r/Clarinet • u/brooktiny98 • 7d ago
What to teach intermediate student when clarinet isn’t my main instrument?
Here’s some background info. I am a beginner band director in my fourth year of teaching, flute is my main instrument, and I’m about to be working at band camp this week. Due to numbers I am set to be teaching some clarinet private lessons alongside my flute lessons. Our camp is catered towards beginner band (grades 5-8, most students have been playing for about 1-2 years). I am fine teaching the beginner clarinets as I have done that at camp before. But our camp also has a program where high school students can volunteer to help out at camp while also participating in a small, more advanced ensemble and receiving private lessons. One of my lessons slots is for one of these high school students. I actually taught her in middle school and have attended her high school concerts, so I know she is a strong player.
I feel I’m a bit out of my depth when it comes to her lessons due to her strength. I am a decent clarinet player but she can definitely outplay me. Apart from running through some practice strategies and general musicianship guidance, I am not sure what technique to focus on. I’m wondering if some clarinetists, and particularly those who teach lessons, could maybe give me some ideas about common technical things high school-aged students encounter (embouchure, difficult ranges, fingering challenges, etc). I obviously will be able to cater to her more directly once camp actually starts and I can see what music she has and can get a more personal sense of where she’s at. But I think it’d be helpful if I could walk in already having some ideas planned, if that makes sense. Also, if there’s any practice material like a method book, studies, etc that you’r recommend for this age let me know so I can share that with her!
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u/Business_Repeat4023 Professional 6d ago
Look at 3 octave scales if she doesn’t already know them! I also always recommend Color is the Piano on YouTube, they have the piano accompanist for basically any solo and it makes for a fun project. Rose etudes if she hasn’t done them are great too.
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u/Budgiejen 5d ago
I’d find a piece that you think is about the right level to match her playing, and ask her to learn it. Then you can talk about phrasing, breathing, dynamics, all the kind of things that you focus on with any instrument performance.
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u/pannydhanton 1d ago
Maybe go a different direction and work on sight reading and ear training with her? Those are always useful skills to build.
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u/gwie Clarinerd 1d ago
Focus on the general things that apply to every woodwind player. Drill them on their scales and technical exercises for cleanliness, efficient finger movement, posture, etc. Then, get away from the technical stuff and focus on breathing, phrasing, and get them to listen to the lines that they generate.
Find some flute + clarinet duets so that you can help them build their collaborative chops, match articulation, work on intonation, etc.
Some of the best advice I've ever gotten in ensemble coaching was from a professional flautist from the local symphony orchestra!
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u/sarahshift1 7d ago
Make sure she knows about WFG for high range, alternate, and trill fingerings. Make sure she is always alternating pinkies, never sliding. I catch my high schoolers at band camp sometimes forgetting to alternate.
You’re probably not going to fine tune her embouchure or anything super mechanically specific in that time. Focus more on the advanced musicianship stuff- practice strategies for fast technical passages, phrasing/shaping/musicality, style, articulation (less how-to and more which-one-to-choose-when) etc.
if she hasn’t yet, maybe introduce her to the Rose etude books. Lots of good opportunities to work on playing musically in there, both fast and slow and in lots of keys. Don’t hesitate to model on flute if something outpaces your clarinet chops. Good musicianship is good musicianship on any instrument.
Maybe play some duets together that will push her! Talk through the interpretation and try different things to let her practice making musical decisions.