WoodwindDoubler
10-23-2008, 03:28 PM
The other day while catching up on Bret Pimentel's blog, I came across his review of the etude book for doublers. (You can check it out here (http://bretpimentel.com/blog/?p=112).)
After reading his review, I instantly went on Dorn Publications (http://dornpub.com/dornbook.html#Vadala) and ordered it!
The parts of his review that sold me:
1) the fact it DOES NOT include double reeds.
---While I may go down that road one day ... for the time being I'm sticking to the single reeds.
2) This sentence: "This book isn't for beginners or casual doublers. Vadala, with ill-concealed glee, mercilessly harps on the most difficult issues of each instrument, and of switching between them"
--- thank you ... please kick my butt. No mercy. :o)
3) "This book also isn't double-reed friendly; it's strictly flute-clarinet-saxophone doubling. That should do it for most jazz saxophonists who are working on their flute and clarinet chops"
--- YUP ... that's me! ;o)
4) "And so I find the idea of an etude book "for doublers" to be a little problematic--wouldn't I be better off using the tried-and-true etude books for each individual instrument?"
--- This is one of the few critisims (or at least questioning of the material) that Bret mentions in his review. I DO see his point, but I already have all those "tried-and true etude books" and I'm obviously working though them ... however one of the main things I personally need more attention on is the very skill of switching - hense why I was so interested!
Yes we need to be flute players and clarinet players etc - not doublers - when it comes to sound and skill... but we also need to be able to throw our "clarinet face" out the window in a bar and half and put on the "flute face" as if we never had played the clarinet ... for me that's the hardest aspect of doubling.
Anyways ... I should recieve my book in about a week and will return to throw my two cents in about initial impressions and my feelings once I work through the book a bit.
To Bret, I say thanks for bringing this to attention in your blog! I would have never known about it otherwise. :o)!
After reading his review, I instantly went on Dorn Publications (http://dornpub.com/dornbook.html#Vadala) and ordered it!
The parts of his review that sold me:
1) the fact it DOES NOT include double reeds.
---While I may go down that road one day ... for the time being I'm sticking to the single reeds.
2) This sentence: "This book isn't for beginners or casual doublers. Vadala, with ill-concealed glee, mercilessly harps on the most difficult issues of each instrument, and of switching between them"
--- thank you ... please kick my butt. No mercy. :o)
3) "This book also isn't double-reed friendly; it's strictly flute-clarinet-saxophone doubling. That should do it for most jazz saxophonists who are working on their flute and clarinet chops"
--- YUP ... that's me! ;o)
4) "And so I find the idea of an etude book "for doublers" to be a little problematic--wouldn't I be better off using the tried-and-true etude books for each individual instrument?"
--- This is one of the few critisims (or at least questioning of the material) that Bret mentions in his review. I DO see his point, but I already have all those "tried-and true etude books" and I'm obviously working though them ... however one of the main things I personally need more attention on is the very skill of switching - hense why I was so interested!
Yes we need to be flute players and clarinet players etc - not doublers - when it comes to sound and skill... but we also need to be able to throw our "clarinet face" out the window in a bar and half and put on the "flute face" as if we never had played the clarinet ... for me that's the hardest aspect of doubling.
Anyways ... I should recieve my book in about a week and will return to throw my two cents in about initial impressions and my feelings once I work through the book a bit.
To Bret, I say thanks for bringing this to attention in your blog! I would have never known about it otherwise. :o)!