Learn to Play Klezmer Clarinet Lesson 1, The Krekht

[@lauragoucher1307]

Really well demonstrated and broken down in a way that I can understand. Thank you, Robin.

[@MegYork]

I really appreciate your attention to detail -- you are very clear! I have had students want this info and I will pass it on. Thank you!

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Great, I'm really glad you find it helpful.

[@rubinsteinway]

Nifty job!

[@fryerre]

Very nicely done. I hope Lessons 2 & 4 come along sometime? The examples (slow and then in performance) and with the music notation equivalent are very effective. I've had trouble (even after a lesson with Oleg) getting the Kneytsh sound - your explanation sounds effective to me and I'll start trying it today.

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

+Rick Edwards Great--so glad to hear it could be of some help. Yes, I will be posting the others soon. There will eventually be 8 or more tutorials.

[@goodnightcircus]

really enjoying these videos! thanks again!

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Hey Thanks! So glad they're helpful

[@grantkoeller8911]

Fantastic lesson!

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Thanks Grant!

[@merri360]

beautiful

[@naokiin9223]

It's excellent class, could you put digittion the keys on the clarinet

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

I'm not sure what you mean. Can you explain a little more what you're looking for?

[@naokiin9223]

@@RobinSeletskyClarinet image that shows which keys we must press according to the notes

[@claudiasiefer8495]

that was enjoyable. I do not play clarinet but I love Klezmer . btw you are a double ringer for the great operatic soprano Teresa Stratas

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

:) I don't see the resemblance but I'm flattered. Thank you!

[@T4MaxDP]

Thanks

[@bobsteckenreiner3415]

Thanks alot=)

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Glad you find it helpful!

[@adamalter7484]

Hey Robin! It's been awhile. Thanks for posting.

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Hi Adam! Thanks.

[@zamisax]

Thanks a lot.

[@Lincoln-jw6hp]

Nota dez professora.

[@doumkatekz]

How do you get that glossiness of tone quality?

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Thanks. Just always aiming for beauty in every style!

[@mirzashvelidze2269]

What is this music name? Please, i very like Romanian music.

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Hi, it's klezmer music and the title is Lebn Zol Palestina played by Naftuli Brandwein

[@mirzashvelidze2269]

@@RobinSeletskyClarinet yes i already saw it last night

[@Metalpazallteway]

Say you were to, aside from the piece being Klezmer, to approach the Krecht effect in the piece as a grace note as opposed to 32nds. is it visually plausable?

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Sure. If I understand you correctly you're suggesting doing the krekht effect on a single note....you would still accent the first note and "ghost note" the second. You would have to think of the grace note as being on the beat as opposed to before the beat. Hope this helps.

[@Metalpazallteway]

Yes that was exactly what I was thinking because having the notes so packed visually I find it somewhat distracting but since you mentioned the ghost note, I'm not sure if notating the consecutive note after the grace a "staccato" marking would be enough since it's such a short time while phrasing. Hence, the way it is written should be suffice? musically speaking

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Notating the second note as a staccato is probably not really enough but in standard notation it's as close as we can get. The main thing is just to choke off the appropriate note in order to get that inflection.

[@reubenpompei3896]

thank you very much i did learn a lot and it's nice to have you teaching us, one question i'm a jazz player , do you improvise klezmer like you would with jazz

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Do you mean improvising over changes? I'm not a jazz player but, generally speaking, the harmonies in klezmer are much simpler than in jazz and the improvisation takes different forms: 1)ornamenting the melody through inflections, slides, rhythmic freedom 2) in an ensemble one could play "secundo" i.e. provide an accompaniment to a melody by emphasizing the rhythmic and harmonic motion or by harmonizing with the melody 3)improvise a doina -- which is something like a cadenza (very free). kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2fLhWWjfK6fgdE. Sorry to be so long winded here! Hope this helps.

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

You could also improvise fills in the klezmer style. In that sense it's similar to jazz

[@chriswagner5902]

Great video. What hardness of reed do you use? It always seemed to me like you had to use a softer reed to be able to bend like that, but firm enough so the upper register was in tune....

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Yes, that's exactly what works for me. I use a Vandoren Blue Box #3--a moderately close, light set-up. Some people prefer a very open set-up that they can blow hard against. . There's no one right answer.

[@slcurts]

The written notes are wrong on that 3rd part of the pattern

[@musik102]

Isn't Klezmer traditionally played on a German/Alberti system instrument? Indeed, do many leading Klezmer players use the Bb Boehm system?

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Many players now use their Boehm system because klezmer has become so popular. It's a part of the classical world now too.

[@musik102]

@@RobinSeletskyClarinet Thanks. Love your tutorials. From Liverpool, UK

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

@@musik102 Great, thank you! I'm actually going to be on your side of the Atlantic giving some klezmer workshops in August: Yorkshire and Newcastle. If you're interested (if it's not too far) let me know. Cheers.

[@musik102]

@@RobinSeletskyClarinet Well, I had a clarinet a decade or so back and was doing quite well but then I moved into flat and decided it was a bit too loud. Anyway, I'm back in a house now and pondering whether or not to get another clarinet. I think you'll like Yorkshire and Newcastle even if you might not be able to understand what the locals are saying!!!

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

@@musik102 Thank you! And happy practicing!

[@Necroidcchris]

Excuse me but, what is the name of that song? Can't find it anywhere

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

It's not on KZbin. It's track #14 on the album Naftuli Brandwein King of the Klezmer Clarinet

[@Necroidcchris]

Robin Seletsky thank you

[@mirzashvelidze2269]

​@@RobinSeletskyClarinet You are wrong, there is this track on KZbin. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6jHmqyQrLeKmKcsi=tUeP6lvZSIC_HGcn

[@mirzashvelidze2269]

This music name is Lebel Zol Palestina kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6jHmqyQrLeKmKcsi=tUeP6lvZSIC_HGcn

[@randomcomment7675]

What is the song of the intro? I would like to play it but I don’t find it

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

It's called Lebn Zol and can be found on the compilation of Naftuli Brandwein's music titled "King of the Klezmer" I don't see his recording of the tune on KZbin but here is a version by the Yale Klezmer Band kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJOamIZqhNh5btk

[@whoitisnot]

I'm looking forward to exploring this series. This first video was very clear and helpful. Your clarinet is quite interesting. I notice that your right hand 3rd finger is keyed rather than an open hole. What is that about?

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Yes, I had it made many years ago to compensate for some hand difficulties. There are also extensions on all of the pinky keys for the right hand and both of those adaptations were designed to make the clarinet fit the hand rather than the other way around. Here's a blogpost where you can read more about it. robinseletsky.com/index.php/blog/18-all-musicians-need-to-avoid-injuries. Glad you like the videos. I have another series in the works that should be out in a few months.

[@michaelgreen4644]

Hi Robin. A very nice tutorial and love the way you broke it down. One thing confuses me. When you describe the three krekts the third is between g and e, but when you play the entire line the notation shows the second krekt (b to g) repeating as the third. Have I missed something?

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

Oh my, Michael, that's a mistake. All the years I've had this video up I never realized it and you're the first person to point it out to me. The notes in the explanation and the playthrough are correct. The printed notes are not - Should be G. F#. E. I'll have to make a note of that in the video desrcription. Thanks!

[@fryerre]

Is the leadin audio & pic of your dad in performance? I searched for his name at youtube and didn't get a hit (other than yours). Thanks again.

[@RobinSeletskyClarinet]

No, that's Naftule Brandwein--an immigrant klezmer from the 1920's. My Dad, Harold Seletsky, was a clarinetist and composer in NYC starting in the 1960's and passed away just a few years ago.

[@gsaxita]

cool th