 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: RefacerMan
Date: 2021-08-02 03:43
I have a college student that would like to be able to play some jazz on her clarinet. Are there any method books that would take her through exercises, chords, etc. that would help her get a start in playing jazz? Thanks for any info you can provide.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: super20dan
Date: 2021-08-02 04:54
have her try to play along by ear to benny goodman and artie shaw recordings. this will test to see if she has any talent in this area.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: seabreeze
Date: 2021-08-02 08:10
Try John O'Neil's The Jazz Method for Clarinet, vol 1 and 2 (published by Schott).
VanCott Music usually has these in stock. Many styles of jazz are covered, with drills on chords, rhythms, and phrasing. A CD is included.
In the long run though, jazz is best learned in person alongside a jazz player who can guide, criticize, and possibly inspire. Your student might want to sign up for Evan Christopher's four-part class on the melodic improvisations of jazz master Sidney Bechet. https://www.clarinetroad.com/.
Post Edited (2021-08-02 08:17)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2021-08-02 11:27
I'd never question seabreeze's suggestions pertaining to jazz; so his suggestions would probably be the place to start.
Even though you specifically asked about books - I want to expand a bit on what super20dan said:
I struggled for decades trying to learn/play jazz. Leaving the paper/sheet world is what finally broke the barrier for me. So, if she tries the method books and finds herself frustrated or chained by the notes on the pages...perhaps try the following:
Simply pick a tune that she enjoys (it can be something simple like "Little Brown Jug", "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain When She Comes", "A Closer Walk", or <cringe> "Stranger on the Shore" - or something more along the lines of what super20dan recommends and have her pick one of the easier Goodman ("Goodbye") or Shaw tunes) - the only "rule" is that the melody must be well-known to her, so that she can hum the entire thing in her head.
Then she can try to play it by ear...it might take a while to get those first few tunes figured out, but it gets a lot easier as the ear is trained. Some folks are naturals at it, while others can become frustrated - so, maybe it will work for her and maybe it won't.
If it does work, have her add syncopation to make it fun. If she has learned or understands chord structure, then have her start adding various chord embellishments to the melody to make it more interesting...or if the melody ends on the tonic, have her end on the 3rd or 5th, etc. Whatever sounds good. Eventually, she'll know when to add other connecting notes, etc.
Listening to lots of the music she wants to be able to emulate is a must.
Depending on which type of jazz she's interested in - listening to singers can be a great help. The changes they make to the melody in both rhythm and pitch can be very helpful to realize.
The books and such were never a help to me. I struggled with jazz method books. For me, the answer was to get rid of the paper. Then - after gaining a decent understanding of things, a return to paper wasn't so restrictive/overwhelming/confusing.
Anyway - wishing you (and her) the best of luck in this endeavor...regardless of which method of learning best suits her. Have a blast!
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
[EDIT: spelling correction]
Post Edited (2021-08-02 11:34)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Matt74
Date: 2021-08-02 13:04
What’s her background? Does she listen to jazz? Can she play written music in a jazz style? Can she improvise (in any style)?
I ask the questions rhetorically, because they’re all different, and the answers may suggest things to pursue.
If she is familiar with jazz she should be able to begin to play in the style immediately (more or less), and also to start improvising. Having someone to play with (at least occasionally), would be ultra helpful. The problem with trying to play live is loud drummers.
Play along-records, Youtube “backing tracks”, and especially playing along WITH real records can help.
If she’s not so familiar, she needs to start listening to at least some original examples of New Orleans style, Big Band, and Bebop; and something contemporary, like Eddie Daniels or Paquito D’Rivera. She needs to know at least some older Benny Goodman, like with Lionel Hampton.
“Jazz at Lincoln Center” videos with Wynton Marsalis are a very good place to start. She can also google Evan Christopher and Victor Goines from the same.
Transcriptions are helpful, if you can get the recordings. But learning standards a.k.a. “The American Songbook” would be more helpful:
Someone on the board suggested the Clarinet Omnibook: https://www.amazon.com/Clarinet-Omnibook-B-flat-Instruments-Transcribed/dp/1540000494 The original Charlie Parker Omnibook is more or less compulsory for alto saxophone players.
I have this Benny Goodman book: https://www.amazon.com/Benny-Goodman-Composer-Artist/dp/0793526256/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=transcriptions+benny+goodman&qid=1627893224&s=books&sr=1-1
Paquito D’Rivera has published quite a bit, and has a lot of videos online: https://paquitodrivera.com/ https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/composers/paquito-d-rivera-sheet-music/1822484
- Matthew Simington
Post Edited (2021-08-02 13:14)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Robert N.
Date: 2021-08-02 20:08
In my study of Jazz and other improvised music, I have found ear training to be one of the most important aspects. I recommend a good ear training app, such as EarMaster (there are many apps available).
Roberta Radley also has a good ear training book called The Real Easy Ear Training Book.
Another book and method which I highly recommend is Improvise for Real.
https://improviseforreal.com/
One of the things that I most liked about the Improvise for Real method is that it gets away from the complicated jazz theory by focusing on the core, without oversimplifying or preventing the inclusion of more complicated theoretical ideas later.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: super20dan
Date: 2021-08-02 21:33
execellent advice FUZZY one must leave the paper world to enter this style of playing. its how i learned was to start playing along with records -radio etc start with the most well known songs and knowing the melodys well is a MUST. only then can you start to venture outside the lines and be able to keep your place in the song is also a must
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tom H
Date: 2021-08-03 01:17
The only thing I've done with jazz is practice the blues scales (in C-- C,Eb,F,F#,G,Bb,C.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2021-08-03 14:55
The ABRSM has a series of teaching books for Jazz clarinet:
https://gb.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/jazz-exams/jazz-clarinet-exams/
I'm working through grade 1 at the moment. My main discovery is that it's a really good way to learn how to connect complicated timing in a recording with the written sheet music, as the recorded versions of the music have a really strong beat, almost like a metronome.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: super20dan
Date: 2021-08-03 23:54
blues scale is an execellent way to learn. you can almost always fit blues scale licks into most any music
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: RefacerMan
Date: 2021-08-04 19:24
Thank you to everyone who replied to my post. You have given me very good information where to look for jazz books for my student. Thank you so much!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: brycon
Date: 2021-08-04 20:05
Learning jazz from a book will be about as successful as learning a second language by reading it: good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Matt74
Date: 2021-08-05 21:21
@brycon FWIW: I learned more Latin reading 75 pages of "Lingua Latina" than I did in four semesters of college.
I just wanted to add some, for anyone interested.
"Don't Mean A Thing" play-along, for clarinet.
All great standards. A reviewer doesn't like the backing track, but the sample sounds fine to me on the Faber Music website. {The English guy's voice counting off may take you back to the 60's, whether or not you were actually there (no judgements - I wasn't - in either sense). Unless of course you ARE a Brit....in which case it wouldn't. His voice made me think of "Mrs Brown" or "The Party" (bubbles). It has a groovy cover. I think it's a retro thing, the ISBN says it was published 2007.} I would get it: https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Jazz-Play-Along-Dont-Thing/dp/0571527396/ref=pd_sbs_3/144-4324512-5278629?pd_rd_w=MDUM1&pf_rd_p=f8e24c42-8be0-4374-84aa-bb08fd897453&pf_rd_r=QVPKWCQAA7ZAMXV4JNP8&pd_rd_r=c8cffe0b-818b-4c7e-8d6d-cdf0b9db20c4&pd_rd_wg=q4pXC&pd_rd_i=0571527396&psc=1 --- https://www.fabermusic.com/shop/it-don-t-mean-a-thing-clarinet-p109
Retro saxophone guy on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCay1CX_1vEQhX9Ov-OgbaSA
"Benny Goodman Play-Along", Hal-Leonard:
https://www.amazon.com/Benny-Goodman-Jazz-Play-Along-86/dp/1423454715/ref=pd_sbs_4/144-4324512-5278629?pd_rd_w=MDUM1&pf_rd_p=f8e24c42-8be0-4374-84aa-bb08fd897453&pf_rd_r=QVPKWCQAA7ZAMXV4JNP8&pd_rd_r=c8cffe0b-818b-4c7e-8d6d-cdf0b9db20c4&pd_rd_wg=q4pXC&pd_rd_i=1423454715&psc=1
Benny Goodman Transcriptions.
Mostly 1930s recordings, chord symbols, no piano part. The one I linked to in my response above has a piano part:
https://www.amazon.com/Benny-Goodman-Jazz-Masters-Clarinet/dp/0825642019/ref=pd_sbs_1/144-4324512-5278629?pd_rd_w=pcwmJ&pf_rd_p=f8e24c42-8be0-4374-84aa-bb08fd897453&pf_rd_r=SJ2251XW7WNTKPMPJ3RE&pd_rd_r=86b7c190-eda7-4880-af43-8cc012f6868b&pd_rd_wg=19GzS&pd_rd_i=0825642019&psc=1
There are a load of "jazz education" materials out there, but it is hard to find stuff specifically for clarinet, so I hope this helps someone.
- Matthew Simington
Post Edited (2021-08-05 21:28)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: brycon
Date: 2021-08-06 01:42
Quote:
@brycon FWIW: I learned more Latin reading 75 pages of "Lingua Latina" than I did in four semesters of college.
Ah, smart aleck! Lol!
Sure, Latin's a dead language. But if you were leaning, say French, and trying to gain any sense of fluency, even if it were at a conversational level, you'd learn it far better from immersion than from a book. Kids learn to speak by hearing their parents, imitating, and experimenting; they don't sit down and read a book on how to conjugate verbs. People who learn French from a book can't actually speak it: they know some vocabulary words, how to conjugate etre, and some other miscellany. And folks who learn to play jazz from a book can't swing: they know some chord symbols, which scales to play, and some other generally useless stuff.
Jazz is an aural and oral tradition. You need to learn it by immersion: listening to records, transcribing tunes, playing with other people, and so on. Sure, transcribing a tune can be difficult, so perhaps start with a simple melody, learn it in different keys, build out exercises from there. And in the process, a student learns ear training, matching, creative practicing, and so on (what educational folks call "desirable difficulty"). Whereas a student who gets a book on chord symbols or Benny Goodman transcriptions learns what amounts to a few nonsensical sentences of broken French. I can't emphasize enough how much learning jazz from a book is a waste of time.
Post Edited (2021-08-06 04:37)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Matt74
Date: 2021-08-06 05:54
I could have been more clear. “Lingua Latina” is all dialogues and stories, no “instruction”. You have to learn everything from context. It’s like having a conversation. It was exactly that aspect that helped me.
The “standard” text wasn't much good for me. It might be good for most people, but of course, no one is most people.
I agree that learning by ear is ideal, but it might not be helpful for everyone. I figure if someone asks for a book, give them a good book. Otherwise they might go and get a lame one.
- Matthew Simington
Post Edited (2021-08-06 09:14)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: brycon
Date: 2021-08-07 07:44
Quote:
I agree that learning by ear is ideal, but it might not be helpful for everyone. I figure if someone asks for a book, give them a good book. Otherwise they might go and get a lame one.
For sure. After years of reading sheet music and trying to get everything "correct," it can be very difficult to let go and play by ear. It's a skill that's underdeveloped even in some of the best players and not adequately taught in most college ear-training, musicianship, and theory courses.
But it's a skill that's necessary to play jazz and, when you think about it, to be a good musician regardless of what style of music you play. I myself, for example, often do transposition and (Classical-era) improvisation classes with my students. I find that these sorts of things strengthen the link between their ears, minds, and bodies.
Moreover, it gets them out of the good-student problem--which I also see here all the time--of figuring something out on an intellectual level, expecting it to work out similarly on a physical level, and then getting frustrated when it doesn't. Most people like to learn as adults, as good students: we read board posts about Marcellus's embouchure or books about Tabuteau's phrasing then put into practice what we've learned, fully-formed and without any of the trial and error that kids go through. Indeed, the process by which young kids learn is messy: they experiment, make mistakes, self reflect, and then try out new experiments. It's the way they learn to speak a language, for instance, and it's the way musicians should learn to play jazz or music in general.
So, while I totally understanding what you're saying, when a student asks for a jazz book, I still try to redirect that energy.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: seabreeze
Date: 2021-08-07 22:25
Most things in life are not either-or propositions. "Both-and" or "A and B and C and . . . ." is often the best pattern. So give them a good book, some transcriptions, lots of recordings to listen to AND get them in a jazz group playing at some level (even if it's only the "Low Down Blues.").
Post Edited (2021-08-09 09:16)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Una
Date: 2021-08-09 07:23
Listen a lot.... a whole lot.
Play with other jazz musicians so they can slap you around when you do the "wrong thing".
Stop overthinking.
Stop trying to do "the right thing" too much.
Play what you feel even if it's out of the norm.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
