Music Practice 9

I played my clarinet for about 15 minutes. I played through both Rumble and Light Eternal, looking for spots that I still have trouble with. In Rumble I worked on 41 to 62 to see if I could bring back its excitement, and I worked on bars 187 to 194 for fingering and notes, because I tend to squeak there. I also worked on the scale at the end, to have it memorized. In Light Eternal I worked on bars 8-24 to cement it into my brain. I seem to be able to play it fine at home, but not at school. I also worked on bars 50 to 68 for the same reason. I'm still having problems right before bar 147 in the key change zone. There is a lot of jumping around and accidentals there.
I think most of my troubles in band in this piece is because I do not keep track of counting very well. I should pay more attention :) Its hard to practice that at home though.

Music Practice 8 or 9

Hm, looks like I might have messed up the numbers on my posts.

I played efer for about 15 minutes. I mostly just worked on hitting the high notes of Second Suite in tune, but I also was diverted for about 5 minutes playing Robbie Burns songs from another book.
Good night! There is band early tomorrow morning!

Music Practice 8

I played Efer for 20 minutes. We worked on the first two movements of Second Suit. I mainly concentrated on articulation, and on finger-tongue coordination. As well, I did some work on dynamics, but I think I can still improve. I still need to work on tuning, making sure I am playing the high notes right. I found that one of my keys was ticking, but I cleaned my instrument well when I put it away, so hopefully that solves the problem.

Music Practice 6

I apparently didn't make my previous posts detailed enough. Sometimes I just sit down and play for fun, just to keep my mouth muscles working. I don't always sit down with the intention of just practicing one part.
I played Geronimo for about 20 minutes. I worked on bars 157 to 194, and the scale at the end of Rumble on the High Plains. I mainly worked on dynamics and on smoothness of notes. Sometimes I find it hard to connect notes smoothly in a slur, because of the keys. So I worked on making them smooth and even. As well I worked on tone colour a little bit.
I also played through movement one of The Aviator, Icarus, because I really like the running sixteenth notes. I think working on those passages will help me increase my finger speed. As well, I wanted to work on reading the notes, especially when they go by so fast.

Music Practice 5

I played my Bb for half an hour tonight, and an hour last night. I also played with my dog for the same amount of time, so its all fair.

Music Practice 4

I practiced my piece for the test today for about an hour and a half, between last night and this morning.

Music Practie 3

It was so warm and sunny out, so Efer and I played outside for about 15 minutes. We played Second suite. After a few more days I will have the whole thing memorized!

Greetings to the newest kid on the block

Efer.
Its almost my name.
We played together for about ten minutes tonight on my newest favorite piece, 2nd suit. (Links to youtube were included in a previous post. )

Names anyone?

Now I need a name for Geronimo's little friend, the Eb clarinet. Any suggestions?

Music Practice2

I took 25 minutes to play through Holst's Second Suit in F on my Eb clarinet. I was quite pleased to have a piece for my Eb. I really like the the piece, the tunes and harmonies are beautiful.
Here is my favorite youtube version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oa8FrffYGc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYADwzvhZYk&feature=related

Music practice day 1.

I practiced the middle section or Rhosymedre for about 15 minutes, because I was not happy with how I played it in class. Rhosymedre looks deceptively easy, but the notes and the"jumps" or the intervals are hard.

First day of Music Class

Geronimo thought that class went very well. He was quite pleased with all the playing, and amused by how many laughs we have already had.