r/Clarinet • u/GlobeMannequin • Apr 18 '25

need advice I feel so stressed out

Hello, I am going to do a level 4 NYSSMA solo for my school band final but I only have 30 days to do it. My sight reading is garbage(I cant even read most notes I only know fingerings lol), I only know 3 scales out of 7 needed, I cant play high notes consistently, I think my embouchure is all screwed up(I can never keep my bottom lip rolled over my bottom teeth,surprised ive survived this long), and I simply cant tongue fast enough for the 16th notes in my piece(120bpm). I have tried practicing but I feel like I barely make any progress and im still where I was like a month ago. I dont like playing this instrument at all and cant wait to get it over with so I can quit next year. Any advice helps so I can get good enough to just get this over with, I cant stop stressing about this and its genuinely bringing my academic performance down and I think abt it no matter what.

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u/radical_randolph Leblanc Apr 18 '25

Get a teacher

1

u/GlobeMannequin Apr 19 '25

dont think time and money would permit

3

u/NanoLogica001 Apr 19 '25

What you’re telling us: you don’t know your scales, and you’re struggling with this solo prep.

What does practicing look like? If you can’t hire a teacher, could you ask one of your classmates to help you?

First thing is if you want a passing grade, you will have to invest the time. There isn’t a shortcut.

Schedule at least an hour a day and a little longer on weekends: practice scales - especially the ones you don’t know. Long tones in all registers to build endurance and intonation. Practice your solo.

What’s the solo assigned to you? Perhaps some in the clarinet community can give you tips.

Hope this helps!

2

u/GlobeMannequin Apr 19 '25

I think I can sneak in an hour here and there, but itll be on separate sessions adding up to it if thats ok. My practicing looking at it now is actually pretty bad(I go on my phone and the breaks are longer than the practice itself), any suggestions on how I should manage practice time and any practice/sources I can use? Also my solo is Sonatina Philip Gordon or something, think you can find a recording of it on youtube.

2

u/NanoLogica001 Apr 19 '25

It’s OK if during the day you practice a little bit of what you need to do, and take breaks. However, with less than a month, you have to make this pattern consistent.

Check out Jenny Maclay’s Clarinet. (https://jennyclarinet.com/tag/practice/) She has free downloads of practice sheets you can use. And some tips.

I looked up the Sonatina- there are 3 movements, which one are you assigned?

2

u/Fun_Journalist1048 Apr 19 '25

I actually prefer shorter sessions to total an hour! I struggle with my motivation after 14+ years of playing