Klarinet Archive - Posting 000260.txt from 2003/03

From: "Steve White" <bass.clarinet@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] problem with student
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2003 14:14:08 -0500

Here's a wild thought.

A day or two on Bass Clarinet will allow her to blow as hard as she wants to
and maybe learn to open her throat. Ask her if she sings with her throat
closed like that? Maybe a little time spent working just on how you say
certain words very loudly. Like forward march. You don't say forward march
when you yell all day, you say horward harch or something similar. Perhaps
this will help her focus on her throat being open because if your throat is
closed, it will hurt (like coughing).

BTW I don't imply in the slightest that you haven't tried these things, just
giving a response off the top of my head.

Just some wild shots in the dark - perhaps they will help.

Sincerely

Steve White

-----Original Message-----
From: Janis Cadieux [mailto:klargrrl@-----.ca]
Subject: [kl] problem with student

I was wondering if anyone has had similar problems:

I have a student who is really tense and who is frequently closing her
throat when she plays. I'm always hearing that "uht" sound in the back of
her throat. She is tonguing correctly but I think but puts way too much air
through the instrument. I've actually asked her not too blow so hard
(something I've rarely done with other students) and asked her to try to
focus the air more like blowing out a candle. She's been playing a year now
and I can't get her to stop this. She is in her sixties and has a music
background which includes piano and choir so I thought with the singing
background this wouldn't be so much of a problem. Does anyone have any
suggestions?

Janis

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