 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ted Donaldson
Date: 2001-08-31 01:20
Ok, i am in 7th grade and all state is coming up. The music is a synch, but could some one help me with a scale practice routine?
What i am doing now is
Play 1st scale on list until i play it perfect 5 times.
2nd
3rd
4th and so on
Is this ok? and where can i do sight reading for free? my band directors scores?
thanks
ted
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Meri
Date: 2001-08-31 01:38
Perhaps you should rotate the scale that you do first on each practice session.
Five times perfectly per scale is not enough, considering the number of times you may have done them imperfectly. (Practice can make perfect or imperfect) Practice each scale until you can do them perfectly, in various articulations, in various tempos at least 10 times in a row, without thinking about it. That is one way of achieving total mastery of your scales. (or anything for that matter)
Impossible? Not if you spend practicing only one thing in your practice session each day, practice each of them for a couple of days or more, review what you've learned before, and move on to the next scale, spending two days or more.
(Kenny Werner's Effortless Mastery, discusses these ideas. If you haven't got the book, get the book! It's helpful for musicians at all levels of playing) Mark, can you put this as a sneezy book recommendation? :-)
Meri
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mindy's Mom
Date: 2001-08-31 13:47
Ted, A word of advice first -- PLease don't get the "attitude" this early on that the music is a "synch". Many of the people on this board have been playing and studing the clarinet for MANY years and it doesn't jive well with them to hear a cocky young man talk about how "synchy" the music is when he is just beginning (yes- I know you have been studying since 3rd grade but you are still just beginning in teh mind and eye of some of the people on this board.). You are beginning to sound like a trumpet player (please, if you play trumpet out there, people, I just get tied of teh trumpet ego -- no flames please).
Now -- on to your question about scales. I am a music teacher and what I suggest to my students is to practice scales in ramdom order so that they are SURE of the fingerings and keys, not just "muscle memory on these 7 scales that you have to play for all-state, and in the order that you have to play them. Remember that you have to play these in 2 minutes so after you are CERTAIN of the fingerings, begin practicing them at the same speed (slowly to start) in order and all seven. Begin picking up the speed of the scales until you can do them all in 2 minutes -- remember -- the tempo MUST be steady all the way through!!! This is a VERY important part of the audition. In order to learn the scales in teh beginning, ift would be a good idea to play the scales several times in a row till you are confidant with it ( you are on the right track).
Also -- in regards to the music for all-state and sightreading --- TONE is very important. There are many people out here in Florida who can "play" the music but that doesn't mean you will make it. Tone and intonation play a huge factor with the judges. Last year there were about 200 students trying out for the clarinet section in 7-8th grade all-state here. They only took about 30 (please don't hold me to these numbers -- I don't have them in front of me right now -- but I am close). As to sightreading music --- pick up ANY music and play it -- play a piece of piano music (the top line), play other exercises in teh Rubank book, play ANYTHING -- the idea behind sightreading, is to READ READ READ!!!! Make sure you think of the timing, and key signature FIRST and get the tempo you want to take in your head. Look over the piece and see if there are any "strange" rhythms that you need to be aware of and work them out SILENTLY in your head, look for "weird" fingerings. weird passages -- decide if you want to use alternate fingerings in any passage, etc, etc -- Remember you only have 30-60 SECONDS to do all this, so you have to be used to READING as much music as you can. Last year my daughter auditioned to 2nd chair at All-State -- she was surrounded by MANY other 1st chair players from their respective schools so make sure you are PREPARED!!!!! Go in to the audition with a clear mind and an open mind that you MIGHT or MIGHT NOT make it. Be prepared for either answer -- you will find out around Thanksgiving time (after you try out for All-County) --- usually. The main thing -- have fun and relax while you are learning these and go ahead prepare for your 9th grade year when you have to do ALL 12 scales in 2 min!!! (many have to be done with 3 octaves!! -- that add how fast you have to play the scales -- tone will still matter!) Good luck--
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ted Donaldson
Date: 2001-08-31 21:49
Sorry about the "synch" thing, but i forgot to say i was playing bass.
Also Mindy's Mom, do you have any openings for students? My last teacher, (Coleen Gerhig) has decided to sell tupperware instead of giving lessons. Thanks...
ted
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jenna
Date: 2001-08-31 23:21
How many trumpet players does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
1.. then 6 more to explain how they could have done it better.
I couldn't resist.. my best friend is a trumpet player, and a know quite a few others. The cocky stereotype is so true sometimes... from high school aged to the 80 year old section leader in my military band. =)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2001-09-02 22:02
Ted. Where do you live? That will have a lot to do with who you can get to teach you. By the way, I HATE bass clarinet try out material that concentrates on almost nothing except high notes. That is not what the instrument was intended to play!! Also, I've been playing the clarinet for 61 years, teaching for 51 years, and still learn something new about it all the time. Good Luck on your try outs.
Bob Curtis
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
