Klarinet Archive - Posting 000040.txt from 2002/09

From: "John J. O'Neill" <avodah@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Support?
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2002 01:09:35 -0400

Dear List,

Recently, I have been having difficulty playing from clarion g to
altissimo g. In other words, I can't easily sound altissimo g directly
from clarion g. All I get is a grunt as the instrument tries to reach
the higher note. (Altissimo F# is also becoming a problem.) The only way
that I can play altissimo g is to tongue it. Is there any other reason
for this situation besides lack of breath support? I am using a Hite M43
mouthpiece and a 3.5 Vandoren V12 reed. I guess the real question is:
How do you supply (and how do you know that you are supplying) enough
breath support to reach those altissimo sounds? If I tighten up the
embouchure, I have a greater chance of playing those upper tones, but I
am aware that tightening up or biting harder are not the correct
solutions to this problem. I don't really want to use one of the myriad
alternate fingerings for altissimo g. TIA for any help you can provide.

JON

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