Stay fit

No, this is not an advertisement for a new sports program ... Behind the title Fit in 15 minutes is rather a comprehensive and systematic compilation of warm-up and basic exercises for clarinettists. Reiner Wehle, husband of Sabine Meyer and until his recent retirement professor at the Musikhochschule Lübeck, is the author of the clarinet edition in this series, which has already been published by Schott for various instruments.

Divided into 12 subject areas, the training work contains 99 exercises. Anyone who wants to use the 3 volume basic technical teaching aid Clarinet Fundamentals by Reiner Wehle will recognize many of the exercises; this edition is a kind of condensation of his extensive teaching material. The author points out in the foreword that warming up is no substitute for practicing. And so this booklet is to be understood as a compact motivational and reference work to help you put together a constantly changing, sensible warm-up program to maintain your skills on the instrument. If, on the other hand, you want or need to acquire a thorough technique first, we recommend that you pick up the Clarinet Fundamentals recommended.

Fit in 15 minutes starts with blowing and intonation exercises, then focuses on finger technique (looseness, legato playing) and articulation. Finally, there are scale exercises and special fingering combinations. Each section is accompanied by a short introduction with various performance instructions and tips. In all exercises, Wehle places great emphasis on sound, looseness and air control and advises that the exercises should be performed at a calm tempo. He recommends choosing four to five exercises to practise, which should then be performed thoroughly and calmly. If you stick to the recommended daily program, you will certainly be able to maintain your clarinet fitness even after corona-related breaks in playing!

Reiner Wehle: Fit in 15 minutes. Warm-ups and basic exercises for clarinet, ED 22746, € 17.50, Schott, Mainz