As I'm moving house and job I've given up clarinet lessons for a while and while and will have to find a new teacher if I want to start again.

I've been having lessons since January and now passed my grade 3 with distinction (just, 131) and really love the instrument, after my exam I went out and bought some grade 4 and 5 music to keep me busy over the summer, and it's so lovely now to be able to tackle some 'proper' music to really get my teeth into. I've been playing the Mozart two arias and Divertimenti no 3, Goldschmit 'Evening' and Schumann 'Widmung' from the grade 4 book, W.Lloyd Webber 'Frensham Pond' from the grade 5 book (although need to work out fingering for top E), and some of the grade 4 & 5 Demnitz studies.

I'm really just looking for some hints and advice about how to go about things by myself, as I've got used to being set targets each week by someone else, which so far has usually been things I could quite easily do when I put my mind to it, now the pieces will need more work on them I think. Has anyone else gone it alone for a bit before? Have you worked towards exams by yourself? (I'm a bit sad, I really enjoyed doing the grade 3 exam and I like having goals!) Did you end up developing any bad habits without people to keep you in check? I guess I just want a bit of reassurance really!

Croeso Eirlys.

Many things are possible and reading and learning new repertoire is always fun. Could you find a new teacher and take occasional lessons now just to keep a check on things? A lesson once a month would be much better than none.
Failing that, try to make some of the Forum events. Our own Barry Clari is usually around and he is very helpful and always willing to give advice on clarinet matters.

I'd go carefully with building up to higher notes.
Try to make sure that you are really secure up to C before moving up to altissimo notes and work on them before playing music which uses them.
The higher you go the less it's about just knowing the fingering. Other things have to be right too.

I know there are people who work towards exams by themselves, but I think it is very difficult to do so - you really do need someone who can stand back from what you're doing and listen to it for you, giving you feedback and suggestions for improvement. I did need a teacher to make progress, and now that lessons are sporadic, am finding it much more difficult to sustain things. You're right to want to take time to find the teacher who suits you, but I do think that whilst you're waiting you can at least have a hunt round repertoire at your level and see what appeals to you: try working on a few pieces, but then, if you're starting to feel stuck, do go for lessons if you possibly can.

I'm doing ok with C-Csharp-D, can jump there now clearly without having to run up in a scale, but I don't know where to go after D because obviously that was all I needed for grade 3.

I think you're all right - I might try and find a teacher for occasional lessons once I'm settled in a few months.

I wouldn't even think of going any higher for some time yet.

I've just done grade 5 and only really been doing preparation exercises for notes above Eb so far.

Were it me, I'd consolidate all that I already knew before venturing higher eirlys. High notes on the clari are interesting things, each of which have their own flavour and own foibles, and to be honest, you ideally need someone else to tell you what those foibles are.

For example, I find E to be a very different beast to D#/Eb. F isn't all that far removed in character/behaviour from E, but F#/Gb is a different kettle of fish altogether.

If you make it to Chester, I'll give your technique a check over.

Just wanted to wish you luck, eirlys. I am not a clarinettist, but a flautist, but can sympathise with having to "go it alone" for whatever reason!

That'd be good barry, thanks. I'm hoping to make it will send off the form this week (need to track down cheque book). I just want to play Frensham Pond and it has an E in it! I'm an inpatient beast at times.

Weirdly, had a very vivid dream the night before last that I could just magically play an E.

Good luck to you.
I have yet to play anything with an E in though I've been doing preparation exercises for some time.
.... it's not a high note.....

You'll get there with the E, and hopefully I'll get time to check your technique out at Chester to see if you're ready for the E. Look forward to seeing you there eirlys.



E is just a note...