 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-11-15 02:30
I made a post a little while ago asking for a good scale book to learn from. From all the suggestions I got, the most popular seemed to be Klose and Baermann III. But I was wondering which one? The dilemma is that I'm not really a good clarinettist. I am a music minor in college and don't know my scales at all.
I know no other scales above one flat and one sharp. I play music with any number of sharps and flats just by looking at the piece and after a few tries memorizing what letter notes I have to flat or sharp and what's natural, but if someone were to ask me to play an Eb scale, I couldn't do it. Only with the music in front of me. And arpeggios . . . forget it.
Would it be better for me to start with the Klose, then after I get the scales down move on to the Baermann (which is rumored to be more technical) or should I just go for the Baermann right off the bat and learn that way?
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-11-15 06:03
There is one wonderful page in the Klose that covers all the major and minor scales that can last you a lifetime. Add to this the one page from the Langenus method on all the major and minor chords and you have a double whammy. While I worked on the Baermann studies a lot, I have concluded that I would give them second priority to the Klose and Rose books. Baermann wrote a lot of technical studies that seem less musical. Good luck!
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Author: Herb Hall
Date: 2002-11-15 06:11
I guess every one has a preference. Mine would be Klose-Lazarus by Harvey S. Whistler from Rubank. Starting from page 20 on through to Ab Major page 32. Get a handle on this, and with practice the rest should be easy. Hope this helps, with this choice you cant go wrong.Good playing, Herb.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-11-15 07:02
Klose or Baermann III for scale practice?
Both will navigate you through all the keys. It doesn't matter which one you use.
Don't forget to practice scales in thirds, as they are just as important.
Start learning scales with a metronome set very slowly. Make sure all finger movement is even and smooth. Listen for proper intonation. Use alternate fingerings when necessary.
You may not enjoy learning to play in 6 sharps, but the day will eventually come when a piece you are playing modulates into F# major.
You'll be thankful you took the time to learn...GBK
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-11-15 14:19
Try the Galper book "Scales and Arpeggios" from Boosey and Hawkes. It is well laid out and excellent info ...its a good book!
Sincerely
D dow
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-11-15 14:19
Try the Galper book "Scales and Arpeggios" from Boosey and Hawkes. It is well laid out and excellent info ...its a good book!
Sincerely
D dow
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Author: Mark S.
Date: 2002-11-15 14:24
All good advice.
I don't want to be rude, but would you mind my asking what "music minor in college" means if you don't know your scales? That's a little like saying "math minor" but not knowing your multiplication tables. This is not intended to be a criticism -- everyone has to start somewhere. I'm just intensely curious.
Best of luck.
M.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2002-11-15 15:13
You might also try working on your scales from some other angles. Practice writing out your major scales so that you are familiar with them. You could use some theory software to drill and practice. You should learn to play scales and chords thinking through the key and then playing it without reading music.I feel this will help tremendously in developing a sense of tonality and a kind of "one-ness" with the instrument. You will begin hearing the patterns and your fingers will start to anticipate where they need to go. This is much the same as a jazz player learns patterns in all keys. Start with major scales, then on to arpeggios, minor scales, minor arpeggios, diminished and augmented chords, whole tone scales. Also, work chromatics in there, first with a basic range and then expanding it. While it may seem to take longer, this will give you a more thorough connection and understanding of your instrument. Good luck.
Ed
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-11-15 15:36
Certainly Mark S. No apology needed. I know what you mean. The thing is I never took music seriously in HS. Never learned the theory, just played in the high school band. Never practiced outside it, but enjoyed playing it. I went to college for two years and didn't touch my clarinet and started to miss it. Now that I'm back in college, I started playing again and instead of just "having fun" am really REALLY enjoying playing it. And I now (a little late I know) have this drive to become good! So I figured I really need to start the right way. I play in the ensembles and play my music, but I wanna know all my scales, the thirds, I'm taking music theory starting next semester, and I figured what better way to become better at something I now love and enjoy than to minor in it.
That's why I don't know my scales and still declared it as a minor. I just <i>recently</i> (let's see if this HTML stuff works . . . ) put my heart into it. I'm still determined to minor in it . . . and am still deciding whether to change my major to music performance or not.
Alexi
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Author: William
Date: 2002-11-15 16:02
The Klose Complete Method covers all the scale and arpegiated materials that you will ever need to know as a college "minor." However, I also agree with Ed because my first introduction to scale scale theory was with my high school private clarinet instructor who made me write out all of the scales on manuscript paper, two octaves (three when appropriate) in this sequence: Major, Relative Minors--natural, harmonic & melodic (four lines of scales, all "related" by key signiture). Starting with C major and working around the circle of fifths, spending two lessons in each key signiture area. Eventually, these scales were all memorized before I even saw the Klose or Baermann books. While I was writing (and memorizing) these scales, I was studying out of the Rubank Advanced and Lazerus Method Books (and practicing three hours a day). No doubt there is softwear available today that would help you complete this scale writing task. The basis theory is not difficult to understand, it's the writing and learning part that is most time consuming. My advice--go for it!!! Perhaps your "minor" will decide to become your Major.
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Author: Robert
Date: 2002-11-15 16:21
Alexi- that's great that you're getting more into your playing. Practise your scales- major or minor! :-)
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Author: Mark S.
Date: 2002-11-15 16:57
A mighty but worthwhile undertaking. Spend time with Baermann, but get your hands on a basic theory text as well to brush up on some of the fundamentals before you plunge into college-major level courses. Circle of fifths, intervals, modes, harmonies, cadences, etc. are all basic necessities to get through. Think of it in the same way as learning syntax before you can start programming HTML pages.
Good luck!
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Author: clarynet
Date: 2002-11-15 17:54
Hi!
As a minor, I'm sure you don't want to spend lots of money. If you get the Klose, that's about 30 bucks, the Baermann is half that, I'd go with the Baermanna and then see if anyone owns the Klose, there's only about 4-10 useful pages on scales in there, see if you can photocopy them.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-11-15 18:11
I thought I saw the Baermann mathod III for like six bucks on jdhite.com? Was I looking at the right one?
Alexi
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Author: Amy
Date: 2002-11-15 21:04
sfalexi,
I'm a second-year college, first-year music major, and I didn't REALLY know my scales until this year. I've had Baermann for years, but I didn't really dedicate myself, so I only learned up to 4 flats and sharps. Learning to play your scales while studying theory helps tremendously- and I definitely second the advice about brushing up on basic theory skills because first-year theory moves fast. I use both Baermann and Klose- I find Klose's scale layout easier, but Baermann is much more thorough in my opinion. Just practice them every day and stick with it- you will get them eventually!! Good luck!
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-11-15 22:39
sfalexi- go to your college library. They should have the Klose and/or Baermann (or you could get them through inter-library loan). See which you think looks better to you. You could photocopy the useful part of the Klose. I use Baermann, personally, because that's what my teacher told me to get. Good luck in theory! If you look around the internet a bit there are some basic theory sites where you could read about scales.
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Author: Mindy
Date: 2002-11-15 23:12
Stievenard's
Practical STudy of the Scales for the clarinet. I think this is the best scale book. It has scale studies in major and minor keys.
--Mindy
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2002-11-16 17:50
Well thanks everyone for the help. I never even thought of trying to get those books through inter-library loan. That'd help me cause then I could take an actual look at them. I'll see what happens. Thanks for all the input.
Alexi
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2002-11-17 14:52
Having a picture of the circle of fifths in front of you helps you memorize the order of the scales (how many sharps or flats they have) and their relative minors. The scale books can be used as only a crutch to remind you of what you play, but it's more important to be able to memorize them.
Remember the order of sharps and flats, then the circle of fifths will be amazingly helpful, and your scale book will fall to the wayside only used as a last-resort reference book.
If you wish, I can send you this Circle of Fifths over the e-mail if you use Microsoft Word.
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Author: Melanie
Date: 2002-11-18 07:46
What I have done (and what my students are starting to do) is learn and memorize scales first. (Major & Minor-natural, harmonic, and melodic). Then memorzie the page with all major and minors running together in Klose. After that, the Baermann III, Twenty-Four Technical Exercises in all the major and minor keys by F.W. Schmidt, and the Kroepsch studies in major and minor keys. It sounds like a lot, but my teacher has compiled it all into his "Study Materials for Clarinet" I play through the Klose study everyday when I first put my clarinet together. what I've been doing lately to keep my scales fresh is to pick one key a day or a week, depending on time and go through all the exercises in that key (major and minor modes) I can usually get through it in about 15 minutes and I find that it's a great way to warm up. Good luck, and if you are interested in the book that my teacher has published, let me know by emailing me, and I'll tell you about it.
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