Klarinet Archive - Posting 000712.txt from 1997/05

From: njs5@-----.uk (Nick Shackleton)
Subj: Re: What is the sound of a single breath clapping?
Date: Tue, 27 May 1997 18:56:01 -0400

To clarify my question: I don't have any air escaping from my embouchure or
>mouthpiece. It's the sound of air blowing through the bore itself.
>A soft but clearly heard "ffffwwuuuhhhhhhh" underneath the tone sound.
Since nobody has been very constructive let me try:
There are two generic approaches to that problem. On is to reduce the amount
of air that is flowing and the other is to reduce factors that make it
turbulent.
Starting from the second, wiping the saliva off the bottom of the reed is a
start. If it is a problem that only occurs sometimes this might be the only
thing, but it is worth pointing out that sharp edges (for instance, on the
tenon of the mouthpiece) can be a problem and it is conceivable that (as
with the discussion earlier about rotating the bell) the orientation of the
barrel might affect whether or not an edge is having an effect. If I get a
new mouthpiece I always check, and round off if necessary, the edge of the
tenon.
Going to the first part of the solution, it should be a teacher that is
saying this but I will say it anyway: I think that one of the things that
(consciously or not) one works on when one practices long notes, is to
optimise the embouchure in such a way as to make as much sound with less air.
The other aspect of air flow is that (obviously) the reed affects it. I
think that the flatness of the reed at the end of the slot it important here
(that is why a lot of people flatten the reed on a file); if its not
absolutely flat you need to push more air through. Also the state of the
tip; sometimes if a reed starts being less responsive (needing more air to
make it play) you can improve it by putting it on a piece of glass (the
window) and rubbing the tip a little with brown paper. Nick

   
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