 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: timtin66
Date: 2003-05-15 19:05
Hi:
I have no teacher, and have been trying for a year now to hit HIGH D,E,and F. I can do it sometimes, but not others.
Things I have done
1. I do 10 second long notes on each high note over, and over again.
2. I have found out that if I relax my bottom lip I can hit the notes a little better.
3. I have tried to do Low Note to High not jumping (I do not know the fancy name for this exercise).
4. I have purchased sheet music that is strictly HIGH notes, and I desperatly try to master it - no luck
5. I was doing what Sherman said in his posting here (Rushing through the high note parts), so I now slow down, and go very slowly through them. I sound awful.
No matter what I do I still cannot get proper inotation, or good note to note changes, and it sounds like birds being attacked by cats.
One more thing: The reed always seems like it has to accelerate to the proper vibration, and it always takes a noticible second.
I play a Buffet international, with a hite premium mouth piece, and 3 1/2 or 4 mitchel Lure premium reeds. Mostly 4's. The instrument is in good condition pads, and all.
On a postive note - I will never forget the fingerings.
Anything that anyone can recommend would help... It has become a vendetta.
Tim T.
Timothy Tinnirello
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Author: William
Date: 2003-05-15 19:35
Try a little more RH thumb pressure, in effect, pushing the clarinet into your embouchure more securely. This always worked for my beginning band students having trouble reaching the higher registers.
This assumes that the reed is in optimum condition with no cracks and not worn out from practice. My own preference is VanDoren V12's--but any decent reed should be able to generate the notes you are having trouble with. Good luck!!!!
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-05-15 19:42
Another hint would be to push DOWN with your upper lip, which in conjunction with William's suggestion of pushing up with your RH thumb should help a little.
Remember to use a SMALL stream of air. And FAST (not hard). High notes also require a bit more abdominal support to have a nice tone. Pretend to whistle.
It can take a while to have your muscle memory (embouchure) learn to play these notes well and in tune. Don't be discouraged! You can tell they need work yourself, so that's the first step!
Katrina
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Author: Vic
Date: 2003-05-15 19:55
You're going to get some great advice here - in fact, have already received some from William and Katrina. However, it will be best to find an instructor. "In person" advice from a good instructor is the best of all.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-05-15 21:17
In lieu of an instructor, get a copy of Larry Guy's 'Embouchure Building' exercises for the clarinetist, it will specifically address these near universal worries...
One easy thing to try, staying with your current reed brand of choice try the next higher number. I have the same problem when playing a softer reed.
Something immediate, trying putting considerably more air over the tip of the reed, concentrated as through a drinking straw (an exercise from the Guy text).
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-05-16 02:42
I may be way out in left field, so if my input is flawed I will take no offense from posts stating so. Having said that, I noticed that you wrote that the mouthpiece you are using is the Hite Premier. I have the Hite "J," which is exactly the same as the Premier except that it's made out of hard rubber (I love it btw). At least that's what I've been able to ascertain from the Hite website. The "J" model is designed to work best with a #3 reed. I wonder if your problems would abate if you switched to a softer reed. I have no difficulty hitting those notes with a #3 V12 or GCS reed. I understand that Pete Fountain plays with a 2.5 and he hits those notes just fine.
One other bit I've learned that has worked for me, loosen up a bit and put some air through it. Don't try to control the sound by biting down. Use your body to regulate the air. You should feel your whole torso get involved.
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Author: BARRY
Date: 2003-05-16 09:14
I agree entirely with Bob Schwab. Though I don't know the mouthpiece, for a virtual beginner to use a 4 strength reed sounds crazy to me.
I have no problems with these notes using a softish VD 12 3 or even 2.5.
Furhter, these notes are never easy for beginners (even the experienced find hitting them pianissimo is not guaranteed with success) so time will do the trick, plus following most of the excellent advice from the other contributors.
But try a MUCH softer reed
good luck!
barry
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Author: DezzaG
Date: 2003-05-16 11:24
I know these mouthpieces well and they do take harder reeds, I have a lot of my students on them so I doubt very much it is a mismatched reed. They are a good mouthpiece, fine on high altissimo notes.
Maybe you should try some whistling practice. When you whistle high you place your tongue high in the mouth to make the air go fast, so doing the same on clarinet helps. This is one of the methods I use to help students learn the second register A, B and C and I also get them to make sure they have enough mouthpiece in their mouth and direct your air forwards!
This last step is very important, helps with reed vibration.
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Author: graham
Date: 2003-05-16 11:53
We don't know how much of your bottom lip you are curling over the teeth. Experiment with different amounts of bottom lip. It is a common fault in beginners to put a flabby lump of lip back into the mouth, whereas it is usually better if it is merely sufficuent to cover the teeth.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-05-16 14:33
Tim -
As you've found, just hitting and holding altissimo notes doesn't do the trick. You have to learn to think of them as ordinary notes, to be played the same as clarion and even chalumeau notes. The exercise I use, which I have posted several times, is at http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=93432&t=93381.
The price of the lesson is to give it a try and report back in a week on your progress.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-05-16 14:54
Rather than opening L1 completely, half-hole it. This might or might not help you to develop the proper embouchure, but it may be worth a try.
Regards,
John
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Author: Sue
Date: 2003-05-16 15:43
Not to long ago I was in the same situation. I started playing again after 25 years and spend about a year 1/2 to 2 years teaching myself to play confidently again. I asked this same question not long ago and this board really help with that ( for me it was a stronger reed) and various other questions. But I strongly agree with Vic that you should find a good teacher his/her direction is a great source !. I've just started lessons and after two lessons I've learned far more than I could by myself not to mention it helps with those feelings of personal vendettas!. For the money its well worth it!.
Sue
Post Edited (2003-05-16 16:48)
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