The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JJiimm
Date: 2003-05-20 15:35
I have a friend that I have been playing with in ensembles, that continually plays flat..We have played together over ten years..You may say clarinet, reeds, barrels, etc. but no, when we give her our clarinets to play on, our mouth pieces, our reeds, she still plays flat!!
She also plays the familys of recorders, when she plays those, she is on pitch OK.
She plays in her community band, and still plays flat, they have to tune down to her..
Can anyone solve this mystery??
JJiimm
JJiimm
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-05-20 15:59
Suggest that your friend try bringing the clarinet in closer to the body, thus blowing more across the reed.
How is the embouchure? Is there too much bottom lip inserted into the mouth? ...GBK
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Author: Fred
Date: 2003-05-20 17:12
I suspect she's playing the clarinet (embouchure-wise) like it was a recorder. That would be a can't miss recipe for playing flat.
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-05-20 20:59
If her tongue is really low/flat in the back, that can make a note go flat very easily . . .
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Author: Dee
Date: 2003-05-20 23:47
Her air support may also be inadequate if she is more accustomed to recorders. On a clarinet, whether playing soft or loud, one must have strong air support (i.e. high pressure air) to keep from going flat.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-05-21 01:49
I think Fred's onto the problem right off. Recorders don't need much embouchure effort to play all right.
First question that comes to my mind is, does she Know she plays flat? Is she aware that she needs to 'tune up' to the rest of the crowd? It sounds, from what you say, as though your friend is not aware she's playing out of tune.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-05-21 16:39
I think both Dee and Fred are correct...if it's that consistent, it's probably BOTH air support AND embouchure.
My $.02...
Katrina
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Author: Herb Huey
Date: 2003-05-21 18:53
You might suggest that she use a chromatic tuner to check her pitch when she practices. The Korg CA-30 is really cheap around $20.
Herb
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