 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Justin
Date: 2000-03-11 02:43
I need help. It is almost impossible for me to play the high notes at the top of the clarion register. When I try to play C or anything higher, for no apparent reason my clarinet jumps back to the chalumeaux register. This only happens when I start immediately on that note, not when I go up from A. My teacher says that I need to keep my tongue up. What the heck does that mean? Any help is appreciated
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Author: Rick2
Date: 2000-03-11 03:20
This is something that just takes time to develop. Don't rush it.
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Author: Eoin
Date: 2000-03-11 09:54
This need tight muscles. You need to stand up straight and pull in the muscles of your stomach, like a fat man pretending to be thin. You also must tighten the muscles in your cheeks and around your mouth, without actually pressing any harder on the reed.
Another cause of such problems is a soft reed. If you are playing with a very soft reed (1.5) you will probably never reach these notes. Change to a number 2 and work hard. This should get you up as far as C. For higher notes (altissimo) you'll need at least a 2.5.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2000-03-11 23:52
I've gone through the same misery.What seems to fix it for me most of the time is getting the ligature properly adjusted. I set it fairly high on the mouthpiece and I can usually go up to A even with a soft reed. You also need to keep up a very steady column of air, which is easier said than done.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2000-03-13 13:12
Here's a little exercise that should help both your high notes and your lower register as well. Start at the bottom . . . low E. Get a really good tone there and then press the register key to make a B. Work your way up the scale one note at a time . . . first the low note and then add the register key. If you can't make a smooth jump with just minimal adjustment, then maybe your embouchure is not solid enough. I had a teacher once in my early days that would grab the mouthpiece and barrel while I was playing and try to wiggle them around. The idea is NOT to bite down harder, but to get more side support from your muscles. Biting down tends to throw the chin into an incorrect position for tone production . . . you don't need to go there.
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