 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TwrlGrl
Date: 2000-01-15 17:41
I am playing a solo where I play an 8th note D (3 spaces above the staff) to another 8th note E(3 lines above the staff) I wondering if anyone has any hints or tips that could help me with these notes without sounding like a squeaky goose.
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Author: Fred McKenzie
Date: 2000-01-15 18:29
TwrlGrl wrote:
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I wondering if anyone has any hints or tips that could help me with these notes without sounding like a squeaky goose.
TG-
The simple answer: PRACTICE! The more repetitions you do, the easier it will get and the better it will sound. Practice playing scales up to the next higher C, so the D & E won't be your limit.
Also, some reeds may work better on the high notes.
Fred
<A HREF="http://www.dreamnetstudios.com/music/mmb/index.htm">MMB</A>
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Author: Megan
Date: 2000-01-15 19:24
I agree with Fred, lots of long tones up high always work for me, also don't be scared of the notes. I used to hate playing that E because I would always back off and squeek, you definately need more air. Do you use the booster key to help the pitch?
Megan
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-01-15 19:36
Megan wrote:
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Do you use the booster key to help the pitch?
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Is that something like a turbo valve? :^)
In all seriousness - what exactly do you mean by "booster key"?
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2000-01-15 20:14
This is really bad advice:-), but if you play the D using the side G# key (and the octave key) it will sound flatter. It will sound terrible, but it will be flatter. Haven't figured out any alt E keys yet.
Steve
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-01-15 20:15
TwrlGrl wrote:
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I am playing a solo where I play an 8th note D (3 spaces above the staff) to another 8th note E(3 lines above the staff) I wondering if anyone has any hints or tips that could help me with these notes without sounding like a squeaky goose.
T/G -
The secret is not to think of those notes as "high," which leads you to try to do "something different" to get them to come out.
Do this by sitting up straight and taking a good breath, starting from your abdomen and letting it fill you up from the bottom and expand your chest. Then play a low A, mezzo forte, and then very gently open the register key to "pop up" to the E above, and finally roll your left index finger down very slowly to pop up to the C#.
You should open the register key, and then move your left index finger, so slowly that you will not know when the jumps will happen. Each should come as a little surprise.
Concentrate on playing all 3 notes with exactly the same warmth and roundness as you get on the A, and make a strong mental picture of the C# as a low note. Then go a half step up, to Bb/F/D, and then B/F#/Eb.
For more detail and exercises, go to <A HREF=http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?id=4212><A>
Do this every day for, let's say, 5 minutes. Never go on for longer than you can keep your full attention on it. If your mind starts to drift, you've done enough for that day.
It will probably take you about a week to establish this new habit and way of thinking about it. Keep after it, and it will come. Every player confronts this exact problem, and we all learn how to get over it. You will too.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Megan
Date: 2000-01-15 21:16
what I mean by "booster key" is the first pinky key for the right hand. The one we use to play Eb on the 4th space. Am I the only one on the list who uses that key to play every note after c#? I didn't think it was bad advice, it's what I do and works. I could have been more clear on my definition of "booster key" but I didn't think that telling someone to use more air and do long tones was bad advice.
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Author: Megan
Date: 2000-01-15 21:18
Sooooooo sorry, I thought that someone was telling me that my advice was bad advice. I feel terrible now. Never again will I get so defensive.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-01-15 22:53
Megan,
Adding the Eb key is the "normal" fingering for many of the notes above C#. I just never heard it called the "booster key".
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Author: Megan
Date: 2000-01-16 00:39
phew, thought I was going nuts. I guess it's just my teacher who calls it the booster key then.
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Author: Mark Weinstein
Date: 2000-01-16 04:07
I have heard it said a) RELAX and don't tense up, change your embouchure, bite down, etc b) learn TONGUE POSITION, and then after learning ANTICIPATE in advance in your mind --- then put into practice where you'll want your tongue to be on the reed.
Sometimes, I forget to use my register key on some clarion and altissimo notes --- yet they still come out --- its because of TONGUE POSITION on reed.
As Ken recommended, register keys are wonderful practice.
good luck.
mw
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-01-16 04:10
Megan wrote:
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phew, thought I was going nuts. I guess it's just my teacher who calls it the booster key then.
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Good name for it though. As Mark said, using this key is normally taught as the standard fingering for the altissimo notes. Clarinets tend to be flat in the altissimo by nature and of course beginners or those who don't have time to keep their embouchure in shape will be even flatter. The Eb key will generally "boost" the pitch.
Advanced players with well developed embouchures will sometimes omit this key in very fast passages since slight pitch discrepancies will go unnoticed.
On a few clarinets, there isn't much difference with or without this key. But this doesn't seem to be the norm.
Megan wrote:
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phew, thought I was going nuts. I guess it's just my teacher who calls it the booster key then.
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Author: Tinman
Date: 2000-01-17 00:06
Don't worry Megan i do! i'm with you all the way!
i also use half hole 1st finger to get most of the notes in tune.
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Author: Meri
Date: 2000-01-17 16:35
One trick that has helped me play the altissimo register well is to think of matching the quality of sound in this register with that of the other registers.
Meri
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Author: andrea
Date: 2000-01-18 01:26
this post is a few days old i see, but if some one is still reading it, just arch the air stream up higher, in your mouth. use your tounge and have someone watch you while you play who knows what they are doing. if you have a secluded space to practice in it's kind of fun toplay your beginning music up 2 or 3 ocataves. tuning is obvious on hot cross buns.
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