Klarinet Archive - Posting 001004.txt from 2004/10

From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Playing scales three octaves up
Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2004 22:48:27 -0500


A 14 year old girl should not be tortured with playing altissimo. If she
would be recquired to play all scales in three octaves, she would have to
play D: d'-d''-d'''-d'''' which I couldn't, with my sublime horn, excellent
mouthpiece, fine reeds and 20 years of practice (I never put much exercise
in the altissimo above g''' for the reasons below). The ease and beauty of
altissimo notes (above c''') depends very much on the kind and quality of
reeds, mouthpiece, instrument and player. Reeds that facilitate those high
notes spoil the timbre, intonation and articulation of the other registers.
Playing that high on a decent, strong reed on a proper mouthpiece on a real
clarinet that does have a chalumeau (rather than putting all the energy in
the tweeky high partials) is very tough and only recommended after the
controll over the lower registers is very well developed, which, with most
clarinettists, never happens to the desired degree anyway. Just look at the
classic repertoire: except for the Spohr concerti you will hardly ever need
the altissimo, especially above g'''.
Best wishes,
danyel

Danyel,

Three octave scales are not too much to ask from a 14 year old player,
especially a player that has been working a few years on the clarinet. Some
extended scales might be out of the practical range and could be excluded.
Several list members have recommended F, G, F#/Gb, E (written) as
reasonable.

Altissimo notes are generally very easy to play on clarinet. People have
funny ideas about "high notes" on the clarinet. The instrument loves to play
these notes. A simple demonstration can confirm this for those that doubt
it. Play the mouthpiece off the clarinet...it plays very close to a written
altissimo D. (and it's easy) Then play the open throat tone G. Then overblow
the open G to produce the same altissimo D. (be sure to tongue this
overblown note)(and it's easy too) It helps to add a little more mouthpiece
the first try....after that you won't need to do much more than "hear" the
note (D) you want to produce before you play it.

I do NOT agree that it takes different reed types to play well in different
registers of the instrument. I don't notice my peers in orchestra swapping
reeds between registers all evening long....;-) ...one good reed can do it
all!!

When I was teaching a fair number of students in my studio, I would start
6th grade beginners on 12th exercises soon after they started. Once a degree
of stability appeared in the embouchure we were off and running with 12ths.
These kids started in late August with the beginning of the standard public
school year. By Christmas break most were working on altissimo notes. (and
it was easy for most).

Spohr? :-) Did I ever tell the list about the bassoon player colleague that
didn't/doesn't know that any new music had been written after about 1790.

Forest Aten

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