[husky403]

Hi, I hope this is on topic enough to be posted on this forum. Mods, my apologies if it is not.

My girlfriend is a music performance (clarinet) major in college and I am trying to find a good gift for her that is music or clarinet related. I will spend up to around $200. She is a pretty good player and can play most of the major concertos decently. She admires Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman, but has never received training in jazz. Myself being a drummer (please don't ban me ), I would like her to get a start playing and enjoying jazz. Would any of you recommend any books that would serve as a good introduction to jazz that are suitable for an experienced player? This would be addressing stuff like improvisation, style, technique, stuff like that.

Also, if there are any cool accessories or DVDs or hot items right now in the clarinet world, please point them out. THANKS!!

 

[dirty]

I don't know of any jazz clarinet books that could possibly be as good for a player as listening to Don Byron, Eddie Daniels, Sidney Bechet, and, as you mentioned Shaw and Goodman. Maybe start with some of that? I know that very few things bring me more joy than hearing new (to me) clarinet music. You have to listen to and learn to love jazz before you can play it will, and I think she'd like to hear thost musicians, if she doesn't already (she probably does, now that I think about it...).

If you can somehow find her a good reed, that would be a perfect gift for a clarinetist!

I need to find a girlfriend who would put this kind of thought into finding me music-related gifts...

 

[Dog Pants]

"Ah feel your pain."

Dirty's suggestion is good, but you want something that will make a difference. Something that will build the bridge, right?

Ok, here's Dr Phil's prescription.

Go here:
http://www.geocities.com/bird_lives_2000/ByArtist.html

This is a site with transcriptions of Jazz and Blues solos. Check out the list of solos. There's some great clarinet solos, from Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Johnny Dodds, Sidney Bechet, Eddie Daniels, etc. These transcriptions are as good as it gets. $0.50 cents a page, cheap as chips. Delivered by email. Done it many times and the speed and service are hassle free and fantastic.

Order $30 or so worth of solos. That'll be around 8 solos or probably more.

Then download those same tunes on Itunes, or buy the albums online. Itunes would be cheaper and easier I think?

Now your missus can play along with the solos and learn the right, tone, feel and phrasing.

With the money you have left, you could get one of these:

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?item=2939286&cart=339131351523221969

You'd still have enough money left to get something she'll appreciate time and time again.Like a clarinet repair kit from music medic.
http://www.musicmedic.com/catalog/products/kit-101.html

Add a few roses, tie a ribbon around Mr Happy and you're in the good books for a whole week!

 

[RootyTootoot]

As above + Jimmy Giuffre for CD suggestions. There are a couple of of "jazz methods" for clarinet available (eg John O'Neil) - obviously much of the material will be way "below" her musical level but there'll be some that will interest her if she's fairly new to jazz. Also there's the Aebersold series (I think Vol 1 is intro to improvisation) which will lead her into an improvisational approach quite fast and then she could pick an choose volumes that interest her if she really gets into it.

 

[sambeaux]

Good plan Dr Phil. Transcribed solos with the recording to go with them... brilliant!

Being a classical player she'll definitely feel a need for sheet music and etude books. I recommend Artie Shaw's books. They have interesting lines that really swing. Book 2 might be better for someone who already has good clarinet technique.

 

[slobberchops]

birthday clarinetist

Expose your GF to Jimmy Giuffre's clarinet playing. Classical clarinetists don't believe a clarinet can sound *that* sexy....

Also, if she is really into the clarinet, Jack Brymer's book ``Clarinet'' (ISBN 1-871082-12-9) is one for the clarinet geek. History, technique, repertoire, tuning, setup.

Better yet, take her to dinner at a live jazz club with a decent reed player. Beats a gift-wrapped stack of charts...

S.

 

[jwarner]

Dog Pants, Been away - takes a while to get used to the new avatar even though I don't respond much.

Your commrnts about Music Medic and the like are spot on. I keep a mixed sax and clarinet kit fully stocked at all times and also a mpce/tenon kit in the sax case. Don't know how many times I've charged a beer or three or four or .... for a quick fix. Should be worth heaps of brownie points to huskie403 and it sure beats paying for the XXXX.
JIm W

 

[Gordon (NZ)]

If not already mentioned, how about some minus-1 recordings of favourite pieces already being played.

 

[koteris]

The Jim Snidero "Jazz Conception" books are great. There is a clarinet version of both the intermediate and original books that allows you to play along with Ken Peplowski on some nice jazz etudes based on standards.

 

[Canadiain]

The best gift I ever got was the Ridenour ATG reed finishing system. Thats good for any type of single reed player.

Of course if shes already good at fixing her own reeds it might be redundent, but for me it was fantastic. No more bum reeds. The music medic kits are great too.

Cant help with encouraging her to play Jazz though, either she wants to and will, or she doesnt and wont. I would never make anyone do it, that just cruel and unusual punishment

 

[Bootman]

Get her a mpc tweak from a respected refacer. This is always popular.

Alternatively, Chocolate and flowers always works well for girls.........

 

[Canadiain]

Get her a mpc tweak from a respected refacer. This is always popular.

Alternatively, Chocolate and flowers always works well for girls.........

Touch a mouthpiece that she's happy with and I dont think it will have quite the effect that chocolates or flowers would!

My wife recons that if I get her flowers I must have a guilty concience about something. I'm not saying shes wrong either

 

[husky403]

Thanks guys!

Thank you so much guys/girls! I am well set. I never expected such a huge and enthusiastic response. Great forums-- maybe I will point her here (after the birthday of course )

 

[Carl H.]

Thank you so much guys/girls! I am well set. I never expected such a huge and enthusiastic response. Great forums-- maybe I will point her here (after the birthday of course )

Caution - some clarinet players would be offended at the thought of interacting, let alone learning anything from sax players. YMMV

So what did you get her?:?

 

[AnotherClarinetist]

Caution - some clarinet players would be offended at the thought of interacting, let alone learning anything from sax players. YMMV

So what did you get her?:?

Seriously? All I ever hear from clarinet players is, "Uh, practice more."

 

[SuzySax]

I liked the Vandoran Optimum lig and cap set that Gandalfe got me. But then I really like the Opus II clarinet that he got me last year.

 

[tictactux]

Seriously? All I ever hear from clarinet players is, "Uh, practice more."

*WHACK*

After pondering about it some more, I agree you have a point.

...mebbe a Baermann book?

 

[PamelaH]

Another idea if you want to encourage some real learning of jazz would be to find a casual group in your area where anyone can jump in and do some improv. or just watch if that's what they want. You two could go together.

I know of one such group in my area, but being a clarinet geek first I haven't gotten up the nerve to go try it myself.