Klarinet Archive - Posting 000345.txt from 2000/05

From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] FW: More BC questions
Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 12:05:18 -0400

Hi, List...a friend posed the question below...which is followed by my
answer. It's diffiucult to diganose at a distahce of 3000 miles...but any
thoughts/suggestions/ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks...Fred Sterns

> Well I've been slowly trying to get used to my horn. The main brick wall
> I'm running into (or out of) is breath. I seem to get my best sound quality
> with a #3 Vandoren. However I quickly run out of breath, to the point of
> getting light headed and having to take a break - very agravating. On the
> sopranino horn I can play a 9th scale up then down as many as 3 time on a
> breath. On the bass usually only 3/4 -1 time (maybe 11/2 on an easy one
> that I can run fast.)
>
> Any words of wisdom?

Marv...stop smoking! :-)...sorry, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to
make a smart mouth comment!

This is not any easy one, primarily because I think there could be many
causes. Let me try a number of things:

[1] I'll post your question to the Klarinet list...there are over 500
experienced players, teachers, etc., one or more of whom can probably offer
some excellent ideas. Meanwhile...

[2] Here's a list of possibilities:

[a] check your "breathing"...are you taking in sufficient air...as far
down as you can comfortably?

[b] are you relaxed as you "exhale?" Are you "supporting" the flow of
air from your abdomen...not forcing it out too strenuously from the throat?
"Think" of the column of air as originating in your gut with its outflow
being controlled from the source only. Everything else should be relaxed.

[c]...and I hesitate to mention this...the mouthpiece may simply may be
no good...some student mouthpieces just don't meet basic criteria.

Try this diagnostic:

...give some long tones a good shot. At the start aim for a constant dynamic
at, say, mezzo forte, and play from low Eb up to C. Concentrate on relaxed
air flow supported from the depths of your body cavity.

If...after a reasonable trial period...you see no improvement in your
stamina, scrape/sand a #3 a wee bit and see if there is a difference. Or, if
you have a clipper, clip a #2 1/2 up to a 2 3/4.

If you have another mouthpiece, try a comparison. [My instincts tell me
probably your mouthpiece is the culprit but without being on the scene
that's only a wild guess!] You should be able to get a good sound and be
able to play with ease on a closed facing with a #3...but some mouthpieces
play much easier than others, as you know.

Let me know how your experiment with long tones comes out. I'll poll the
Klarinet list at the same time I send this.

Warm regards...Fred

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