 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mmatisoff
Date: 2016-06-29 04:16
Thank you to everyone who has provide suggestions for learning to play jazz and blues. As everyone suggested, I've begun working on chord progressions and arpeggios. I'm also learning "St. Louis Blues." I weaving through the notes, trying (not succeeding) to gliss, and playing in all three registers (four including throat tones) . Overall, I'm having a great time and everything is working pretty good. I've run into another problem, though. Somehow, I've started playing harmonics. It's a squeak, I know, just not my typical loud squeal. I can actually hear the harmonics. Any help on how to resolve this new problem is most welcome. My gear hasn't changed: Vandoren M15, Rue Lepic 56 3.5+, Rovner dark ligature. Thanks again for all the suggestions. I've copied them on a cheat sheet that I keep on my music stand.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2016-06-29 09:39
When something new goes wrong, it's almost always a hardware problem.
First, check the position of the reed. Even a tiny leak (usually at one of the corners) will cause squeaks. Move the reed slightly to one side and then the other to make sure it's sealing tight. It often helps to move the reed a tiny bit higher to make sure everything is covering.
Have you tried a new reed?
Next, check your mouthpiece, particularly at the corners. It's easy to ding one there. Try a different mouthpiece.
Check pads for leaks, beginning with the adjustment screw on the throat Ab key. If it's even a tiny bit tight, the Ab key will stay open a crack and cause squeaks. If the problem isn't obvious, take the horn in to be checked over at repair shop.
Ken Shaw
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-06-29 18:07
Have you changed or do you change your embouchure pressure as you practice all the registers? Your setup seems fine and I can't think of a reason why rue lepic 3.5+ wouldn't work perfectly fine.
Sometimes as people practice changing registers, they start to squeeze the embouchure a bit to make the changes "easier", but it can lead to he habit of squeezing a bit more and unwanted breaks in partials.
There's an embouchure check exercise I like to do every now and then. Play an open G with a nice forte attack. If it doesn't squeak, take in a LITTLE more mouthpiece. Attack the G again. No squeak? Put in a LITTLE more mouthpiece. Repeat until you squeak, then back out a hair. This should allow you to have the maximum amount of mouthpiece and require the least (if any) embouchure change between register changes.
Alexi
Ps- if you try the embouchure check exercise, don't be surprised if you end up with a TON more mouthpiece in that normal. Not everyone likes to play with this much mouthpiece, but it certainly makes MY life easier.
US Army Japan Band
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