 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2011-01-18 21:06
I've noticed that when I'm going over the break at a fast tempo, say from open G to B, keeping my right hand fingers down makes the transition much easier. And the quality of the G is affected by just the slightest degree.
Is this something that is considered kosher to do in professional clarinet circles? I am a sax player first and clarinet player second, though I did take clarinet lessons with a university professor for a year or so. But he never mentioned this.
Seems to me that you need to give yourself as many advantages as possible in working on difficult passages. But I don't want to use this as a crutch if it's generally frowned upon.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-01-18 21:16
Totally kosher. Can also help to bring the throat tones down in pitch if they run a tad sharp, as they often do.
Much of the "break" trouble people have is often due to not all the fingers moving exactly together. This cuts out a significant portion of that activity.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-01-18 21:40
Keeping the RH fingers down when playing throat notes also adds resonance to them, so use them as your regular fingerings for the throat notes.
When playing intervals with throat notes to RH notes over the break, keep the required RH fingers down and it's a case of putting down the LH fingers to get the upper note.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-01-18 23:00
My clarinet teacher taught me from day one to keep the fingers down for everything higher than (and including) open G.
Meanwhile it's routine and I didn't experience any ill effects, in the contrary - significantly less pad slapping noise, smoother transition, more secure grip (especially with throat notes), ...
--
Ben
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Author: Jaysne
Date: 2011-01-19 02:47
A big Hmmmmm....
I've been teaching clarinet to beginners for many years and have never taught them this.
I suppose the best thing to do (as I try to redeem myself) would be to make sure they know the normal fingerings first, and then as they learn more advanced stuff which includes going fast over the break, introduce this new concept.
Any thoughts--sound logical?
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-01-19 03:39
Yes, it is a very common practice with many clarinetists. Much depends on the player but you do have to be careful of intonation so your throat tones aren't flat as compared to your B. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Fishamble
Date: 2011-01-19 10:49
Jack Brymer, in the Yehudi Menuhin Music Guide to the Clarinet, is very very strong in insisting that you should hold down your right hand as much as possible going over the break.
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2011-01-19 13:09
Abe Galper includes this technique in his Method Books for beginning students. He marks the small areas where the right hand should stay down while crossing up and down over the break. So depending on the context, it's an acceptable practice in the minds of a few teachers anyway.
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Author: Reedirect
Date: 2011-01-19 14:21
Absolutely, I discovered it also by myself as a sax player doubling on clarinet and THEREAFTER I've read that it is one of those "little" advices tought many clarinet teachers, which make life easier.
Best
Jo
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