Woodwind Society!

Hey, can I join??

I've just sorted out my pieces for my A Level recital and grade 8 ish.. I'm a clarinetist. Playing Levefre (sp?) Sonata n.5 1st mvt, Schumann Fantasiestuecke (all 3), Poulenc 1st mvt and Paul Harris Victorian Kitchen Garden prelude.

For my grade 8 I intend on Schumann and Poulenc again, plus the Berkeley most likely...

Clarinet scales are fun Just whip up and down.. Obviously learning them isn't so great!

Piccolos only really sound nice when they're playing in a big ensemble like an orchestra. I got one after begging my parents for years for one for christmas, I hardly ever play it now as I don't think I can get away with subjecting my neighbours to it!

But if you're going to be playing it, as much as it hurts, you need to practice, more on the tone side than anything else ( I assume you're pretty proficient on flute to get asked to play it so you should have some technique) and practice different octaves etc as you need a fairly "tough" embouchure for it. There's plenty of study books for picc out that you can look for.


Most importantly, practice with a tuner, it will make things much easier when it comes to playing it! They're notorious for being out of tune!

Schumann Fantastiestucke

I like them! What don't you like about them?

A common misconception is that is a negative smiley, it isn't I love them, having played one for my Grade 8.

*blush* Okay, I'm useless with smileys then! Personally I prefer the Poulenc, but the Schumann is very good as well 20 minutes is quite a long time though - I'm worried that by the time I get to the Paul Harris I'll have lost all control of my tone... Lots of practice required!

Lol, I'm really really bad at practising. Correspondingly, I'm pretty good at sightreading!

Poulenc: Sonata 1st mvt, the one I'm (trying!) to play - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kXecQ7lc0O4

He missed out a trill/tremolo in the first bit though, before the main tune!


And heres the one for 2 clarinets: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sts4gCNQxTw

I know... I'm just very very glad I am not an oboist! They seem to be three times as expensive as clarinets.... And you can pay crazy amounts of money for string instruments as well, although this is a woodwind thread.
A good instrument makes such a difference though - I'm not sure I'd be able to play the kind of repertoire I play now on a basic instrument. Certainly not well enough for me...

*plays oboe and bassoon.
Sometimes I think I'll never own my own instruments.
But I don't care about oboe so much, so I'll only get one if I'm rich some day.

I'm getting a saxophone soon though. Eeeeeee!