Klarinet Archive - Posting 000166.txt from 2000/11

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Long Tones and Embouchure
Date: Fri, 3 Nov 2000 10:35:41 -0500

At 09:39 AM 11/3/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>2. how do long tones "strengthen the embouchure", please be specific,
>as I must be doing something very wrong.

Terry,

Some people use the term "long tones" differently. I define long tones as
a note beginning at the softest possible volume (with the tongue on the
reed and defining the exact moment of the beginning of he sound)
crescendoing to a vigourous ff or fff and then decrescendoing back to the
absolute silence - all shades of gray (tone) accounted for without blemish.

Long tones, as a foundational study, have some requirements in order to work
1. They must be done with a pedagogically sound embouchure
2. The process of biting or squeezing the reed eliminates the value of the
exercise.
3. The long tones must be executed properly - that is, the < the > and the
pitch/tone/etc. inbetween.

Given these paramenters, long tones require that the clarinetist be able to
change air speed at will in a seamless way, be able to adapt the embouchure
strength as the volume increases, be able to make small adjustments in the
aural cavity (tongue placement) as the volume increases or decreases, use
the corners and lips (and jaw - very slight - so slight I hesitate to
mention it) of the embouchure in such a way that the descrescendo does not
allow any pollution (hiss or the sound of air ineffectively running through
the horn without affecting the reed vibration, reed tip buzz, or fading in
and out of the tone) of sound to occur.

Through the process of doing long tones, embouchure strength increases as
does control of the use of air. Long tones also allow a clarinetist to
"center" the tone in the middle of the note - whatever the design of that
horn will allow.

I have an article I am hoping to have uploaded to the Online Clarinet
Resource. I just haven't sent it in to Stanley Geidel yet. It is in
response to the overwhelming amount of private email I have received
regarding the other articles in which air speed was mentioned. The newest
article entitled, "Air Speed - What is it and How Can Controlling it Can
Help Your Playing?" should be done soon.

>3. how do long tones "beautify your tone", likewise, please be specific,
>as I must be doing something very wrong.

Control and awareness of sound - as intitiated by the combination of
embouchure and air - using equipment you already have.

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Symphonic Winds
Head, Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
(309) 556-3268

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

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