead of having the airflow constant and just using the tongue, or if it's just because those are those problematic clarion notes (G, A, Bb, B, and C) in the left hand that you're still battling with to tame. It's slight, but I heard it hear, and it didn't stick out anywhere else in the recording so I'm thinking those arpeggio-type runs are starting on those lefthand notes and you just need more airsupport and to focus on starting them with the tongue.
Otherwise, everything else seemed very nice and I gotta say, I couldn't play like that at all at your age! Darned Texas putting out some good musician programs! If only I had the passion at that age and did something more with it I'd be a lot further along NOW!
These are my nit-picky things. I can tell you worked on this stuff, know it all REALLY well, but if I were an audience for you, I'd like to hear that stuff marked above.
Alexi
PS - I hope GBK and other judges from other states chime in. Interested in hearing what those that hear etudes a lot more often have to say.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: pewd
Date: 2011-11-06 00:19
One presumes you're taking lessons.
I usually tell my better students to take one lesson with another teacher, to get another perspective on their playing. In my case, I send them to a clarinet playing band director in our district for a 2nd opinion.
Make sure you get the fast etudes up to the maximum tempo of the specified range, or perhaps 4-6 beats faster. The judges, despite being told not to, reward speed on the technical etudes.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Jack Stewart
Date: 2011-11-07 01:40
Thanks for the helpful comments everyone. How about a lesson sometime Mr. Dods? I study with Robin Korevaar (previously Garner).
Jack Stewart
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-11-07 08:36
Not bad! Your sound seems pretty good. however it's sometimes not a full sound. I felt some minor rhythm issues and a lack of a full sound when you are playing the lower register. Try using that dreaded metronome. Start a bit slower, perhaps 20 clicks slower so you can attack the 16th notes, then add some speed a few clicks at a time. This will help you with articualtion thats also slowing down your tempo and your rhythm. Try practicing your articulation, your tongue sounds a bit tense and heavy, which is actually a normal issue to overcome for almost all players.
It was nice listening to you.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2011-11-07 08:49)
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2011-11-07 10:08
What is the second etude? The first is No 35 Rose 40 Etudes and the third is No6 of the 32 Etudes?
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-11-07 22:01
Jack -
As a high school player, you're *very* good. You've gotten excellent advice so far, and I just want to add a few things about musicianship, because I hear your musical ability in your playing.
What I would work on first with you is becoming aware of the underlying harmony. Right now, I don't sense that you're thinking about that, because many of your phrases run through harmonic changes, and your phrase beginnings and endings aren't clear.
Please go to http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=20&i=768&t=768 and read the section PHRASING IS BASED ON HARMONY. Then, mark the harmonic changes in your music, particularly the beginnings and endings of phrases. You should hear the bass line in your head as you play.
Your also should breathe at harmonically appropriate places, such as phrase endings. You sometimes played as long as you could on one breath and had to break awkwardly in the middle of a phrase to gasp for breath. Take frequent, smaller breath rather than trying to go on forever.
A second, related point is that you need to keep phrases shaped so that they move from beginning to end. Yours often stop moving, particularly on long-held notes. My favorite example of how to arch phrases and how a long note can keep "spinning" is John McCormack's famous recording of Il Mio Tesoro from Mozart's Don Giovanni http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSHnxlf2DPs. Listen to 1:02 to 1:10. Even though it's just one held note, it keeps tremendous energy, going on into the following notes.
I also listened to your recording of the Weber Concertino. I noticed two things in particular.
First, I know you're aware that you often got out of synch with the pianist. It's the pianist's job to stay with you, but an important part of performance is listening like crazy and adjusting when things get out of synch. Both of you are responsible for it.
Second, the piece is highly operatic and needs much more drama. Please read http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=20&i=270&t=259 for some ideas.
Finally a bit about cleaning up your technique. The key is EXTREMELY slow practice, engraving scales and arpeggios unto your muscle memory with zero mistakes. Go to http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=20&i=289&t=289 and read the section on FAST PASSAGES. Also read http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=222433&t=222426.
Keep at it. You absolutely have what it takes.
Ken Shaw
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-11-07 23:17
Quote:
Keep at it. You absolutely have what it takes.
Ken Shaw if you wanna audition for the army band in a few years, id love to have more clarinetists at your level coming in ;-)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2011-11-08 11:11)
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Author: Jack Stewart
Date: 2011-11-13 18:41
Mr. Shaw-
Thanks for the very encouraging (and helpful) post. It's nearing two years now since that performance of Concertino and I am well aware of the issues- my sense of time has improved since then, but it is still one of my weaknesses. I have been working on Premiere Rhapsodie lately and my teacher has suggested playing it while walking to reinforce a steady tempo. When I play with the metronome time is near perfect, but I have issues without it.
Anyone else's thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Jack Stewart
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2011-11-14 02:32
Spend a lot of time on the last page of Premiere Rhapsodie. It is a hard page and could be asked in the Washington, DC military bands.
I didn't realize you were in high school. What colleges are you interested in? Seems like you may have a shot at the finer music schools.
Also nice playing from 2 years ago. That surprised me, in a very good way!
Can you honor us with a recording of Premiere Rhapsodie, even if it's just the first page or so?
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Author: Bb R13 greenline
Date: 2011-11-14 20:07
Wow you are *REALLY* good for a high schooler, I'm a sophomore from Florida and I wish I could play that good. Just curious when did you start playing?
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Author: Chetclarinet
Date: 2011-11-17 13:48
Excellent playing! There a couple of "money" spots that are still not absolutely clear. The turns in no.35 need to have five notes sounding for the listener and I think that missing these in a audition could hurt a bit if that spot is asked. The d major sixteenth arpeggio slurs are not quite even at times. The ascending chromatic run,however is awesome! In no. 6 be sure that your left thumb octave key motion is in sinc with your right-hand in measure 25--also a " money" measure. Number 6 in general, lacks articulative clarity in spots-- I feel that you may be depending on speed for articulative clarity,rather than clear and a bit shorter tongue strokes. No.29 sounds very good--keep working to produce absolutely smooth musical lines and natural phrases rather than depending only on dynamics for effect. Phrasing emphasizes dynamics,dynamics alone do not make beautiful phrases. Continue to focus note connections . A pleasure to hear you!
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Author: Jack Stewart
Date: 2011-11-23 22:16
First of all I'd like to apologize for the delayed response. Life has been very busy lately with school, band, and youth orchestra.
Mr. Bernardo - I'm not looking at any college in particular yet - my options are wide open. I know that I want to continue in music, but I also know that job-wise it is a difficult route, so my thoughts are that a double major with something non-music related or possibly music education might be my best bet. I do well in school and have many interests outside of the music realm, so I really don't know where I'll end up. I'd appreciate any thoughts/suggestions on the subject...Below is a link to a recording of Premiere Rhapsodie at a recent nursing home recital...I'm not extremely satisfied with the performance but as it says in the description, I won't be performing the piece competitively for several months, and with everything that's been going on lately, it's probably the best I could have done.
Bb R13 greenline - I attended a private school through 8th grade, and our band program started in 4th grade.
Thanks for all the comments everyone.
Premiere Rhapsodie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTWZxpLxA04&feature=channel_video_title
Jack Stewart
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Author: Bb R13 greenline
Date: 2011-11-23 22:36
Ohh ok that Makes me feel better:P you have 3 years on me, I'd like to let you know that your playing has inspired me to practice more than I already do though:)
As for the premiere rhapsody you could make bigger contrasts between the different sections like in the beginning when it starts speeding up and also it seems alittle rushed and generally too fast at times like the beginning. It's supposed to be very mysterious
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2011-11-28 23:44
Overall, good job. It's impressive that you're in high school.
I would say two things:
1) Your tonguing is too heavy, and "squeaky". Perhaps it's just the microphone, but it sounds almost as if the higher overtones come out first due to the nature of your articulation, and then "scoop" down, especially in the high register.
2) I believe I hear some air leaking from your embouchure... be careful, I had this habit in University and it's VERY tough to break.
Overall, good work!
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
Post Edited (2011-11-28 23:44)
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