Klarinet Archive - Posting 000021.txt from 1995/09

From: Alan Stanek <STANALAN@-----.EDU>
Subj: High E & high F#
Date: Sat, 2 Sep 1995 15:08:05 -0400

The various helpful postings on the difficulties of producing these notes on
the clarinet have been interesting. I and my students also struggle with
these notes. I can remember Dr. John Mohler's suggestions to me some 20
years ago. 1. You have to "hear" the note before you play it. In other
words, knowing the exact pitch you want to produce helps greatly. If you
"hear" it flat or sharp you will probably experience a squeek of a note with
uncharacteristic tone quality. 2. Take deeper, fuller breaths in order to
control the "fast" "cold" air you'll need. 3. Playing comfortably in the
upper (altissimo) register requires that you be able to produce notes higher
than those used in most composition. It's sort of like the track star whose
specialty is the 100 yard dash. He/she practices longer distances running at
full speed in order to exert the maximum energy for the shorter race. 4.
Mohler suggested and wrote out an exercise for me. He must have gotten it
from his teacher Dr. William Stubbins because it is published in Stubbin's
publication "THE ESSENTIALS OF TECHNICAL DEXTERITY FOR THE CLARINET" 1964
GEORGE WAHR PUBLISHING CO. Pages 1-7 contain preliminary exercises to the
one I and my students use regularly for extending the range upward into the
altissimo register which is on page 8-9. It goes something like this - in
accented notes, slur slowly from low e to b to e' to b' to e'' to b'' to
high e''' and return. Notice that the intervals are ascending/descending
Perfect 5ths and 4ths. The top b'' to e''' is a perfect 4th. I have my
students think of the "here comes the bride" tune or first two notes of
"Auld Lang Syne". In succeeding exercises go up chromatically. As you get
higher and higher your ear improves, your chops improve, etc. 5. Another
exercise in Stubbin's book is on page 31 - "Harmonic Register Change
Sequence". This exercise demonstrates the harmonic basis for the fingering
of notes in the altissimo register. I find it very useful. 6. Finally,
"perfect practice makes perfect!". Oh, how I wish I had learned this years
ago!

Another useful book for fingerings and their use in passages of real
clarinet music see Tom Ridenhour's book "THE ANNOTATED BOOK OF ALTISSIMO
CLARINET FINGERINGS - AN INVALUABLE WORKBOOK AND GUIDE FOR THE SERIOUS
CLARINETIST".

I would be happy to provide special altissimo fingerings (especially for
notes high g''' and above for the Stubbin's exercises if anyone is
interested. Good luck!
Alan Stanek, Professor of Music
Department of Music
Idaho State University
Pocatello, ID 83209-8099
208/236-3108 (studio)
208/236-4529 (FAX)
e-mail <stanalan@-----.edu>
President-elect
International Clarinet Association