 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: mags
Date: 2004-08-22 19:42
Hello folks...I need your advice. I am at a stage in my homework (from the 'tune a day for clarinet')...where I need to slur from the lower register to the higher register...Going up, putting the key on is fine....but coming back down....when I take the register key off...it still sounds as if it's on. So...how can I get over this?? Thankyou in advance.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: theclarinetist
Date: 2004-08-22 21:51
The answer is pretty complicated (as it involves minor shifts in your blow pattern which are very difficult to explain). My advice would be to start by lightly articulating the lower note to facilitate the change in blow pattern. From there, it's hard to explain in a post (I do it with my students, but with a lot of demonstration and explanations that can't be put into words well). Perhaps someone with more teaching experience can explain it better than I could.
Remember, you do not need to register key to play higher notes. In fact, some wind instruments (like flute) don't even have a "register key" and brass instruments have to rely almost entirely on air without the aid of keys. I think it's important to remember that air is what creates the note and that the register key is just there to help.
One exercise that has helped with my students is to first play a high note, such as C above the staff. Next, remove the RK, but keep the high C (which is what you are doing by accident). After hold the high C, tongue it and make it go down to F. After you can do this (basically learning how to sustain a high note with and without the RK), play the high C then remove the RK and keep the note. Next, try tonguing it but keeping the high C. When you can do this really well, try playing the high C, removing the key, tonguing it once and keeping the high C then tonguing it again and going down to F. Then try to do it with C, F, C, F, C, F, etc... only using the register key to initially get the high C, then remove it. After you can do then, try it with B-E, then A-D... you should be able to do it pretty comfortably to there.. From G down gets harder. This exercise is not easy and you should make sure that the changes are coming from your blow pattern and NOT your embouchure or jaw placement. If you can do this exercise well, then you should have sufficient air control in the two ranges.
Slurring, however, is much difficult and requires a lot of practice. In extremely difficult passages, it may be advantageous to just "dah" tonuge the lower note to get the smoothest interval (though this is kind of cheating and shouldn't be used to avoid learning proper air control). Well, i've said enough for now...
DH
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mags
Date: 2004-08-24 14:03
clarinetist...yours is the only reply.....but it looks a good reply......I will re-read it over and over...go through it slowly...and see if something clicks. I realise something like this is hard to put into words without a demonstration.......but you've tried your best...and I thankyou for that......Thankyou very much, Margaret.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2004-08-24 16:55
Think
"Di Ahhhhh" and slightly slow down your air speed.
Do a slow exercise starting on the 3rd space C (w/register long C) and in half notes go from C to B, C to Bb, C to A, C - Ab, etc all the way down to low E.
Get the feel for each notes resistance.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2004-08-24 17:01
Margaret -
Thank you for posting your question. It's one that comes up often, and not only from beginners. It's a lifelong task to practice slurring between registers. To some it comes easier than others, but we all have to "work" at it to get it as good and smooth as we can. I believe no one else tried to explain how to do it just because, as the Clarinetist said, it's not easy. Even with one-to-one demonstration I find it difficult to explain. I wouldn't attempt to advise anyone in words only (frankly, I'm not that good a teacher). I think Clarinetist has done a super wonderful job of clarifying it as well as anyone could do via the written word.
Please allow me to add my "Thank You!", Don, in response to your answer.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
(Opps! David, you posted just before I did. Thanks for your tip too. I've used that exercise for a long time and it's very helpful.)
Post Edited (2004-08-24 17:05)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-08-26 04:59
Mags ... we've all be there before ... I can't add anything more helpful, except to say what my teacher told me when I first did this, she said: "calculate 43% of 564 in your head, whilst traversing the break" ... obviously the inference was totally not think about it and try and make it as natural as possible ... needless to say I improved over the break but my mathematically abilities remained elementary.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
