Klarinet Archive - Posting 000306.txt from 1999/11

From: David Blumberg <reedman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Major tuning/pitch problem with student
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 10:11:25 -0500

Georgette wrote:
< My students have a concert coming up that they are all preparing for and
this girl will be grossly out of tune. Her playing is a half step pitch
under. I have tried having her adjust her embouchure, experimented by
changing barrels, even had her play on my clarinet. We still arrived at the
same result. Next week we will experiment with a harder reed and different
mouthpiece. Does anyone know how to solve this problem? Our concert takes
place on the 28th of this month. It is for the general public so I want it
to sound the absolute best it can. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. >>
Walter wrote:
You need to determine if her problem is equipment or embouchure/reed
related. Have you played on her equipment? Are you also flat, or up to
pitch? Was she flat on totally different equipment? What strength reed is
she playing on? If very soft, she might get a full tone, but not use enough
embouchure pressure to get the pitch up. You need to get answers to these
questions before you can find a solution. Walter Grabner who
is...........sipping his Mellita Special Roast.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
ClarinetXpress Mouthpieces & More!!!! 991 Wildwood Lane Highland Park, IL
60035 847.433.3309 http://www.clarinetxpress.com

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

Determine what the problem is: first try her set-up to see if you can get
the notes in tune. That would eliminate too soft a reed, and a problem
mouthpiece because if you can't get it in tune, she sure won't either. If
you play flat, it still may not be the reed combo, as your embouchure takes
a harder reed, but if it is in tune to you - it's something she is doing
that needs to be fixed.
Then, have her blow on the barrel alone - is it a G# on Clarinet? That is
an easy one to do, and control, but if flat, start ther raising the pitch.
Next have her blow on only the Mouthpiece/reed, and check the pitch. I like
to have a 20 cents sharp B on a tuner (your Clarinet's C#). My guess is
that it will be on the tuner a G, or G#. Then have her raise the pitch -
looking at the tuner for feedback. Tell her to press her lip harder on the
reed, and blow the air faster, and outward (hold you hand in front of her,
and slightly raised above her hear, and tell her to imagine hitting your
hand with her air.) Think of an inner smile. Do not raise the corners of
the mouth like a grin.
Neidich says that younger kids tend to play with their tongues in the back
of their throat. Make sure that the tongue is forward like when
speaking (speak with your tongue in the back of your throat, and you will
see what I mean.)

PS. lots of replies to the trivia question, but no winner yet. It is not
Paul Zukovsky (as that would be her husbands cousin, not hers).

David Blumberg http://www.mytempo.com/frontclarinetpage.htm
reedman@-----.com
Ormandy Quote: "I'm conducting slowly because I don't know the tempo"

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org