Klarinet Archive - Posting 000503.txt from 1999/10

From: bob shaw <theshaws@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Altissimo
Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 13:53:10 -0400

Your views on finger up are interesting. I must say that I agree with you, (
and Russianoff!) but have been taught the opposite technique(finger down).
It is nice to hear that someone else actually agrees with me.
I also teach the technique starting on low A, 3rd partial E, 5th partial
c#, etc. It just seems to make sense. I would just like to add that it is
very important to introduce these excercises well before the student has to
use these notes, taking time to extend the range so that pinching or biting
does not occur, which may be the cause of many pitch problems in the
altissimo register. Most people learn these notes because they have them in
a piece in band and have to learn them quickly.

Deborah

"David B. Niethamer" wrote:

> on 10/15/99 2:14 PM, Rebecca Williams wrote:
>
> >When teaching them the fingerings, do you start with the half hole or do
> >you teach first finger up and introduce the half hole concept later?
> >
> >We are going to approach the notes first by long tones to get them used
> >to not biting for the high notes.
>
> I always teach the first finger all the way up at first. My grad school
> teacher, Leon Russianoff, made us *always* lift the first finger, and
> *never* use the half hole (What never?!?...Well, hardly ever...!). He
> claimed that it made for sloppy connection of the intervals, and in many
> cases, bad pitch on the altissimo note.
>
> When I teach this, I have the students play low A, add the register key
> to 4th space E (my standard long tone routine) and then lift the first
> finger to get altissimo C#. It's usually pretty easy and stable for them.
> When they can do that, I add low Bb/F/altissimo D and Eb (starting from
> the chromatic or forked low B natural), at first minus the Eb pinky. The
> D and Eb are flat that way, but I find that adding the pinky at first
> usually leads to squeaks and frustration for the student. When they can
> do the slur without the pinky, and I see that they aren't doing too many
> embouchure gymnastics, I have them add the pinky to improve the response
> and pitch.
>
> HTH
>
> David
>
> David Niethamer
> Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
> dnietham@-----.edu
> http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/
>
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