CHAPTER 5 - Etudes & Exercises

Quarter-Tones

The Seletsky “Robin's Piece” Etude uses quarter tones in legato, chromatic neighbor-note patterns. It explores all four registers of the instrument. Towards the end of the etude, the music moves to a sequence of descending major triads (measures 24-6), where quarter-tone transpositions echo standard C and B major arpeggios. In addition to practicing a variety of quarter-tone scale patterns, a fulcrum exercise that is limited to four pitches will help prepare one's technique for the neighbor-note patterns. Once a sufficient legato is achieved, the performer is encouraged to be expressive rhythmically with this music so that the repeated patterns either move towards or away from goal tones of phrases.

Exercise #28 (click on music for mp3)

One method that the clarinetist can use to practice shaping phrases is to chain beats together.

Exercise #29 (click on music for mp3)

click on Etude for mp3:

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