Italian Clarinetist Gianluca Campagnolo Shares "What's Up" in Modica, Italy

The first submission I got to the blog about sharing "what's up in your area" came from Italian clarinetist Gianluca Campagnolo. He has an extensive resumé and sound clips that can be seen on his website. Gianluca has chosen to share with us his recent publication "New Complete Method for Clarinet" and CD's for clarinet choir!
KM: Could you also describe the clarinet choir CD projects? Why did you record the music and who is playing?
GC: There are the two CDs,  Original Piece for Clarinet Choir, and Transcription for Clarinet Choir. The clarinetists are from the Mediterranean area and I'm the conductor.
KM: To listen to a sample of the CD Original Piece for Clarinet Choir
CLICK HERE
-and-
CLICK HERE ... to hear the transcriptions for clarinet choir CD sample. Gianluca has many CD's available on his website to listen.
KM: What is it like studying clarinet in Italy?
GC: Studying the clarinet in Italy stops around 1920! So I've decided to write something to cover this "Gap."
The guiding idea behind this new method is the awareness that it is possible to form the musician (and the clarinettist in particular) not at random, as it happens (when it happens) today, but only through a unique journey of highly interdisciplinary instruction, in which the instrument and the musical literature specifically for the instrument support in a lively and direct manner the experience of the student in the exploration of musical forms, genres, and styles.
The Lesson Plan: “New Complete Method for Clarinet.” a didactic plan structured in 360 weeks, moves the student forward in a gradual method of study and systematic progress. I think, in fact, that repetition is the basis of good learning. Certain patterns, if they are repeated many times, return to be of use in the future. This method wishes to avoid any superficiality in the means of study. A good method of study, combined with a good teacher (honest and conscientious), and with consistency of time dedicated to study, are the fundamentals of the path to the professional and artistic career of the student. This very gradual model is really a scientific model. It is based on constancy and on the desire to arrive at the first important goal (for many that would be the final examination in clarinet). Every day, the student must increase his daily practice. Every 7 days, the teacher must verify the student's work. This aspect of gradualness may be observed in the Staccato (each week the student increases by one increment on the metronome to arrive, for example, only after 160 weeks at performing the 16th note at 120); or also on the Chromatic Scale Training, where instead the rhythmic values are increased (from quarter note to 64th; also in this case over the course of 120 weeks). I have also included the approximately 1800 fingerings for obtaining different tone colors, tremolos, multiphonics, and substitute fingerings. Intonation Training sounds the unisons, the octaves, the fifths, the fourths, the thirds, etc., through a course of 160 weeks. With Exercises and studies each week the student confronts a new technical feature, an articulation with the fingers, a rhythmic pattern, a melodic study.
Music for Clarinet, Clarinet Discography and The Great Clarinetists:"Chamber music for Clarinet" outlines music from duets to quintets, music with piano and with other instruments. Clarinet Repertoire is the attempt to create a complete work of the original compositions for clarinet; it has a chronological order of composers and works, including title, instruments, and opus number. The book examines exclusively the compositions for the soprano-clarinet (Bb or A) and original solo-clarinet literature, clarinet and orchestra and all the ensembles with clarinet (from duo to chamber ensemble). "Clarinet Discography" is an extensive recordings list from the beginning of the history of recording up to the present. "The Great Clarinetists" is a list that covers more than 300 clarinet virtuosi from the eighteenth century until the second half of nineties; the work considers their professional training, the participation to national and international musical contest and awards received; the concert player activity as soloist – duo with piano, chamber and orchestral ensemble – didactics and recordings.
KM: Thanks so much to Gianluca for sharing, and I hope to bring more articles like this to Clarineticus Intergalacticus soon!