Klarinet Archive - Posting 000071.txt from 2003/08

From: AnneLenoir@-----.net (Anne Lenoir)
Subj: [kl] I just had a wonderful visit with Abe & Charna Galper in Toronto
Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 18:58:10 -0400

As many of you know, I have been having a few problems teaching some of
my students Rose Etude #8 (of 32) in recent weeks because of my
insistence on using the first finger for F# right before measure 10. I
don't want to talk about that anymore because I have changed my mind. I
still use the first finger, but I just learned from Abe that there are
so many ways to finger passages, probably as many ways as there are
snowflakes, that it is not worth debating. Abe does use the side
fingerings for many passages and I hardly ever use them unless they are
part of a chromatic passage where it is easy to get to the next note.
Abe has practiced using his index finger of his right hand for many
fingerings and knows how to get to the next note gently. I have a
tendency to "trip-over-my-fingers" if I have to move them too much. I
had the same problem at the "Y" this morning in "Power Yoga" class. I
could barely move.
Anyhow, I want to say that I know longer care what fingerings
anybody uses for anything. (I still like to see nice, relaxed, curved
fingers). Similarly, I don't necessarily think there are any set "rules"
about embochure or staccato. My best clarinet student cannot point his
chin. Nor can he put his tongue on the reed when he articulates. I don't
know how he does it. I looked at his chin and I don't think he has one.
He has been articulating on the roof of his mouth for several years
before he got to me, and his staccato sounds amazingly good. I don't
know how he does it. When I started to play clarinet, I was told that
"Double Lip" embochure was the only way to play with a good tone. That
worked fine until I had to stand up and play the Copland Concerto with
double lip. I now play single lip. Last year, my best bass clarinet
student could not stop puffing his cheeks. We tried everything. I even
offered him $10 if he could stop puffing. He couldn't. Then I remembered
that I had heard a wonderful bass clarinetist in Stockholm last summer
who did a phenominal improvized bass clarinet solo, with puffed cheeks.
About 3 weeks ago my bass clarinet student, a 7th grader, played the
"Star Spangled Banner" as a trio with his sister on clarinet and a
friend on violin at the beginning of their swim meet. The acoustics in
the pool area were so "echoey" that he sounded like a beautiful cellist
on his bass clarinet. I was so impressed that he and his sister had gone
to the trouble to "perform" The National Anthem at their swim meet.
Perhaps he will find a teacher someday that can help him to un-puff his
cheeks. They have moved to Austin, Texas in case anybody would like to
teach him.
Anyhow, I was so happy to see Abe Galper and hear what he had to say
about fingerings. Charna's lemon pie was spectacular, and we all had a
great breakfast the next morning. GRANNY ANNIE

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