Klarinet Archive - Posting 000961.txt from 1998/11

From: Richard Sankovich <sanko@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Overblowing problem
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 1998 11:39:02 -0500

> I have a problem that has bothered me for several years. When
> playing the A 2
> spaces above the staff, (thumb and 2 fingers of left hand) I
> can too easily
> get the 6th above it (not in tune). I mean very easy. I am
> naturally afraid of
> this note.
>
> Jack Dannenberg

Jack: I have experienced the very same problem, on nearly every
note in the clarion register. It was suggested to me by several
Klarinet list members that I adopt a rounder embouchure, i.e.,
less of a "smile", by pulling the corners of my lips closer
towards the mouthpiece. That pretty much took care of the
problem, so I hope that will be the case for you, too.

I'll also mention that if you can learn to control this
overblowing (make it happen when you want it to), it can be an
asset rather than a problem, by providing you with alternate
fingerings for some of the notes in the altissimo range. I used
this technique just last Sunday in our wind ensemble concert
where there were a lot of altissimo G, G-sharp, and A's to play
at a fast tempo. For example, I can jump (tongued, but not
slurred) from the altissimo E-flat (played with the forked
fingering) to the G-sharp above, and back down, with NO finger
movements whatsoever, using only a VERY slight tightening of my
throat (which probably causes an imperceptable embouchure
change). Same for going from altissimo F (using the usual
"short" fingering) up to A. (These intervals are not the
approximate sixths that you mentioned because I am talking about
overblowing altissimo pitches instead of clarion ones; same idea,
though.)

----Richard Sankovich; sanko@-----.edu

-------------------------------------------------------------------------