Might be worth doing long notes before plunging back into the Mozart, in different registers and different dynamics. I find that helps a lot in getting tone quality back.

Thanks, good idea I'll get and do that right now.

Good luck. And have fun.

hope it goes well

I'm currently buried in MA final projects but today I am determined to get my clarinet out and have a play. Probably some Brahms as I'm beginning to look at one of the movements with a pupil of mine at the weekend. Also, I'm joining a new band in September so I'm going to do some e-flat practice. The neighbours will love me!

Thanks folks! Gulp!

C sharp major, B flat minor and B minor from Book 1, and A flat major from Book 2. I tend to play right through Book 1 up to F minor or thereabouts, and cherry-pick after that




I'm sure you will succeed, Barry! But if you don't find it easy, what hope do I have?

You'll do it, I'm sure. But it's not in any way a piece anyone would get overnight, and it does require a lot of work. Hope you enjoy it.

I must have been pretty well in shape 25 years ago because I used it as an audition piece at university... I didn't get in to the orchestra, but I was confident enough to offer it, which staggers me now as I've never liked very high notes (and as I'd just had a major wisdom tooth extraction I had very little ability to tense my cheek muscles so high notes were risky as well!) But I do love it. Must get the record out again!

Well first band rehearsal was tricky!! Very picky conductor made me nervous, and then hard sightreading to boot (Yorkshire Overture). AND then they asked if I would consider learning Double bass!! I am a Grade 8 violinist, but wow that is a leap! And I would still need to learn the piccolo for the marching/parades....
well I enjoy a challenge!!

If it's the same piece I think it is, I know Yorkshire Overture (I'm thinking of the piece by Phillip Sparke). It's a fun piece to play, and I've got it in my head now!

All the best for subsequent rehearsals, Dawnmc71

It is that one...a lovely piece, but not easy for me at grade 5ish LOL
Sounds like it might be a fun journey, at least. But boy do I need to practice on my holidays next week!

Yeah, I'm sure you'll get into it, Dawn. You'll find, whatever part you have, that the Yorkshire Overture has a lot of bits that repeat, so once you've looked at one bit, you've also looked at several other bits.

I've done more on the Lutoslawski dance preludes, have also looked at no.3 in the series, just for fun...

Now, now. Don't go getting ideas!

you're safe, clavi! Definitely not doing no. 3 next month

Playing around with a B major arpeggio in the hope that I'll be able to play it in context.....

And other stuff too of course.

You could stand in for my left hand when I'm practising Bach's Prelude & Fugue in B (Bk2). Then I'd be free to drink a cup of coffee while I practise.

That could be interesting.

I had another go at this today. Thanks for your help Barry, the runs are getting there and I tried your suggestion for the turn, which worked too! I'll bring my copy down tomorrow so I can tell you what bar 219 is written as. That bit was still troubling me today.

OK, 219 in my copy is:

F (quaver), A, C, F, A (all semiquavers), C (quaver), A and F# (semiquavers) and E flat (quaver).
All except the first F is under the same slur, and the edition tells me to take a breath after the first quaver, although I'm struggling to take on here when trying it up to speed, which means I can't play the next few bars because I run out of breath.

Ah right, OK. It's risky to take a breath there, not least of which you may end up late on the following A, then panic sets in and it makes the breathing worse. I have to admit I'm really sneaky and I miss the first of the two lower clarion quaver Cs in bar 217 for a breath. No-one's noticed yet but what that does allow you to do is get a really good supply of breath for the technical bits in bars 219-222 : and people will remember that bit, 'cos it sounds impressive!

The other combination of notes I've seen at bar 219 is F (quaver), then, ascending, throat A, C, F, A, C (all semiquavers), then, decending, A, F#, Eb, D, C (all semiquavers). This is the way I usually play it : I think it sounds more impressive I also slur each group of 6.

Wow !! you've all been doing a lot of work!!

I only managed a couple of practises whilst away - studies from demnitz and Velocity and more work on teh Mozart Mov 1 and 3 mainly.

Kingsley - enjoy the concertino. It's hard but worth it in the end. Not really played it since the recital in May. Must get it out again.... without having the music in front of me I think my version is like yours in bar 219??? I'll have a look tomorrow...... (or when I get a chance)

Some scales.
Weber Grand Duo, 2nd movement which is currently in pieces. Anybody got a tube of superglue handy?

Lots and lots of band marches!!!! And it seems mostly in 5 or 6 flats and in microscopic print LOL

I've seen more versions a la Kingsley's, but the other version is still quite common - can't recall which publishers do which, though, and my copy is the same as Kingsley's, but I've pencilled in the other notes in bar 219

Bb minor sbhoa?


I've been playing band stuff first clari parts too and some scales too of course

Yes, I thought I'd better give that a go.
Along with one or two others I thought it would be a good idea to run through.

how is it going?

Ask me tomorrow.....

I will, sbhoa

so will I

My version is Boosey and Hawkes.

And Dawn, yes I am enjoying it. When I first started playing it, I found it really hard, but I surprised myself with how quickly its come on. Hopefully, my teacher will be happy with the progress when I go back to school and have another lesson.

mine is Peters Edition, so they match there...

I have 2 versions : Dowani which has extra notes around this area (maybe your second example Barry but I'd have to check...) And an American very old version which is a copy of an original played by Reginald Kell and has some of his annotations on it..... (my teacher has the original and has leant me the copy long term)

It does make you wonder what Weber's original intention was, and which of these two versions is the 'correct' one...

Had another go at the Weber, and managed to play all the way through it! I still need to work on some of the runs and I haven't really looked at dynamics and expression in great detail yet, but it's coming on wuite well!

Well done! A lot of the expression/dynamics are sympathetic to the notes you're playing, so hopefully you shouldn't find it too bad to do.

Well I passed my band medical today so I am now an official flautist of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Band - or I will be when I am sworn in and get fitted for a uniform. Yippeeee!!

AND I got my piccolo today, spent most of this afternoon cleaning the tarnished keys, needs a bit more work but looking better already. Played it a little but didn't dare much as all are tired from travelling or not sleeping around here today!!! But I can play it, possibly better than the flute LOL So lots of marches practice for me for the rest of the week....

Excellent : hope you have fun

Had a look at some of Brahms' Sonata no.2, and the Saint-Saens Sonata for clarinet...

Sounds like you've been busy but obviously had fun

My poor has been neglected today, violin has been out making its noise of course that should be - the violin has been out and sounding lovely but that might be a slight exaggeration tonight.

^ just modified your post Louise

Thank you Barry, you really didn't have to

Not a problem, Louise

Does this mean I can modify yours?

Feel free Louise

Gosh, you two claris are getting to be such a matey double act I'm going to have to vote for you as Best Couple and redub you collectively barry-clouise!

Back on topic...now learning all over again how to practice absolutely everything as yesterday's lesson was bit of a disaster, to put it mildly. Didn't stop teacher assigning me my least favourite / most difficult Schumann Romance (have a guess which, those of you who know them...) for a recital in less than a month and we haven't even looked at it yet.

Oh, but they're lovely!


As for 'Thelma' & Louise, well!