Klarinet Archive - Posting 000134.txt from 2008/06

From: Joseph Wakeling <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Very resistant upper-register Ab-C on A clarinet
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:07:15 -0400

Hello all,

A little problem that I'm hoping you can help me with.

I went through a fairly long period (several months) of not playing my A
clarinet -- dumb, I know -- and am having some problems with it now.

It's always been more resistant than my Bb clarinet but the resistance
of certain notes -- the upper register G#/Ab and up -- is *very* high,
to the point that slurring to them at quiet dynamics is very difficult
indeed.

I can compensate to some extent with embouchure and concentrating on
support, but that doesn't seem to account for the strong difficulty.
I'm still not convinced that it's not just me needing to get used to the
instrument again, and I'm going to put in quite a bit of practice
playing in this range without the register key so as to make sure I'm
using the right tongue positions and so on, but I thought I'd ask for
advice about whether there could be some problems with the instrument
itself causing this.

Thanks,

-- Joe

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