As I was teaching this etude to one of my students recently, I couldn’t help but think how much I love the Rose 32 Etudes for Clarinet. Etude #1 from these studies is near and dear to my heart because it was one of the first pieces of music that drove me to falling in love with being an artist.
This short study not only teaches you the mechanics of the instrument: how to go from low to high, loud to soft, up and down. It teaches you expression, how to play with rhythm, and how to be an artist. I always tell my students that these studies are there for you to experiment, learn, and create art. Isn’t that what making music should be about?
I wish that there was a recording of middle school Mickayla playing this etude somewhere… I think she would love to hear today Mickayla’s rendition!
Vanguard Reed Quintet returns to First Presbyterian Church of Ypsilanti on April 19 for an evening of reed quintet music exploring ideas of nature, mythology, and storytelling!