Klarinet Archive - Posting 000734.txt from 2001/10

From: lubydjackson@-----. Jackson)
Subj: Re: [kl] When to teach voicing for altissimo notes
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2001 01:16:10 -0400

Your post brings about an interesting topic. While playing through American
Civil War Fantasy, I had to play a bar going all the way up to the high G on
the Eb Clarinet. Is this common to find Eb Clarinet parts written so high?
----- Original Message -----
From: "agalper" <agalper@-----.com>
Subject: Re: [kl] When to teach voicing for altissimo notes

> Annie, thanks for all your mentions.The reason those books are so much in
> the low register, is because that is
> the base for the high notes. Not many recognise that. Too bad.How are you?
> We're waiting for you. Abe
>
> Anne Lenoir wrote:
>
> > Dear Robert,
> > I too find your theories very interesting, and I think you should
> > write a method book for teaching clarinet. Are you familiar with Abe
> > Galper's Clarinet Method? It is a wonderful method book for learning to
> > play the clarinet, the best I have seen so far. All of my students love
> > the book. He does spend a lot of time working on the low register of the
> > clarinet, but that is very important for developing a good tone. I do
> > believe that young students have to be able to cover the holes of the
> > clarinet and move up & down the F & G scales of the low register (Eb
> > Concert and F Concert) with ease before the higher notes can have much
> > meaning. It's just sensible to feel comfortable with basic "hole
> > covering" skills when you start to play the clarinet. Abe Galper's
> > Method takes it further than basic comfort, with the use of lovely
> > melodies in 3/4 and 4/4 time in several keys, developing good skills
> > with the pinkies and R hand Eb. I personally enjoy teaching the clarinet
> > this way and don't necessarily think that this would be the time to put
> > a whole lot of emphasis on the altissimo range. Maybe some squeeking on
> > harmonics now and then, particularly if they squeek by accident.
> > But after students have a foundation in basic clarinet fingering
> > skills, involving nice melodic content, I think it might be interesting
> > to see what could happen next in regards to high notes. I don't think
> > that the use of an occasional harmonic "squeek" held out as long as they
> > can, would hurt anything, and I can see how it could contribute towards
> > having a good altissimo range in the future. But these harmonic
> > "studies" need to be written out in your own method, so that others can
> > see what you're up to. Right now, I am more concerned with band
> > directors trying to pressure 10-year-old kids into going over the break
> > when they can't really cover the holes easily and naturally. They come
> > into the lessons wanting to quit band because they have "try-outs" on a
> > C scale (Bb Concert) the next day, and they can't go over the break. The
> > band directors in our district are all trumpet players. The altissimo
> > range is the least f my worrries. Right now it is "finger placement" and
> > good melodic playing. I think the "altissimo" studies should start
> > later, after they can go from A to B without it being a gut wrenching
> > experience. ANNIE
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> --
> Avrahm Galper
> CLARINET TONE TECHNIQUE AND STACCATO
> CLARINET UPBEAT SCALES AND ARPEGGIOS
> EINE KLEINE KLEZMER MUSIK
> Sales at:luyben@-----.com
> (816) 753-7111
> http://www.avrahm-galper.sneezy.org
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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