4th Grade Band clarinets Don‛t forget to practice your “Musical Alphabet” forwards and backwards: “A B C D E F G...G F E D C B A”! In thinking about Thanksgiving this week, we listened to a recording of “Variations on a Shaker Theme” by Aaron Copland. The song it is based on is called “Simple Gifts” and is a great Thanksgiving theme. The group playing is the Dallas Wind Symphony. Check it out by clicking here. Here are some things to remember while playing the clarinet: ● Make sure that your fingers are covering the holes completely to get a good sound. ● Make sure you have enough mouthpiece in your mouth that the reed can vibrate, but not so much that you get squeaks! ● Make sure to keep all your fingers “above” the clarinet while you play!! ● Use your tongue to start each note, like saying the word “Tah”.
Your tongue should touch the tip of the reed at the start of the note, then move out of the way to let air go through the mouthpiece for the rest of the note. ● Note reminders: ○ C - thumb plus first, second, and third fingers. ○ D - thumb plus first and second fingers ○ E - thumb plus your first finger ○ F - thumb ○ G - no fingers
“Jingle Bells”
E E E- E E E- E G C D E-- F F F F F E E- E D D E D- G- E E E- E E E- E G C D E-- F F F F F E E- G G F D C---