Klarinet Archive - Posting 001558.txt from 1999/01

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Tuning while playing
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 07:25:12 -0500

On Sun, 31 Jan 1999 Jdclar@-----.com wrote:
> This morning I experimented with a few notes and my tuner seeing
> how much I could "lip" the notes. I could see no appreciable change sharpening
> but I could flatten a note about 5 cents but the tone became worse. I know
> that something must work because I have heard small groups resolve a note
> between them and it makes a great difference. So how do you do this? When do
> you do this? I can't believe that you do this in 32nd notes but certainly must
> at the end of a piece or passage on a sustained note.

Jack,

At the very least, your last two posts regarding altissimo and this one
about tuning are related. You can adjust pitch downard in any register
simply by altering the tongue position both in the back and at the soft
palate (SP?). The Rhapsody in Blue smear is achieved this way - by moving
to a fingering that allows the bending of the upper note down and starting
on the lower pitch using that fingering - than gradually moving into the
tongue position for the upper note (the reverse of dropping pitch on a
given note). Of course, it is much easier in the higher registers by
simple virtue of the closer intervals of harmonics/overtones as related to
the accoustics of the clarinet. You should be able to drop pitch quite
reasonably without having to adjust the embouchure much at all.

Raising pitch is another issue. Sure you can bite - in a pinch (no pun
intended) - but it is better to find a key or pad to open to adjust pitch
upwards. Tongue position can slightly augment it, but not by much.

RG
Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director - Concert Band, Symphonic Winds & Titan Band
Advisor - Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University

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