Klarinet Archive - Posting 000893.txt from 1998/05

From: Mark Bradley <markb@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] intonation in large groups
Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 16:35:52 -0400

Diane,

I happen to have some constructive suggestions about the intonation of a
band, esp. the clarinet section.

In order to develop good tone quality, a player must obtain a concept of
what tone should sound like. Recordings, or hearing expert clarinet
players are a good way to give an idea of aspired tone.
Easy, right?
Of course, the best way to improve tone quality is with the long tone
exercise. Play some different notes from different registers. Start at
ppp, crescendo to FFF, then back to ppp. Repeat this exercise several
times, each day. With an exercise like this, embouchure and the amount
of air in the instrument are the most important. Remember, when you get
louder the tendency is to go flat, decrecendo tends to go sharp.

Regarding tuning,
your band probably tunes on concert Bb. This note is very poor for
tuning the clarinet. The C comes from the tone hole at the bottom of
the instrument. Pulling the barrel section affects the throat tones
twenty times more than it does the C. By using concert Bb as tuning and
pulling and pushing at the barrel, the throat tones are badly out of
tune while the C is affected only slightly.
Concert A is used for the orchestra, but this is bad for the clarinet as
well, as the B comes out of the bell of the instrument. Tuning this
note with the barrel also tends to push the throat tones out of tune as
well.
The recommended note for both orchestra and band winds is concert F.
This note is an optimum tuning note for all wind instruments.
Start with open G. Pull the barrel if it is sharp.
Play the chalumeau C and clarion G. Adjust these two notes by pulling
the MIDDLE section.
Play low E and clarion B. These two notes should be adjusted throught
the bell.
In short,
Open G - adjust the barrel
Chalumeau C and clarion G - adjust the middle
Chalumeau C and clarion B - adjust the bell
This may take a bit longer, but by spreading the tuning throughout the
instrument registers, tuning problems are at a minimum.

Of course, I am only 15 years old with 6 years experience, and there may
be better tuning methods that are more practical for your band.

Hope this helps.
Mark Bradley
markb@-----.com
http://www.slic.com/bradley/index.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------
For additional commands, e-mail: klarinet-help@-----.org
For other problems, e-mail: klarinet-owner@-----.org