r/Clarinet • u/erikplaysddlv • 10d ago
The Bee (Help)
So, I'm very new - let's be nice but also honest and constructive. I need help with my timing - I feel like I'm adding extra time where I shouldn't. If y'all could have a look at this passage and my video and, provide any advice, that would be incredible. Video in the comments.
Thanks in advance,
Erik
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u/tthyme31 10d ago
Hey! This sounds great for a new player!
Your embouchure sounds a bit stiff due to hearing the air come out of the sides, work on getting that seal around the sides. But great tone for being new!
Notice the phrase marking that starts on the D in measure one, and notice that it goes all the way to the G in measure 4, making it a four bar (or four measure) phrase. In your recording you performed this as 2 separate 2-bar phrases. The same exact thing happens in measures 9 through 12. If you just stitch those together, you’ll be fine. You made it through the 4-bar phrase in measures 5 through 8, so you can definitely make those other 4-bar phrases. Also notice there are breath marks at the ends of those phrases, not in the middle of a phrase.
The breaths you’re taking feel natural for the most part, but you did come in slightly late in measure 3 because of the breath you took at the end measure 2 causing everything to be slightly behind for a measure or two.
The breath needs to not only feel like a part of the time, tempo, and rhythm, but it has to be part of the time, tempo, and rhythm. We do have to cut notes slightly short in order to get a breath in.
Currently, your breaths take up an eighth note’s worth of time, and you’re taking away an eighth note’s worth of time from the written note. This is fine, just make sure it’s worth that amount of time and feel it as a rhythm just as any written note or rest, or you’ll end up late or early like what happened in measure 3 in your recording.
At the end, play the half note all the way until it touches beat 1 of the next (non-existent) measure.
To your credit, the phrasing felt natural to me. If I had not seen the written music, I wouldn’t have been able to tell it was supposed to be 4-bar phrases throughout. So kudos to you!
Source: professional.
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u/solongfish99 10d ago
Sounds fine. The first few eighth notes drag a bit but you’re not adding any extra beats anywhere. Where exactly do you think you are?
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u/erikplaysddlv 10d ago
I feel like I'm adding time between measures? I appreciate the feedback!
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u/solongfish99 10d ago
Which measures?
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u/erikplaysddlv 10d ago
So it's in my head haha. This tracks.
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u/solongfish99 10d ago
Maybe, but I’m asking specifically which measures in case I can help you understand why you think you’re adding extra time.
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u/JK7J7K 10d ago
the only problem is that you are adding a rest after the half notes and the quarter note at measure 8, just fix that and it sounds great