 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: NEEMAN
Date: 2008-05-22 13:41
Ok, so I've been taking Clarinet lessons for the last few months, and my current term has come to an end. I live in Ireland, however, come August, I'm going to Sweden for about 4 1/2 months as part of my study abroad.
Under normal circumstances, I'd just wait until September and start my lessons again, but as it stands, I'm going to be out of the country until January '09, and I'm not sure I can afford to take lessons while I'm in Sweden- it might be more prudent in financial terms if I didn't. This means, that having just started learning a few months ago, I'll now have to stop lessons for quite a while.
What I'm wondering is, can anyone give me advice as to what goals I should be setting myself in the meantime? I may decide to get lessons in Sweden, but if that doesn't happen, what kind of progress should I be aiming to make? I am committed, and really want to get good, rather than simply plod along. Any advice? If you want to ask follow up questions, feel free- I'd tell you what stage I'm at in my learning if I had any real idea!
And if you got this far, thanks for reading!
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Author: NEEMAN
Date: 2008-05-22 14:42
I'm pretty sure I'd be able to get one (almost everyone speaks English there, and I have a little Swedish myself from a previous 3 month stay), but it's really a question of finance. I'm still budgeting for the stay, but I'm really not sure I can afford it. But I'm sure you're right- getting lessons there would undoubtedly be a major plus! I suppose I'm just looking for a 'plan of action' if that proves impractical.
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Author: MondeLuna
Date: 2008-05-22 14:53
What is your current practice routine like? That may help you get some great replies. BTW have fun in Sweden, great country.
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Author: NEEMAN
Date: 2008-05-22 15:16
Well, I'm only in the first few months of learning, so it's pretty basic. Here's a rough description:
Usually, I play for at least 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week- weekends I often stay at my girlfriends house, so I don't get to practice then; I find the break usually helps anyway. Some days I may play for 45-60 minutes, and then play again later for a similar amount of time, but that's usually only twice a week; the other days it's usually 45-60 minutes, with maybe a few 5-10 minute honks where I get time.
I usually start off with scales; long notes, then tongued. The scales I know are F, G, Am, Dm and C, though I find that I can usually figure out most of the major/minor scales by ear- but I don't really 'know' them. The scales I know, I can play with (what I think is) good tone (by beginners standards at least), and pretty quickly slurred; tongued it's a bit slower, as my tonguing has yet to catch up with my fingers.
Then, I either hack away at a simple piece of written music, or pull stuff out of the air- I play 'Stranger On The Shore' by Acker Bilk for example, though, obviously, not the way he does! The lower register notes are fine, but when I get into the high notes, it all gets a bit squeaky, tone-wise. 'Istanbul (not Constantinople)' by They Might Be Giants is another tune I've sort of 'shoe horned' onto Clarinet. I also work at an exercise book called 'Clarinet Basics' by Paul Harris. The music is easy (frankly, overly simple for me) in terms of playing, but I have never read music before, and in that respect, it's perfectly paced.
So yeah, that's all I can say of which I think is worth saying. Thanks for the help guys!
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2008-05-22 20:18
Perhaps find some odd jobs to finance a couple of lessons? Maybe street busking if you're allowed to there?
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Author: D
Date: 2008-05-22 21:41
How about seeing if you can find a local music group to join for the run up to Christmas. Should be a lot cheaper than lessons and would help your sight reading and tuning. Good way to make friends too.
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Author: von
Date: 2008-05-22 22:14
IVE LOOKED EVERWHERE FOR THE SHEET MUSIC FOR ''''ARIA THE ONE BY ACKER BILK...ANYONE HELP PLEASE.
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