Klarinet Archive - Posting 000812.txt from 2002/10

From: "Joseph H. Fasel" <jhf@-----.gov>
Subj: Re: [kl] Half hole
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 2002 11:54:57 -0500

Thanks to all who responded. I wonder why none of my teachers ever told
me about this--because it would be a "bad habit"? ;-)

--Joe

On 2002.10.29 15:02 GrabnerWG@-----.com wrote:
> In a message dated 10/29/2002 4:19:51 PM Eastern Standard Time, jhf@-----.gov writes:
>
> > Pardon my ignorance. As a recorder player, I know about half-holing, but not as a clarinetist. What tone hole or holes does one half-hole?>>
>
> Half-hole is the technique of slightly covering left hand first finger tone hole that is opened to produce the altissimo.
>
> It is used to help slur to the upper note, rather than producing the noticible "POP" that occurs when the first finger is abruptly lifted.
>
> I was taught to do it with a rolling motion of the first finger, almost a reverse of what you do to go from F# to the A key.
>
> Use in the wrong situation can cause flatness, so as Tony reminds us, it is a technique that you use when appropriate.
>
> It was "drilled" into my head too. I can't imagine not using it when appropriate.
>
> Walter Grabner
> www.clarinetXpress.com
> "Killer" Eb mouthpieces
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

Joseph H. Fasel, Ph.D. email: jhf@-----.gov
Decision Modeling and Analysis phone: +1 505 667 7158
University of California fax: +1 505 667 2960
Los Alamos National Laboratory post: D-7 MS F609; Los Alamos, NM 87545

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