 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ben1948
Date: 2018-08-04 00:15
I'm currently on what feels like a 4 month plateau. A good share of the plateau seems to be that I am having trouble increasing the tempo at which I can play cleanly. I'm not sure of the best way to describe my current level, but about the most beats per minute I can manage is currently in the 260-280 range--which means the fastest tempo I have a hope of managing eighth notes is about 120-140. At that tempo, sixteenth notes are almost unplayable other than for a very short burst, and 32nd notes become unthinkable. Even the Adagio movement from Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, which I desperately want to be able to play competently, and for which indicated tempos I've seen are around quarter note = 50, is too fast for me in certain spots with 32nd notes.
I am fairly sure that one of the things holding me up is that I don't consistently look far enough ahead of the note I am currently playing. I'm not sure how far ahead good players look when they are playing. The best I can do is 3 or 4 notes, and all too often I slide back to basically just looking from note to note and crash when I "unexpectedly" hit the tougher sections.
Is this a common issue with players in the intermediate range? Do any of you have any suggestions for drills or other practice tips?
I am well aware of the standard wisdom that you have to play cleanly and slow before you can play cleanly and fast, but I don't seem to be getting any faster.
Ben Withers - began clarinet 2014 at age 66
benjamin.f.withers@gmail.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2018-08-04 03:27
These types of problems ARE very common for intermediate players. For me, here are a few things that helped.
1) Scales and patterns. I learned to recognize at a glance patterns that occured often. For example, I can recognize something like a diminished seventh arpeggio in thirds because I've practiced that enough so I don't have to think. I see the two measures, recognize it, and play it while my eyes look to see what's next.
2) Sight-reading EVERYTHING I could get my hands on. To the point where I would take music I had, put it upside down on the stand and read it as though it was regular music (flats and sharps are on the wrong side of the note, but you get the point...it makes patterns non-existent). It helps me to get comfortable with seeing something "unfamiliar", if that makes any sense.
3) Practicing things in different tempo patterns is very common. Take existing sixteenth note patterns, play then as triplets (if you think "1 2 3") in patterns such as "1&2 3, 1&2 3". Then again as "1 2&3, 1 2&3", then "1 2 3&, 1 2 3&". Something about that breaks it up and creates (for me) better muscle memory.
I would say, don't stress too much on this piece of music. Keep practicing scales and patterns, and work on other pieces as well. Over time, you will have (likely unknowingly) increased your ability to recognize patterns and look ahead and if you were to revisit this piece of music in 6 months you would find it a little bit easier and your tempos a little bit faster!
BTW Ben, congrats on picking up clarinet! You didn't have to, but you had an inclination to learn and I hope you're having fun making progress!!!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-08-04 05:07
Ben,
Don't worry about plateaus. Learning clarinet is not linear. There will be moments of great progress and......more plateaus.
As far a practice goes I would always endorse SLOW methodical practice. And what is slow? I think I have a standard SLOW that I default to around "quarter note = 60" and I play the fastest notes (whatever the printed length is) as if they are eighth notes. I even break up the sections into no more than groups of eighth and play that over and over. After many iterations, I will try around the recommended tempo, then go back to playing it super slow again.
The point is to make playing the pattern (no matter what it is) STUPID easy, whatever tempo that may be for you. Only perfect practice makes perfect. But don't get hung up on speed. Once your ear HEARS the pattern correctly, you can make a much larger leap in speed. You do not have to do the tired old "bring it up two clicks at a time."
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2018-08-04 12:01
Well the Mozart is often one of those pieced in which a player could perform it on a 5 day tour and each a it's a bit different. Not mistakes perhaps but there might be a really minor one, but played slower, a shade faster and the 32nds notes may start a shade slow and pick up tempo.
Often when you seem to get stuck you can play more scales, try stuff you've never done before such as circular breathing, double tonguing. Also cut your practice time to 3 minutes the first 2 days just saying the second movement of the Mozart, the clarinet remains in the case. Spend the time studying the rhythm. 10 minutes for 3 days then 15 minutes for 3 days and get back and let me know how you are doing. The brain might be telling you something. It's a fun trick to see if we can say the rhythm such as those 32nds notes you talked about, and if you can't well practice without your horn and and when you can you will be able to with your horn. So the horn can get in the way when learning rhythms.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2018-08-04 22:42
The following applies more to the stated topic line than the elaborated question.
You don't need to look very far ahead while playing, even sight reading - just a couple beats or maybe a bar. You have to see that much with accuracy. Pattern recognition, aural imagination, rhythmic sense, and neuro-muscular memory do the rest. Those improve with intelligent practice.
Before playing it's well to scan even a familiar piece to perceive it's general outlines and note any key changes, repeats, etc.
There is also a bit of a knack for jumping the eyes back to the beginning of the next line or up to the top of then next page. Errors seem more common at those points, especially the latter. The skill involves awareness, timing, and coordination, which again come with focused practice.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2018-08-04 23:33
I can only tell you what I learned to do. With a little practice I learned to memorize the measure I was playing as I read the next one. I did it by practicing one beat ahead first, then 2 then 3 until I was able to do an enitire measure. Start with etudes that don't have to many notes in a measure and work your way up to 16th notes over time. Of course it does depend on how many notes there are in a measure. Just be patient. if you practice doing that for 10-15 minutes a day after a few months you will be able to be reading ahead pretty well. It does take concentration and disipline.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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