Clarke Technical Studies - More Questions

[Dieter Z]

Some years ago when I practiced a lot of Clarke Technical Studies I would play each exercise 4 time. First slurred, then single tongued, followed by K-tonguing and finally double tonguing.

Now I have come back to Clarke Technical Studying and have a Metronome on my side.: So I got some questions.

Timing - Some keys are easier to play then others. Would you mark the speed over each exercise to keep a measure on it?

In the past I just played some fast, some slow (by feeling), depending how fast I could play in the given key.

Also, would you only play each exercise as long as you have air in one or two breath and work that way through each study?

Or would you start slow on each study and then steadily increase the tempo, until you no longer can play the exercise correct and clean, no matter how much time you may need? And then go to the next line?

Trying to find a way to maximice the benefit of these exercises.
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[roynj]

If you read the introduction at the top of page 8, Second Study, you might notice that Clarke says, "Should certain exercises [Keys] prove more difficult that others, work on these until they are thoroughly mastered. Do not waste time on those that are easy."

Use a metronome to practice half note = 80 up to 120. I think 120 is a reasonable top end for accurate playing. No need to move much faster than that. I like to do each exercise with one repeat all slurred, on a single breath. Then single and double tongued. As part of my daily warmup, I will usually play all of page 8, alternating tonguing styles from line to line. For example, line 27 slurred, line 28 single tongue, line 29 double tongue, etc.

[Jeff_Purtle]

https://www.purtle.com/clarkes-technical-studies-then-and-now-jeff-purtle

That article should be helpful. I tried to reference other Clarke writings and show the original text of Clarke's Technical Studies vs. the current revision done in the mid 1980s.
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[Billy B]

It depends on the needs of each individual student. My teacher, William Adam, would sometimes prescribe lightning fast, other times painfully slow. Sometimes loud, sometimes soft.
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[trumpetman146]

The Clarke Studies can be used for many different things, it is not a one size fits all approach.

For me, timing wise, I have the current tempo for each key written out beside it. That is the fastest tempo I can play it at with my best sound and cleanly. I then spend the majority of my practice time working to bring the slower keys up to them tempo of the easier keys, so that I can play all keys equally as well.

I also learned all of these slurred, tongued, k tongued, and double tongued like you mentioned and find that to be extremely helpful.

[ktrha]

[Benson]

I have a question - - -

I've read Clarke studies should be double tongued. I'll use Clarke 2 in F as an example -

F G A F G A Bb G.... and so on.

If we're double tonguing, do we play #2 in F as

1. F F G G A A F F G G A A Bb Bb G... In other words same tempo as you just rapid single tongued, but the notes are doubled.

OR

2. F G A F G A Bb G... But you double the tempo and play each note one time, alternating between a T and a K tongues respectively?

Thanks!
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Benson

[GardyParty_11]

[cheiden]

[Benson]

Thanks! Working on it right now!
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Benson

[William. J]

If you havent tried it yet, practicing clarke with your left hand on the valves is a good way!