The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kelly
Date: 2001-05-20 03:37
I want to improve my skill level over the summer. Does anyone know any good books or things I should work on. I just found out I beat a lot of people that are better than me on my audition. I want to have more confidence next year, does anyone one have any tips?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-05-20 03:59
It would help a lot, Kelly, if you could elaborate just a bit, like...
What 'skill level' do you consider yourself now?
In what area(s) do you think you need more confidence?
What, regarding your playing, do *You* want to improve?
Things like that.
- ron b -
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Author: lizzie
Date: 2001-05-20 13:30
Rubank start w/ Elementry and go to Advanced there is 2 volumes for each subject Elementry 1, Elementry II, Intermediate 1, Intermediate II, and Advanced 1, Advanced II
i am on Advanced 1 now and i love the books!!!!
Good-Luck
it is by Rubank just remember that and you will be able to find them
and also its a light blue cover!
have-fun!
~lizzie~
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-05-20 14:02
check out "Hand in Hand with Hanon" by Buddy DeFranco. Eddie Daniels said "If you play all of these exercises you will be prepared for anything."
Bob
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Author: Corey
Date: 2001-05-20 19:44
does any one know were you could get a copy of the "hand in hand with Hanon"? i would like to get a copy
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-05-20 20:07
Without a doubt, read "The Inner Game of Music".
~ jerry
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Author: Leanne
Date: 2001-05-20 21:24
If you don't already have one, get a private clarinet teacher.
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2001-05-20 23:21
I am wondering the same thing... right now I am taking lessons--we are working out of the Klose and Rose studies, both of which are excellent, but over the summer my teacher does not offer lessons, so I am also wondering what I could do on my own to improve (or at least not lose) my skill level.
To give an idea of my skill level: I have been playing for five years, this is my first year taking private lessons, and I made county honor band (6th seat out of 15) last fall... my county has an excellent music program, so I guess that would make me pretty good... my teacher says I'm the best clarinetist he's seen in all his teaching career (15 years) but I think he's exaggerating...
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-05-22 19:49
Kelly -
Almost any scale book, plus long tones, will improve your playing over the summer. The main thing is to keep playing as much as possible. However, that's a lot like taking medicine. You need to have fun and stretch a little over the summer, too. I think one of the best things you could do is broaden your base. Here are a few possibilities.
(1) Take up another instrument.
To be conservative, you could borrow an Eb clarinet or a bass clarinet from your school and sit in on the junior high school summer band. For a little more adventure, take up the flute. You won't confuse your clarinet fingers or embouchure, or somehow "spoil" them. Just picking up the instrument reminds you of what you do with it and "keys" your fingers and embouchure to do the right things. The more different things you can play, the more they help you.
(2) Learn to transpose.
The basic transposition for clarinetists is to play a full step higher, to play parts for clarinet C instead of Bb, or to jump over to the oboe part when the oboist is missing that day. This will be essential when you play in an orchestra or study in college.
Transposition is a "reprogramming" operation, just like playing flute. Probably the best way to learn is to read traditional songs playing along with a pianist, or play flute duets with a flutist. Once you get the knack, it's possible to do it on autopilot.
You will also want to learn to read down 1/2 step (to play A clarinet parts on Bb clarinet) and up 1/2 step (to play Bb parts on A). However, learn them one at a time.
Transposing won't confuse you, any more than playing flute or learning to read bass clef (also a good idea) will confuse you. It's just something else you know how to do.
(2) Learn to sing.
Get with a pianist for "standard" tunes. Sing with a madrigal group or a chorus. Sing with a church choir. Believe me, any singing group will welcome you with open arms. You already know how to breath better and deeper than most singers. You already can read notes faster than almost any singer. You already can hear intervals in your mind before you sing them, just by fingering "air clarinet."
Also, singing teaches you to bind long phrases together with your breath and how to make smaller groups of notes meld together into a phrase by using groups of words that go together.
There's lots of things to do, in addition to ordinary practicing. Every one of them will help your clarinet playing. You have the luxury of choosing among lots of things, all of them good.
Have fun.
Ken Shaw
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