Klarinet Archive - Posting 000405.txt from 2005/06

From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] slur down the break, "back of the toungue"?
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 14:38:08 -0400

Dan,

Your problem's a common one - not yours uniquely by any means. The least
possible interference with the air column and embouchure shape is
usually the best solution. Depending on the interval, almost everyone
may need to make *some* adjustment in the air movement or even, for very
difficult leaps, a little tongue brush, to overcome the vibrating reed's
natural inertia when they try to jump down a register. Clarion D to
Chalumeau C isn't especially hard to do, but the leap depends as much,
if not more, on what was going on while you were producing the D. First
of all, if the reed and mouthpiece aren't responsive *and* resistant
enough to produce good vibration in both registers or if the instrument
isn't sealing well, the interval may be hopeless without actually
stopping the reed's vibration with your tongue - not the effect you want
if smooth legato is intended. So somehow make sure (one of the things a
teacher is good for) you aren't dealing with a mechanical problem in the
setup. Next, your fingers need to coordinate well - obviously, if you
hold the register key open too long it will produce the higher partial,
but any opening along the part of the instrument that needs to be closed
for the lower note may cause the same problem. If your embouchure
approach was producing a solid clarion note, the lower note should speak
without an embouchure adjustment - my own experience is that most
conscious (which implies relatively large) mid-stream adjustments in
embouchure pressure or shape result in more harm than good - squeaks or
other disasters. The problem with changing your tongue position or shape
to drop to a lower partial, which is generally meant to change air
speed, is the tendency to overdo it and end up upsetting your embouchure
as well.

FWIW,

Karl Krelove

Daniel Fairhead wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>It's me, Daniel the ever-inquisitive, with my monthly
>question. :-)
>
>I've been having problems with slurring down the break,
>particually from (say) clarion D to chalmeau C, with the
>note instead flipping up to the clarion G. From what I have
>read on the archive (bravo me) I think this is a toungue
>position problem. People say "raise (or lower) the back
>tounge position to what it is when playing the chalmeau
>note". OK... But which part of the tounge _is_ the back
>bit (stupid question)? I mean, is it the bit by the top
>teeth? The bit behind the teeth? The bit under the soft
>top section of the palate? The bit of toungue that is some
>place down the back of my throat?
>
>I think I may be teaching myself bad habits, cutting the
>breath support just slightly to get the slur... Grr, too
>many years with no teaching teacher...
>
>Thanks,
>
>Dan
>
>
>

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