Klarinet Archive - Posting 000364.txt from 2000/05

From: "Dodgshun family" <dodgshun@-----.nz>
Subj: Re: [kl] Hi
Date: Sat, 6 May 2000 18:42:36 -0400

> Hi. I just joined this list. My name is Laura and I'm currently a
sophomore
> in high school. I play bass clarinet in our top band (symphonic band) and
> play clarinet on my own. I also marched tenor sax for the 1999 marching
> season. For the next season I'm hoping for drum major. Does any1 have any
> tips for getting out high notes on bass clarinet? I have a hard time
getting
> middle f and above sometimes. Also, I've been looking for a good bass
> clarinet cd or possibly just even clarinet cd. If any1 has any suggestions
> I'd be grateful.

A few months ago I posted some tips which my teacher had given me about bass
clarinet playing - here they are again, to save you digging through the
Sneezy archives:

- Support, support, support. Because the instrument's bigger, you need to
blow faster and get more air through it, and your diaphragmattic support
needs to be good all the time!
- Don't think of it as being any different to a Bb. When I stopped thinking
of it as a bass, my playing improved heaps! What I mean by this is that
although it is a different beastie, fundamentally it is the same.
- You may be surprised by the amount of mouthpiece you have to have in your
mouth - it's more than you may think.
- Don't bite up on the high notes, much as it feels like you may need to.
You'll squeak.
- If you do squeak, don't back off - get more air through the instrument.
This feels really strange at first, but it works.
- If you're playing up in the altissimo range (I really don't like doing
this on bass, but some composers insist on writing up there) you'll have to
sit down with a tuner and work out some fingerings which are in tune.
- I play with both a neckstrap and a peg - helps me on high notes because
the bass pretty much balances itself. Also means less strain on hands and
wrists.

I had a fantastic bass lesson the other day - doing stuff like multiphonics,
micro-tones, flutter-tonguing and slap-tonguing (don't ever do this with a
good reed - you'll split it down the middle!) - and in consequence I'm
enjoying the bass playing more than ever.

Anna

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