Klarinet Archive - Posting 000161.txt from 2007/03

From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Exercise for developing embouchure and air
Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2007 18:58:10 -0500


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Esther L. Jones [mailto:familyj@-----.net]
> Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2007 1:09 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: RE: [kl] Exercise for developing embouchure and air
>
>
> >>Don't stuff it too tight with the cloth.....air needs a way out. You'll
> find
> That arpeggio....it's a good exercise.
>
> Forest Aten<<
>
> That did help some, and after a couple of 30 minute workouts with this one
> exercise, I can now accomplish at least a 3 note arpeggio. However, since
> I
> am to assume that this teaches the correct way to play the clarinet, I am
> confused as to why, when I remove the cloth, I now sound much, much worse
> than before...very squeaky and harsh.
> Is this normal? And will it clear up after a time of continuing to work?
> Or have I perhaps over-manipulated my embouchure and placement to
> accomplish
> the arpeggios?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Esther
>
>

Esther,

You should be keeping your embouchure set....don't "manipulate" the
mouthpiece/embouchure when you do this exercise. You should be trying to
play the notes in this "arpeggio" with tongue placement or "voice" each
note. The exercise is often used to help players "focus" or change the sound
by moving the tongue from low/back (closed throat) to high/forward in the
mouth (open throat)....and every where in between. After you do this
exercise...and get the hang of moving the tongue from one extreme to the
other....do the same thing without the rag in the bell. Note the differences
in sound you can achieve with the tongue in different positions.

Forest Aten

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