Have been looking at 2 alternatives pieces for grade 4 clarinet
Monkey nuts list B and Catch it list C
Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on making the most of these pieces?
Anyone played that for exams?
Full Version: Alternative Grade 4 Pieces
I would really recommend Monkey Nuts. I have 3 pupils who chose to play that instead of one of the others in the grade 4 pieces book, and all are now using it for their GCSE performance too. It's a great fun little jazzy piece which sounds best with a big, bright, confident sound. I'd suggest starting to put it with piano as soon as possible, as there are moments that are quite intricate. Also, DYNAMICS!
Two of these pupils also played Catch It. For that, you need to be confident in your high notes, as a small, "tight" sound wont sound great every time it jumps to a top C sharp or D. Practice moving from lower notes, up a scale, to these higher notes, and focus on keeping your tone even.
Hope that helps. Just a few ideas off the top of my head.
Two of these pupils also played Catch It. For that, you need to be confident in your high notes, as a small, "tight" sound wont sound great every time it jumps to a top C sharp or D. Practice moving from lower notes, up a scale, to these higher notes, and focus on keeping your tone even.
Hope that helps. Just a few ideas off the top of my head.
QUOTE(Clare1986 @ Nov 4 2009, 06:36 PM) 
I would really recommend Monkey Nuts. I have 3 pupils who chose to play that instead of one of the others in the grade 4 pieces book, and all are now using it for their GCSE performance too. It's a great fun little jazzy piece which sounds best with a big, bright, confident sound. I'd suggest starting to put it with piano as soon as possible, as there are moments that are quite intricate. Also, DYNAMICS!
Two of these pupils also played Catch It. For that, you need to be confident in your high notes, as a small, "tight" sound wont sound great every time it jumps to a top C sharp or D. Practice moving from lower notes, up a scale, to these higher notes, and focus on keeping your tone even.
Hope that helps. Just a few ideas off the top of my head.
QUOTE(Clare1986 @ Nov 4 2009, 06:36 PM)
I would really recommend Monkey Nuts. I have 3 pupils who chose to play that instead of one of the others in the grade 4 pieces book, and all are now using it for their GCSE performance too. It's a great fun little jazzy piece which sounds best with a big, bright, confident sound. I'd suggest starting to put it with piano as soon as possible, as there are moments that are quite intricate. Also, DYNAMICS!
Two of these pupils also played Catch It. For that, you need to be confident in your high notes, as a small, "tight" sound wont sound great every time it jumps to a top C sharp or D. Practice moving from lower notes, up a scale, to these higher notes, and focus on keeping your tone even.
Hope that helps. Just a few ideas off the top of my head.
Thanks. Have posted for my daughter, age 10. She really likes the sound of Monkey nuts on the CD and finds it enjoyable to play so will probably go with that.
She is not so confident with Catch it as like you said the top notes need to be consistently good. She likes the sound of it but sometimes the high notes are good and other times not so good. I think she is worried that with exam nerves they may be difficult. She finds the other list C pieces boring though although plays the study well so will probably play that.
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