Klarinet Archive - Posting 001166.txt from 1998/12

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Sharp or Flat Troubles!
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 08:18:09 -0500

At 12:44 AM 12/30/98 EST, Sara wrote:
>4 1/2 years. My equipment sucks. I got a cheap student model clarinet
with a
>10 dollar poor mouthpiece. I was going to get a REALLY GOOD mouthpiece, but
>Dad thought it was too. When I change my embouchure, I almost never get in
>tune. I go from flat to sharp, or sharp to flat. Usually flat to sharp to
>flat.
>
Just a guess, but it is possible that your mouthpiece may be too open,
giving you a bit too much adjustment flexibility -- nice for bending notes
in jazz, but difficult to control in ensemble playing. Also, check your
instrument with a tuner. You may find that it is a matter of certain notes
being out of tune. That may be correctable by a technician, or you may
learn to make adjustments in your playing. If, for example, your throat
tones are consistently sharp, you may learn to adjust your embouchure when
playing those notes to compensate. Better equipment is always nice, but if
that is not possible, you may have to learn to make do with what you have.
Also, try to get someone to work with you with long tones to try to hear
the "beats" caused by the interference between two close frequencies. I
learned to recognize it by helping my uncle tune his pipe organ!

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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