Klarinet Archive - Posting 000427.txt from 1995/09

From: "Nancy G. Mathison" <76175.776@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Undertones
Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 04:19:23 -0400

Patricia,

I experienced excellent results in getting rid of both undertones and squeaks by
doing several harmonic exercises on the clarinet. The purpose in learning to
play the harmonic series, much like a brass instrument, without the aid of the
register key or the venting of the left hand index finger is that we learn
exactly where to "hear" and blow for each note on the instrument rather than
relying soley on a correct fingering to produce the desired note. Here are a
couple of exercises:

1. Finger throat register "G", but overblow it so that the "D" above th
e
staff sounds. It will be noticably out-of-tune. You may find it
easier to produce the harmonic or squeak if you do not tongue the
reed, but instead release the air into the clarinet with a "ha" or
"he" syllable. Play mezzo forte to forte for this exercise. Once you find the
"D", play down a C major scale fingering open "G" down to the lowest "E",
slurred. Play the scale slowly enough to center each note, especially
the low G/staff D, but quickly enough to complete the scale
in one breath. You will find that some reeds will allow you to cente
r
the G/D with little effort, whereas some reeds will not allow you to
sustain the harmonic at all. I find that the G/D is the most sensitive of the
harmonics to play.

2. Finger the same throat G and play G-D-G-D-G-D-G by keeping the open
G
fingering for both notes and overblowing it for the D above the staff.
Repeat this exercise several times. Again, you may need to use a "ha' or
"he' syllable at first, and then switch to a very light touching of th
e
sliver edge of the reed for articulation. Try repeating this exercise
continuing down the scale using the first space F, then the E, D and low C.
When this exercise begins to feel manageable, try doing the same exercise, but
overblow to the second harmonic. In other words, starting with open
G, play: G-D-A-D-A-D-A-D-G. Repeat several times and continue down the
scale to low C.

There are many other exercises using the harmonics, but these will give you a
good start. You may find it helpful to take any note which is being
uncooperative and sustain it, i.e. play a long tone on it without the use of the
register key. Once you manage to stablize it, try playing the same long tone
(no register key) and articulating it intermittently. My ideal for articulation
is to touch as little reed as possible, and to touch it as lightly as possible.

Hope these suggestions help. Please let me know of your results.

Sincerely,
Nancy Mathison