 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marshall Jiang
Date: 2007-06-30 20:04
Hello, I recently attended FSU band camp and had to play a difficult piece for me (Dance of the Jester). In the song, there are a few places where the clarinet has straight 16th note for quite a long time. The problem is that I seem to have a speed limit on how fast my finger goes. I can play the part perfectly at 120 but if I increase the tempo just a bit, I mess up a lot. My question is that how do I increase the speed more?
Thanks!
Marshall
p.s. This is my first post, please tell me if I did anything wrong!!!
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Author: Connor
Date: 2007-06-30 21:09
Practice the part by playing it 20 times perfectly at 60 bpm, then increase the tempo
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-06-30 21:11
Slow and EVEN practicing is ALWAYS the best way to learn a difficult passage and eventually increase speed.
I teach and use the "9+1 method":
Play the difficult passage(s) at a slow but EVEN speed. Try to do this 9 consecutive times. On the 10th attempt increase the speed one click of the metronome.
If that does not work, repeat the passage another 9 times at a slow and even speed. On the 10th attempt, again try it at an increased speed.
There is never a substitute for practicing with EVEN and CONTROLLED fingers. Only that way will you be able to see the inconsistancies in your fingering and determine how each finger muscle works. Over time, the speed will eventually come.
BTW - Many fingering problems are caused by fingers that are too high off the keys. Keep the fingers close when you practice slowly and evenly...GBK
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-06-30 21:25
Also, when practicing slowly, use the "muscle memory method." Exaggerate the pressure of the fingers on the holes/keys and exaggerate the movement off the hole/keys (sorta flicking up) try that a few times, shake it off, then go through the same passage at combat speed.
........Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2007-06-30 21:30)
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Author: brycon
Date: 2007-06-30 22:39
I have not tried this "muscle memory method," but I would be careful of practicing technical passages with anything but light and controlled finger movement.
One thing that I have found helpful is to displace the downbeats. For instance, play the passage slowly as written. Then play the passage, but place the second note on the downbeat. Thus the passage will be displaced by a single sixteenth note. Then place the downbeat on the third sixteenth note and play the passage, etc.
Also, try playing the passage backwards, or in different keys. I have found that all of these exercises will increase fluidity and control.
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Author: Marshall Jiang
Date: 2007-07-01 00:46
Since I was preparing the peice for a camp (5 days of preparation) I'm wondering if there is any accelerated methods. I usually have plenty of time to prepare for all my concerts and auditions allowing me to use GBK or connor's methods but it's too much time on just one peice of music. I have never tried Paul's or brycon's ways but they look quite cool (it's going to take me a while to play them backward....).
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Author: grumpyman
Date: 2007-07-01 05:18
Memorize the passage. Sing it every second of the day. Imagine the fingerings in thin air. Finger it on a pencil. Take it beyond technique and think music of it. That way, it will be etched indelibly in your permanent memory.
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-07-01 06:22
I try to isolate the problem and practice the 3 or 4 notes that I stumble on.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-07-01 11:37
I try overlapping sections. For instance, I'd play bars one and two till I get them smoothly. Then bars two and three, then three and four. So, (at least in theory) I should be able to now play through bars 1 - 4 without stumbling. Also, not playing it backwards (unless I'm misunderstanding and taking it too literally) but starting at the last part of the dificult run and playing the last two measures. Then add a measure before it, and continue on like that.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: brycon
Date: 2007-07-01 13:44
Alexi, I did mean to literally play a shorter passage backwards. I learned this in a masterclass with Michael Brecker, who although a jazz saxophonist, was easily one of the most technically gifted musicians in the world.
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Author: Marshall Jiang
Date: 2007-07-01 16:40
Thanks guys. I'll try these methods next time on a fast part and ask my private teacher for input.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2007-07-01 17:52
Awesome. I've tried reading pieces backwards (for sight reading practice. Sounds odd), but I never thought to use it as method to learn a dificult passage. Gonna give it a try!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Bubalooy
Date: 2007-07-01 19:06
Try making the groups of 16ths into as many different recurrant patterns as you can think of: for example, the first 16th is a dotted 8th followed by a 32nd etc. This makes every other note twice as fast or twice as long as written. The same finger pattern occurs but you've practiced every other note at twice the speed. Then reverse the pattern. Then start over again but starting on the second note of the group. Also try note, triplet, note triplet. etc.
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