Sigma Alpha Iota

SAI PHILANTHROPIES, INC. ClarinetFest: An Exciting Opportunity Made Possible by SAI By Chastine Hofmeister E Jessica Phillips Rieske of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and Corrado Giuffredi of the ach year, SAI Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana. Philanthropies, There were also a wide variety of Inc. awards several concerts that featured everything Professional from traditional works to new Development Grants music with electronics. Other to encourage music-related recitals featured jazz, bass clarinet, continuing education and basset horn, works for clarinet professional development among accompanied by large ensemble, its members. and much more. There was truly As one of the honored something for everyone! recipients of this grant, I was As an educator, I was excited able to travel to Lincoln, NE, for to see that technology had been ClarinetFest, the International made a focal point throughout Clarinet Association's annual this conference, and I was given conference. This was an exciting many new tools to use in my opportunity as both a performer private lesson studio. Rachel and educator because I could Yoder and Kellie Lignitz, who perform at the conference to help write the blog Clarinet Cache, gave premiere a new piece, attend a presentation about some of the concerts and master classes by newest innovations in teaching. some of the top clarinetists in our They demonstrated several field, and stay up to date by trying mobile apps that can be used as the latest equipment available at teaching tools, educated us about the exhibits. online Skype lessons, gave tips The composition we premiered on using social networking for is entitled Geometric Fragments educational use, and cited several No. 4 for 44 Contra Clarinets and online resources for sheet music, was written and conducted by videos, and recordings. Their full Ben Stonaker. The huge ensemble presentation and handout can was largely coordinated by now be viewed on their website Sigma Phi initiate Dr. Mary Alice at larinetcache.com/2012/08/ (Lawrence) Druhan from Texas pedagogy-20.html. A&M University-Commerce. Dr. Adam Ballif of Brigham She meticulously recruited Young University gave an members from around the country informative presentation on and spent time locating and the uses for SmartMusic within transporting many of the contra the private studio. He gave clarinets. Geometric Fragments demonstrations on using the No. 4 is part of a series of other program to accompany the works meant to explore clarinet student while playing a solo piece, timbre, and the piece is full practicing ensemble music by of sound effects and extended muting a part and playing along, techniques. and creating custom files that Some of these effects include can actually be used to assess overblown notes that are meant to Chastine after trying out Buffet's new clarinet the Divine. The festival the student. The custom file sound like a flock of angry geese ensemble rehearses Geometric Fragments No. 4 for 44 Contras. option can be extremely useful. and key clicking that is reminiscent composer's website at 44contras.weebly.com. To create a custom file, the of the rain. The work utilizes ClarinetFest offered a variety of master user simply opens any Finale file and exports the full range of the contra clarinet, and each classes that gave me an opportunity to observe it to SmartMusic. From there, the student can member plays a unique part during a 44-note while some of the best professional clarinetists play along as the program tracks correct and cluster found towards the end of the piece. The instructed some very talented participants. I incorrectly performed notes before giving a group is believed to be the world's biggest contra was able to attend some superb classes by clarinet ensemble. Ricardo Morales of the Philadelphia Orchestra, A video of the premiere can be found on the CLARINET continued on page 17 sai-national.org SPRING 2013 PAN PIPES 7

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