 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2013-05-15 12:20
I may be moving to a new job that requires a daily hour's commuting by train either way
I'd really appreciate any suggestions of things I could do while sitting in the train to improve my clarinet playing or general musicality (while keeping inconvenience to fellow commuters to a minimum!)
--------------------------------------
The older I get, the better I was
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Nessie1
Date: 2013-05-15 13:13
Well, whilst I note your point about not inconveniencing other passengers, I remember many years ago hearing about oboist Nicholas Daniel practising in the loo on the train while he commuted from Hampshire to London to go to the Purcell school - and look what happened to him!
Good luck
Vanessa.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2013-05-15 15:47
When I was was at college I lived 2 hours away by train - and nearly always ended up on the last train home between 10pm and midnight. The train was always pretty quiet, so I'd go to the carriage furthest away from the station and practise at will. The staff got to know me well!
If you're travelling at normal times, I used to tap out complicated rhythmic puzzles and pieces on my knees and also write out pieces that I was memorising. You can also stick headphones in and conduct along to major works - this is a great way to strengthen your rhythm and was suggested to me by my teacher of the time.
People have told me that they practise scales without blowing - I have never got much value from this I have to say.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2013-05-16 13:12
Thanks for these suggestions. I've found a site that generates random rhythms which would be good for practising for sight reading: http://www.practicesightreading.com/create.php?demo=1
Not sure about playing as I'll be travelling bang on rush hour, but would a synth clarinet be any good for practising fingering?
I also like the idea of writing out pieces to memorise them
--------------------------------------
The older I get, the better I was
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2013-05-16 14:11
You really don't need the clarinet out at all times to practice. You can learn a lot from doing Tadeo's Coelho's 3 Steps to Glory. Hopefully I'm paraphrasing them correctly, but here they go:
1) Say/Act out the music and solfege or letter names. Pitch isn't as important here, as long as you realize what notes you are playing, and how you want to play them.
2) Sing the correct pitches while doing step 1 and finger along as if you were playing the clarinet.
3) Play. Now, you may not be able to do step 3, but simulating playing, even without the clarinet, will often send the same synapses to the brain.
I've done this on the way to a lesson that I forgot to learn an etude for, and played it flawlessly.
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2013-05-16 18:42
concertmaster3 wrote:
>
> 1) Say/Act out the music and solfege or letter names. Pitch
> isn't as important here, as long as you realize what notes you
> are playing, and how you want to play them.
That's a great idea! Would you recommend fixed or movable solfege?
--------------------------------------
The older I get, the better I was
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
