Klarinet Archive - Posting 000085.txt from 2005/04

From: "Keith" <100012.1302@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Slow or weak fingers = slow brain, or...?
Date: Wed, 06 Apr 2005 05:29:26 -0400


Audrey

I expect you will get a huge range of opinions on these questions. Here is
what I have discovered (it is not "received wisdom" though teachers have
contributed) about squeaking, your item 3. You don't actually know that it
is the reed squeaking, but rather that you produce a squeak. The causes of
squeaking, probably in the order in which you should investigate them, are,
I believe:

1. badly adjusted instrument with leaking pads especially in the upper
joint. Check by taking the joint on its own, fingers on the holes, thumb
over the end and blow. There should be a high lung pressure before any leak
is detected. The tenon joints should also seal properly as has already been
mentioned.

2. bad reed. One thicker on one side than the other can set up oscillations
across the reed, which is a squeak. Reeds often need balancing so they are
even each side. You can check this by swivelling the clarinet so that you
are playing on one corner of the mouthpiece - do it each way to see if the
reed is balanced. Or change to Legere reeds at least for a while. These come
balanced out of the box.

3. inaccurate fingering. When you squeak, try to think, did you touch a key
that opens a hole by mistake (especially the throat A or Ab keys)? If the
spring tension is low on these keys it may be worth increasing it. This is a
different kind of squeak from (2), more like an altissimo note played by
accident.

4. too much mouthpiece in your mouth. Test for the position by putting lots
of mouthpiece in your mouth and try to make it squeak, by adjusting your
oral cavities. Then gradually pull it out till you can't squeak. Then do it
from the other side, starting with very little in the mouth. You should be
able to find the sweet spot at which you produce good tone without a
tendency to squeak. This latter is the one that worked for me, after playing
for decades!

Keith Bowen

President, Kammermusik Workshops, Inc.

www.kammermusikworkshops.org

--------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 05 Apr 2005 18:19:06 -0700
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> From: Audrey Travis <clr91nt@-----.ca>
> Subject: Slow or weak fingers = slow brain, or...?
> Message-id: <DEB0ED6A-A639-11D9-A1C4-000D933DB09C@-----.ca>
>
> I am an adult amateur, started at age 50 eight years ago, trying to
> play music too difficult and fast (for me) without the proper time to
> train my brain and fingers as I should have (and I'm not sure what
> that training would be). I thoroughly understand basic music,
> counting, articulation, dynamics, etc., but am unable to make my
> fingers or brain move fast enough. I've identified the problems as:
>
> 1) both hands - fingers don't move quickly or smoothly, especially 4th
> finger and pinkie of each hand - scale and non scale passages. I
> suspect finger strength issues.
>
> 2) my hands are quite small - fingers don't always reach outer pinkie
> keys on left, especially; don't always cover holes completely
>
> 3) reed squeaking a lot
>
> 4) finger/brain speed problem - can't seem to play fast - don't know
> how to learn to do so
>
> 5) find certain fingering patterns or combinations very difficult -
> it's as if my brain can't learn them and send correct message to the
> fingers.
>
> 6) clarinet feels very insecure as if it's going to move too much as I
> change fingerings - I do play sitting, with bell on my knees, but
> still find myself hanging onto clarinet for dear life - this is one
> reason fingers don't move fast, but how to solve problem?
>
> These are real beginner issues that were not adequately dealt with as
> I developed. All of the fault is mine as I desperately wanted to play
> serious music before I was ready.
> But now I realize I must address
> these very frustrating problems before I can progress. Does anyone
> have some detailed, concrete suggestions on any or all of these
> issues?
> How do I make my fingers stronger, especially those farthest from my
> thumb? How do I train my brain to send correct messages to my fingers
> and hands?
>
> Any help will be welcome. Yes, I have a teacher already.
>
> Many thanks
>
> Audrey
>
> ------------------------------

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