Wharton Music Center
If you ever listen at the door of the New Jersey Youth Symphony's (NJYS) Hyde & Watson Hall on Wednesday evenings, you might think that NJYS has a collegiate clarinet ensemble in residence. The tone is quiet and focused, and it's not until you peek in that you realize the polished sonancy is being created by high school students. It was a joy to sit in on Bryan Rudderow's Clarinet Ensemble rehearsal and learn more about this special group of NJYS students.
Basic Info on Bryan Rudderow:Bryan has been with NJYS since 2009 serving in multiple capacities, including conductor and administrative staff. He currently teaches privately in addition to conducting Clarinet Ensemble and Junior Wind Ensemble. He also just had a beautiful baby boy!
Why is Clarinet Ensemble important to NJYS?
It fills this void. Over the last few years we’ve turned away many, many talented clarinetists. They want to play in a group--it doesn’t matter if it’s an orchestra. That’s where Clarinet Ensemble comes in. I love this ensemble because the performance level is so high that I can program devilishly challenging music and know that they can meet the challenge.
It fills this void. Over the last few years we’ve turned away many, many talented clarinetists. They want to play in a group--it doesn’t matter if it’s an orchestra. That’s where Clarinet Ensemble comes in. I love this ensemble because the performance level is so high that I can program devilishly challenging music and know that they can meet the challenge.
What musical skills are you building?
There’s a lot of clarinet embouchure issues at play here. Embouchure is how you use all the muscles in the mouth. We’re building that in the wind ensembles and training the students to play for longer periods of time. One of the biggest challenges for young musicians is their stamina. In the Clarinet Ensemble, I don’t give them a break. We go an hour and a half--beginning to end--with no breaks other than when they’re not being rehearsed. So we’re talking a good hour and ten minutes of serious playing, which is more than a lot of them do in a sitting. I’m helping to develop those muscles so that when they do go to a new Jersey Regions rehearsal or NJYS's Youth Symphony, for that matter, they’re that much stronger.
There’s a lot of clarinet embouchure issues at play here. Embouchure is how you use all the muscles in the mouth. We’re building that in the wind ensembles and training the students to play for longer periods of time. One of the biggest challenges for young musicians is their stamina. In the Clarinet Ensemble, I don’t give them a break. We go an hour and a half--beginning to end--with no breaks other than when they’re not being rehearsed. So we’re talking a good hour and ten minutes of serious playing, which is more than a lot of them do in a sitting. I’m helping to develop those muscles so that when they do go to a new Jersey Regions rehearsal or NJYS's Youth Symphony, for that matter, they’re that much stronger.
What’s the repertoire for the coming season?
Bach's Fugue in g minor, Mozart's Allegro, Beethoven's Minuet and Finale and the stretch, or their most challenging piece, is Astor Piazzola's Histoire D’Tango.
Bach's Fugue in g minor, Mozart's Allegro, Beethoven's Minuet and Finale and the stretch, or their most challenging piece, is Astor Piazzola's Histoire D’Tango.
Why is Community Education important?
When you’re dealing with public or private schools, students might be in a good program, but they might not be challenged to the point that they can or should be. In a community education situation, you have the opportunity to deeply impact students with quality training. It’s an opportunity for those hard-working students to get a bigger and better opportunity. The students who come here and find that they might not necessarily be the best player, and are rather part of a really talented core, propels them in turn to move forward together.
Clarinet Ensemble is for students in grades 8-12 and meets on Wednesdays at 6:45-8:15 PM at 570 Central Avenue in New Providence. You can hear the Clarinet Ensemble in concert on January 18, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at UCPAC, 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway. Tickets are $15/Adults, $10/Students & Seniors. For more information about the New Jersey Youth Symphony and the NJYS Clarinet Ensemble, visit www.NJYS.org.
When you’re dealing with public or private schools, students might be in a good program, but they might not be challenged to the point that they can or should be. In a community education situation, you have the opportunity to deeply impact students with quality training. It’s an opportunity for those hard-working students to get a bigger and better opportunity. The students who come here and find that they might not necessarily be the best player, and are rather part of a really talented core, propels them in turn to move forward together.
Clarinet Ensemble is for students in grades 8-12 and meets on Wednesdays at 6:45-8:15 PM at 570 Central Avenue in New Providence. You can hear the Clarinet Ensemble in concert on January 18, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. at UCPAC, 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway. Tickets are $15/Adults, $10/Students & Seniors. For more information about the New Jersey Youth Symphony and the NJYS Clarinet Ensemble, visit www.NJYS.org.
