 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClArInEtX
Date: 2005-04-01 07:52
hi..everyone..first time posting here..i am currently in my third year playing the clarinet..i having a real bad time now cause i just cant find a way to improve my "thin" sound..i am having a compeition in like 2 weeks..
my upper altissimo register sounds really thin..from C to G..my instructor advise me to tighten my diaphram..as usual i listen to him but it still make no difference..i am using a Buffet RC with a Vandorean reed 2.5 or Rico reed 3 on certain occasion..is there aniway solution?
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-04-01 08:55
Too thin? Mcdonalds or some ice cream should solve that...
But seriously, I would say give your clarinet, mouthpiece, and reed to a very good clarinetist, see if they can't get a good sound in that register either. If not then probably something is not right with the instrument, mouthpiece, or reeds. If it sounds good, then practice more.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2005-04-01 10:19
"my instructor advise me to tighten my diaphram"
I hope your instructor knows that that is impossible.
My advice to get rid of a thin sound is to work on your air stream, the ammount of air you put through the instrument, and your embouchoure; it may be too tight, and you may be tensing up a lot when you get to the high registers. Just relax, think of the air and NOT the diaphragm and just see what happens - if you squeak that's OK when you're just in the practice room alone. That's what you're there for.
Good luck! Hope I was of any help!
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! ![[down]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley23.gif) Buffet
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Author: pewd
Date: 2005-04-01 14:44
what mouthpiece are you using?
a 2.5 reed is rather soft for a 3rd year student, depending on which mpc you have.
that and what lewhite said.
- paul
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Merlin
Date: 2005-04-01 14:52
I'd second the harder reed recommendation if you're going to play way up on the horn and want a bigger sound.
I'm using a Ron Caravan mouthpiece w/Rico Grand Concert #3.5 right now - and I play up to C7 no problem.
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Author: GoatTnder
Date: 2005-04-01 15:09
The "thin" sound you're getting is almost definitely a problem with breathing and air support, and not an equipment problem. (Though, I must suggest you never use Rico standard reeds again, they're just not worth it). There are plenty of excercises and techniques on this board you can find with a quick search. But, here's one of my favorites.
part 1) Get a metronome or a clock with a second hand. Breathe in for 4 beats (or seconds), breathe out for 4 beats, and try to empty your lungs of all their air. Then, without breathing in, begin to play any note. Hold that note for as long as you possibly can. When you start running out of air, push and keep pushing. You'll feel a tension around your gut. Congratulations! That is your diaphragm!
part 2) Breathe in for 4 seconds, and play for 12 seconds, making sure to completely empty your lungs of absolutely all their air. You'll have to push from your diaphragm to do this correctly. Do it again, but play for only 8 seconds (so you push even harder). And again, but in only 4 seconds.
The idea is to train your body to breathe by moving your diaphragm up and down instead of your shoulders and chest. This gives you much more air and much more control of that air. And all this air makes your thin sound a thing of the past! Once you get used to breathing like this, you may find (like me) that you do it all the time, even when not playing, and you tend to talk louder without noticing it.
Andres Cabrera
South Bay Wind Ensemble
www.SouthBayWinds.com
sbwe@sbmusic.org
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2005-04-01 20:21
Fast walking outdoors for 30 minutes a day - throw in some stairs and there you go! This develops lung capacity pretty fast.
We have the advantage in our city of having the escarpment the height of Niagara Falls, with two sets of stairs built for foot access to the upper city. Over 300 steps for those who count, everyone's count is different.
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-04-01 21:12
Quote:
...if you squeak that's OK when you're just in the practice room alone.
Actually, most likely, the answer is right there. I bet if you do what Tim said (AKA LeWhite), and you squeak, the squeak is probably not thin.
Second clue: The difference between most squeaks and real, high notes is intention, control and fingering. I bet you already know the correct fingerings...so...I suggest you learn to squeak intentionally and control it and then apply the correct fingerings. ![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif)
And I bet you or someone else reading this thinks I'm kidding. ![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif)
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: bobmi74
Date: 2005-04-01 21:46
What about your tongue position? a third year player is intelligent enough to apply this at this stage, i guess. While sitting there, make the "ee" sound. LIke the letter. Now hiss like a cat. When you play, put your tongue in that position. That speeds up the air stream, placing less of the focus on the diaphragm and lungs and other such stuff. If that doesn't help, then DO try thinking about your lungs and such. Don't control the air flow with your throat or chest, though. Just let it all happen naturally. And crescendo with your belly!
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2005-04-01 23:29
How'd you know my name Robert?!
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! Buffet
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-04-02 00:37
LeWhite wrote:
> How'd you know my name Robert?!
I think your email address might give it away ...
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2005-04-02 01:08
Oh yeah LOL *blonde moment*
__________________
Don't hate me because I play Leblanc! Buffet
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-04-02 18:58
I hope I did not offend you to use it. I just feel it is more personal without being overly personal in a public setting.
On a personal note, I resist the Army's need to force the rank designation on individuals in replacement of their first name. I guess if you are going to possibly have the people around you dying off, it's better if you only know them as "Sergeant". There's always another "Sergeant" around.
Argh...*resisting soapbox that is calling me* ![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif)
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: ClArInEtX
Date: 2005-04-08 14:24
err..if i dont use rico reeds, what type of reeds should i use? vandorean?
i am using a B45 Vandorean mouthpiece.
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Author: RosewoodClarinet
Date: 2005-04-08 14:29
I used to play Vandoren B40 mouthpiece, which requires softer reeds. I used No.3 Vandoren V12 for this mouthpiece.
RosewoodClarinet
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Author: GoatTnder
Date: 2005-04-08 14:34
There are many many different reeds out there worth trying. Mitchell Luries will sound great, but probably won't last long. Vandorens are good, and V12s are better (and probably 57 Rue Lepic are even better, but I don't know). Some swear by Gonzalez (though personally I don't like them). Again, I'm sure this board has hundreds of threads about reed selection, and a search will lead you to lots of information. Good luck.
Andres Cabrera
South Bay Wind Ensemble
www.SouthBayWinds.com
sbwe@sbmusic.org
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-04-08 14:51
You've already gotten excellent advice from the people here on the board, but I add my agreement to the air speed. My instructor used to say to practice blowing "all the way through the horn." Like you're blowing through a hollow tube and you have to push the air quickly through to the end in order to make a sound. Don't think of those notes you make with your left hand as only needing enough air to reach your fingers--it has to go quickly and powerfully through and out the bell.
And, don't "pinch up" your embouchure when you are in the upper registers. Relax your throat and keep a consistant embouchure.
It doesn't sound like your equipment is the reason for the thin sound. A Vandoren B45 is adaquate for where you are in your studies. If you want a hand-made professional mouthpiece later on that would be great--but if you don't fix the problems you're having on the equipment you now own it wouldn't help you any.
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Author: ClArInEtX
Date: 2005-04-08 16:43
thanks for your advice people! i have learnt pretty much from here, my teacher said my upper registers sound slightly better. "faster air speed" he advised. aniway, i am living in singapore, so those reeds that are recommended, can they be found here?
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Author: sanya
Date: 2005-04-09 02:31
i don't know if this is right or not, but i heard somewhere that a thin sound on the upper registers is usually a sign of biting down on your mouthpiece. maybe try checking for that and then improving your embochure from there.
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Author: Clarino20
Date: 2005-04-09 20:09
Try to increase embrochure strength from the corners of your mouth. Think of altissimo as a continuation of the clarion register. Try not to overpush but lighten up. Push the air from the diaphragm you can't tighten but your diaphragm pushes down when you breath in to create space for air. Keep that space open as long as you can by forcing your stomach out or "sit on your stomach."
Hopefully some of this helps
Corey
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