Klarinet Archive - Posting 000724.txt from 2003/02

From: "Joseph Wakeling" <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Staccato problems
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 12:40:51 -0500

Hi all,

Advice is needed... after a long period of playing mostly legato work (I've
been over-indulging in Brahms... can one over-indulge in Brahms, actually?-)
I find myself in a bit of a tricky situation with staccato.

Tonguing speed is not the problem. What's happening is that (a) air is
escaping from my embouchure in a big way when I tongue, and (b) I seem to be
biting the mouthpiece very hard during staccato passages. (I suspect the
two are linked.;-)

Any suggestions for practise technique to remove these problems? (I think
it will probably be the focus of my next lesson, so "Work with your teacher"
can be taken as read.;-)

A third problem---I don't know if it's related---going from one long note to
two staccato---e.g., dotted crotchet followed by two semiquavers---I find
the transition from legato to staccato tonguing difficult. For example, I
want to use the tongue lightly at the end of the dotted crotchet, so as not
to create a big gap which sounds ugly---but then I can't get the staccato
tonguing to end the semiquavers. Again, advice?-)

Thanks in advance,

Best wishes,

-- Joe

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