Klarinet Archive - Posting 001204.txt from 1997/10

From: Virginia Scarfino <scarfinv@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Long Tones
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 1997 23:37:09 -0500

First, I have to admit, my teacher never insisted on long tones
or scales!!! But he did assign etudes in every key many times
over, so I really did learn my scales and arpeggios, and had to
play lots of "slow" long-tone type music.

Every now and then, I have periods where I just don't get much
time to practice. When I start again, I do long tones as
follows: low E - middle line B - top space E, middle line B,
breath, low E. Then repeat the pattern up a semi-tone.

I don't seem to have a lot of problems with losing my embouchure
if I don't practice for a while. I like doing the long tones
because it gets me breathing properly. Nice and deep, rather
than shallow. The pattern I use (thanks to a Clarinet coach at
a music camp one year), helps get going over the break working
smoothly, without choking the air off in the back of your
throat.

After practicing long tones, I then like to practice faster
passages slurred - so you get the fingers moving, but you're
still playing as if it were a long tone. Once I've done this,
then I'm ready to add articulation - and it sure is a lot better
at this point, than if I'd started articulating right away.

Just my 2 cents worth! :)

Ginny Scarfino
Scarfinv@-----.net