 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GinnyC
Date: 2003-09-23 17:56
Hi
I'm after some clarinet advice for my daughter who's 9 and has been learning the clarinet for a year now, and has passed Grade 1. Her clarinet tutor is constantly telling her that all her notes are sounding a quarter of a tone to half a tone flat. We have had the clarinet serviced, stripped down, repadded and recorked so we are fairly confident that the problem lies with my daughter!
The only advice her teacher has come up with is to keep her bottom lip tight. The teacher wants to move on to teaching the higher notes, but says she can't until the lower notes are in tune, but has no more ideas how we can achieve this.
My daughter practises for 20 mins per day during the week, and 1/2 hour each day at the weekend, so is very dedicated and keen, something which I try to encourage, so anything that can be done to improve her performance would be gratefully received.
Many thanks
Ginny
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Author: msloss
Date: 2003-09-23 18:09
A player's oral cavity is a partial determinant of the overall pitch of the instrument. I, for example, without adjusting generally play sharp on a mouthpiece that is notorious for being on the low side. So, assuming for the moment that your daughter's tutor is teaching her the correct technique, and as you say the instrument is in good order, she may be one of those that plays a little under the pitch. If that is indeed the case, you may be able to solve the problem with a shorter barrel for the instrument (64 or 65 millimeter vs. the 66 your instrument likely has).
Without throwing stones in glass houses, it may also be that the tutor is not teaching your daughter all the appropriate techniques to get good sound and good pitch. It is a combination of good air support, a well formed embouchere (mouth position), position of the tongue in the oral cavity, and several other factors. If you look through the various postings on this board, you may find some good guidance in this area. You may also consider, as with any diagnosis, getting a second opinion from another instructor. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes and ears can identify and fix a problem quickly.
Best of luck.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-09-23 18:18
In my experience I would no worry so much over pitch in the early stages...instead I would make sure the student is working heavily on tone and rythmic playing in this early stages.
As to the pitch, tinghten the lower lip may depending on the student contribute to lowering of pitch, so be sure she has a reed that is well matched to the mouthpiece. Also, make sure the ligature is correctly aligned with the reed, and also that posture is good.
Not much can be said. Maybe try a Vandoren 5RV lyre mouthpiece, they tend to play a bit higher than most.
David Dow
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2003-09-23 21:00
See if she is _able_ to adjust the pitch at all using different lip positions, oral cavity shapes, or air speeds. If she _can_ do this, it's just a matter of time and new habits. I find that with my beginning students (0-20 months of playing) that air speed is the usual culprit. Many of them blow too hard, but inefficiently, and that flattens the pitch. See if having her use an "eee" tongue position helps.
Working on a focussed sound can help pitch problems. As David suggests, sometimes working on tone quality is more vital at this stage.
Additionally, does your daughter play with other musicians? Sometimes playing with others can help improve intonation.
Katrina
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2003-09-23 23:09
I wonder how many other 9 year olds play in tune? Possibly many, but not where i live. I think the teacher should focus on working on tone and breathe support and things should improve. A mouthpiece is sometimes the culprit. Or reeds that are soft.
The work on focus begins a little later, right now it may be a chore for this girl to hold the clarinet....however keeping an open throat and firm embouchure are excellent ideas from kATRINA.
David Dow
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