Clarinet and Klezmer Music: Exploring the Shift from Oral to Written Pedagogy
Abstract
The clarinet is a traditional member of the klezmer band, yet it was integrated into this ensemble later than other instruments. Klezmer music is traditionally taught by rote, which poses challenges for today’s clarinetists, particularly those lacking aural skills. Without a solid foundation in aural skills, these musicians may struggle to replicate melodies and rhythms accurately, making it difficult to perform authentically within the klezmer tradition. During the klezmer revival in the late 1970s, however, the USA saw an increase in notated music, largely carried by traveling klezmorim (klezmer musicians). Despite this growth, written literature often fails to capture key elements central to klezmer music due to the lack of interactive feedback. This research highlights existing resources for clarinetists that often overlook crucial steps in learning the klezmer style. My exploration of written and notated literature has revealed a lack of specificity in essential techniques. While pre-recorded videos provide more detailed guidance, they still fall short in addressing unique klezmer elements. Many instructional materials, including method books and audio recordings, do not adequately cover these specific techniques, hindering a clarinetist's ability to learn effectively. Additionally, the absence of interactive feedback in instructional videos can lead to doubt and uncertainty in a student’s progress. I will be exploring the resources available to me as a resident of East Tennessee to understand how modern klezmer musicians in the region have learned the style. To gain insights, I will conduct interviews with two members of the klezmer band Dor L’Dor, focusing on essential techniques and advice for aspiring klezmer musicians. Keywords: Ethnomusicology, klezmer, folkmusic, rote, clarinet, pedagogy
Start Time
16-4-2025 9:00 AM
End Time
16-4-2025 11:30 AM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Art and Humanities
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Faculty Mentor
Alison Deadman
Faculty Department
Music
Clarinet and Klezmer Music: Exploring the Shift from Oral to Written Pedagogy
The clarinet is a traditional member of the klezmer band, yet it was integrated into this ensemble later than other instruments. Klezmer music is traditionally taught by rote, which poses challenges for today’s clarinetists, particularly those lacking aural skills. Without a solid foundation in aural skills, these musicians may struggle to replicate melodies and rhythms accurately, making it difficult to perform authentically within the klezmer tradition. During the klezmer revival in the late 1970s, however, the USA saw an increase in notated music, largely carried by traveling klezmorim (klezmer musicians). Despite this growth, written literature often fails to capture key elements central to klezmer music due to the lack of interactive feedback. This research highlights existing resources for clarinetists that often overlook crucial steps in learning the klezmer style. My exploration of written and notated literature has revealed a lack of specificity in essential techniques. While pre-recorded videos provide more detailed guidance, they still fall short in addressing unique klezmer elements. Many instructional materials, including method books and audio recordings, do not adequately cover these specific techniques, hindering a clarinetist's ability to learn effectively. Additionally, the absence of interactive feedback in instructional videos can lead to doubt and uncertainty in a student’s progress. I will be exploring the resources available to me as a resident of East Tennessee to understand how modern klezmer musicians in the region have learned the style. To gain insights, I will conduct interviews with two members of the klezmer band Dor L’Dor, focusing on essential techniques and advice for aspiring klezmer musicians. Keywords: Ethnomusicology, klezmer, folkmusic, rote, clarinet, pedagogy