LESSON #10

The Role of the

Clarinet/Saxophone

This lesson supports the following GOALS:

[Goal #1] Students will gain an appreciation of traditional jazz and the continuing value of this music.

[Goal #3] Students will become acquainted with the role of each instrument in a traditional jazz ensemble.

[Goal #4] Students will play traditional jazz.

This lesson supports the following OBJECTIVES:

1.2  Student musicians will be motivated to begin playing traditional jazz.

3.4  Students will become acquainted with the role of the clarinet/saxophone in a traditional jazz ensemble.

4.7  Students will learn how to play clarinet and saxophone in a traditional jazz context.

 

RATIONALE: Playing traditional jazz effectively requires that musicians understand the function of each instrument in the ensemble.

If at all possible, the instrument master class video segments should be viewed by all the students, not just the player(s) of that instrument.  It is important that all performers understand what each instrument is supposed to do, and the performance considerations involved.

NATIONAL STANDARDS SUPPORTED: See Appendix C.

KIT COMPONENTS:

■ Video: Segment 5, “Master Class for Clarinet/Saxophone”

 

ACTIVITY (app. 35 minutes):

1. Play Segment 5 of the online videos for the students (app. 20 minutes).

2. Discuss with the students their impression of the video (app. 5 minutes).  What do they think are the most important things for the clarinetist/saxophonist to strive for when playing this music?

3. Spend the last 10 minutes of this lesson working with your clarinetist(s)/saxophonist(s), helping him/her to interpret and apply what was presented.  Pay particular attention to achieving the New Orleans sound, as this is important to the New Orleans styles, and will probably be unfamiliar to most young players.  Regardless of whether you are able to play clarinet or sax, you can probably help your clarinetist(s)/saxophonist(s) work through whatever he/she finds to be the most challenging aspects of the lesson.

 

EVALUATION:  Do all the students understand the function of the clarinet and saxophone in traditional jazz?  Is your clarinetist(s)/saxophonist(s) able to incorporate the lesson’s concepts into his/her playing?  Has he/she achieved the New Orleans clarinet sound?

 

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:  Your clarinet/saxophone student(s) should continue to view this video segment, and practice the techniques and concepts demonstrated.