Woodwind.OrgThe Clarinet BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard Equipment Study Resources Music General    
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 
 Is it natural to squawk or am I THAT bad?!
Author: MandyCarlsson 
Date:   2011-11-21 04:54

I'm working on two 64th note run exercises in Kroepsch Book 1: ex. 61 and 62.

In ex. 61, the (*slur* high D, Bb *slur*) (*staccato*G) (*slur* high E, Bb *slur*) (*staccato*G) (*staccato* high G) (*slur* high D#, high E *slur*) sequence contained in line 2 sounds AWFUL, so, so awful. It does not seem to matter how slowly I play it. :(

Same with ex. 62, the entire third line, which is a slurred phrase starting with High F, continued into a descending C major arpeggio.

Please refer to said exercises if you have the book and give me some pointers to not sound so squawky!

Thanks
Mandy



Post Edited (2011-11-21 04:55)

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Is it natural to squawk or am I THAT bad?!
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2011-11-21 13:05

Looking at these I think there is a bit of trickiness but nothing awful.

Firstly, make sure you're putting more energy (making the higher notes a bit louder really) in your air for the higher notes of the series. The octave leap of the second line of 61 may be getting you nervous IN ADVANCE. Make sure your embouchure and air stream are appropriate IN THE MOMENT.

That said, the last line of 62 just screams for you to use the long F fingering (all holes covered plus 'F' key and RH 'Eb' vent).

Perhaps the squawking itself points to an issue of mouthpiece placement. If you just play an open (throat) 'G' starting with as little mouthpiece in your mouth as possible, keep playing 'G' and keep inserting more and more mouthpiece. At the point where you SQUAWK doing this, back of slightly from that spot - THIS is the perfect spot to have the mouthpiece in your mouth at all times.

I think this, and modulating air to lessen for lower notes should help.




......................Paul Aviles



Reply To Message
 
 Re: Is it natural to squawk or am I THAT bad?!
Author: William 
Date:   2011-11-21 13:41

On the "other hand", every clarinetist in the world has squawked at one time or another--it just "happens". A few years ago, I heard John Bruce-Yeh sqweek repeatedly while performing the Stravinky "Three Pieces" during a Mid West Band and Orchestra Clinic presentation in Chicago, IL. To be fair, it was early in the morning (8:30ish) and he without any warm-up after a long, verbal presentation. As usual, however, all other aspects of his performance were flawless--just those pesky noises we all make from time to time, sometimes, at the most "inappropriate" moments.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Is it natural to squawk or am I THAT bad?!
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2011-11-21 14:41

For the staccato G6 [G6], use the fingering for B5 [B5] and add the top trill key or the top two trill keys. (Bless Av Galper for this fingering.)

More generally, you need to learn to voice for the altissimo notes. See http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=20&i=757&t=757 in the section "TECHNICAL DIGRESSION: The clarinet overtone series and voicing. See also http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=292768&t=292753.

Ken Shaw

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Is it natural to squawk or am I THAT bad?!
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2011-11-21 23:17

Asking the question that way is like a large woman asking a man "do I look fat?" Blunt honestly will get us killed...........................

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Is it natural to squawk or am I THAT bad?!
Author: MandyCarlsson 
Date:   2011-11-23 01:46

I will make a point to NOT post audio of my playing! *HUGE GRIN*

Actually, I doubt I'd be entirely offended if your answer was, "Yes, you are actually that bad".

Likely my reaction would be... "I knew it. DOH!"

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Is it natural to squawk or am I THAT bad?!
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2011-11-23 14:16

Low self-esteem might be your biggest problem! Remember the motto my best friend and I lived by when we were in high school band (I was playing bass clarinet and he played EEb contra-alto): "Every note's a solo". If we didn't get yelled at by the band director for being too loud, then we figured we weren't doing our job! Play out more boldly, and you'll actually be less likely to squeak or squawk.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Is it natural to squawk or am I THAT bad?!
Author: William 
Date:   2011-11-23 14:27

LOL, David....during a trip to one of the television studios in Burbank, I asked a staff trumpet player how he managed to play so well in tune. He replied, "I just play louder than the rest".

Reply To Message
 Avail. Forums  |  Threaded View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 


 Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here 
 User Login
 User Name:
 Password:
 Remember my login:
   
 Forgot Your Password?
Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org