 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clair
Date: 2002-09-16 19:15
Hello! In about five weeks I'm going to be competing in my very first concerto competition, so naturally I'm very nervous. I've never done more than a four measure solo...not to mention Weber's concerto no.1! So, I was kinda hoping for some tips, like what exactly the judges are looking for, how to play with a good accompianist, and how on earth to get over all that stage fright... besides the fact that I was wondering if maybe I'm too young to be doing this? The competition is mainly geared towards very advanced (high school) players, and I'm 14 and have been playing the clarinet for only a little over three years! Am I aiming too high? I'm very nervous about this but clarinet means a lot to me so I really want to compete but not make a fool of myself...advice please!
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Author: steve
Date: 2002-09-16 21:56
Do you love to make music? Do you love the music you are playing? Do you really really want to share this love with your audience? If you can answer yes to these questions, I think you have 90 percent of that solved.... Go out there and show them how much you love music
Good luck!
Steve
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Author: William
Date: 2002-09-16 23:33
And remember to Take Your Time!!!
Walk--don't run--confidently onto the stage.
Play some "warm-up notes" and tune carefully (I suggest C4--G4 pull barrel if sharp; G5--B4 pull middle joint if sharp; G5--F5 adjust middle joint if cannot lip in tune easily.
Adjust your music stands heigth and position--even a little just for "show". Carefully arrange your music. These activities will help you slow down, take charge and be less nervous.
When you are ready to begin, make eye contact with your accompanist, quietly count off your tempo (better to be a bit too slow than a bit too fast) and begin.
We all tend to do things too fast (and carelessly) when we are nervous. But "nervous" can be a good thing and can work for you in giving you that "edge" or awareness that you need to perform at you best. Just try to slow down and take charge--and you will not even need to have me wish you good luck. You will play well "all on your own."
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-09-17 05:37
Are you too young? Heaven forbid no - imagine if someone had said to Wolfgang Mozart "You're way to young to be playing in public". He might have taken up professional snooker instead of music.
You just do it and do it well. Best of luck
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-09-17 15:43
Clair -
Congratulations. You obviously have a lot of talent, and concerto competition is a great place to show what you can do.
I've written a couple of sets of performance notes on Weber, the Concerto # 2 and the Concertino. While they aren't about Concerto # 1, I think you'll find the comments on the style useful. Go to http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=14529&t=14450 and http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=2985&t=2883.
The current issue of The Clarinet has a master class on the first movement of the Weber Concerto # 1. There are all kinds of good ideas there. If you're not a subscriber, maybe your teacher has it or knows someone who does.
One of the best things to do is practice using the piano score, watching what else is happening. When you have the solo part well memorized, follow the bass line as you play, and then add in the other parts. You should get a recording and do the same thing, listening to everything *except* the solo line. You should know that as well as you know the solo part.
In every concerto, there are parts where you have the melody and parts where you're noodling in the background while the orchestra has the melody. This is one of the things contest judges listen for. If you play a background figure like a solo, pushing in front of what's important, you lose points.
It's your show, but your accompanist is there to help. In a good performance, the accompanist carries the soloist in his/her arms, supplying a foundation and energy, so all you need to do is dance. This can help a little with nerves. Your accompanist is like a suit of armor, there to protect you and present you at your best.
The judges are looking for rhythmic accuracy. Make sure you have the fast parts worked out so you can play them completely even.
After that, judges look for good intonation. When you go out, check not just the A, but two or three other notes (no more).
The judges look for good tone. There's not much I can say about this, other than that you need to have some resonance in your sound -- some high-frequency "ping" to make it carry to the back of the room. Don't play to yourself. Pick out someone in the audience and play to them.
The judges look for musicianship -- understanding how the phrases work and putting it over to the audience. Again, this comes from watching the bass line in particular, knowing where the harmony changes, and also from knowing what else is going on underneath the solo part.
It's easy to crescendo too much on rising figures. However, higher and higher figures create a natural crescendo. In the figure G/F#, Bb/A, D/C, Eb about 20 bars after your entrance, let it soar, but don't blast the high Eb. Everyone will hear it fine.
Finally, practice getting on and off the stage a couple of times. Don't be timid on the bow. Walk out, look at your feet and then stand up straight. Don't just nod your head. It's your solo. Present it properly. The same at the end. Relax, wait for the applause to start, make a good bow, shake hands with your accompanist and walk off confidently.
You can do it! Have fun!
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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