Author: Matt74
Date: 2022-01-10 15:43
I just want to add agreement about scales and arpeggios. You really need to be able to play at least all major scales. At bare minimum you need to play up to four sharps and flats easily. It's really not that hard.
Let me suggest something less intimidating than a huge book of scales. Baermann is certainly worth doing, and you will benefit, and I'm not saying anything against it, but you can get bogged down very easily. It's a "maximalist" approach. In particular it's hard if you aren't very comfortable in the third register. Yes, that's how you get better, but I think it's good to separate learning scales generally from learning extended range, at least at first
I learned my scales without using a book. I worked on them out of a books for a while (Londeix, Albert, Baermann), but it got to be too slow. I stopped worrying about playing every possible pattern over the whole horn. At first it was very slow figuring them out without music, but that didn't last very long. I just started working with the range and patterns I could play (or enjoyed) and focused on that, then improved on it. It won't take long until you are extending your range and making things harder. It becomes a game, so you can fool with whatever pattern you like, and whatever range you like. When you find something you can't do, you work on it. You can also learn patterns that aren't in the scale books.
IMO learning without reading music gives your brain a much better workout, and it also allows you to focus on playing. Reading the page requires attention that can slow your progress. I think it also helps a lot to learn one scale ok-ish, then go on to the next one, then come back to the ones you weren't as good at. For me, learning music is never strictly sequential or "cumulative". I do use a metronome. Right now I'm improvising baroque style in minor keys on my recorder for practice.
I guess my point is that it's great to have a lot of discipline and structure if you are really trying to iron out your technique as a pro. If you really like working out of a book and checking things off, you should do what works for you, but there are other options. You can always go back to Baermann at any time.
- Matthew Simington
Post Edited (2022-01-10 15:54)
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