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Re: Strangled Altissimo

Author: tims
Date: 2005-12-12 20:50

I have long encouraged my students to begin working in the altissimo registers as soon as possible. I believe learning to play in the high register with ease and confidence makes playing, in general, a much easier task. The altissimo register is much more restricive and unforgiving and this forces the student to develop a strong and correct embouchure early.

Be careful not to assume that the altissimo register requires a substantially different embouchure than the rest of the range. Basically what works for the most difficult of notes, works well for the rest. Don't assume that because you get a relatively good sound in a particular register that you are using an optimal embouchure for that register. If you find you are changing your embouchure significantly for different notes, assume you are doing something wrong. In this respect I am probably at odds with the post regarding Abe Galper who suggests that you build a foundation on the low register. Unfortunately the low register is very forgiving of weak embouchures and bad habits can be encouraged to persist. But don't equate the unforgiving nature of the altissimo register with difficulty. Playing in the altissimo register should not present undue effort.

I have found that playing with just the mouthpiece (or mouthpiece and barrel) tends to be useful only when teaching initial tone production to beginners when it is important to eleminate the distractions of holding and fingering the instrument. The ability to deal with the resistance to the air column presented by the whole horn is essential to understanding tone production in the upper registers. But the idea of finding a "Sweat Spot" (Ron Jr.) is not a bad idea, I would just encourage you to use the whole horn. The main thing is to not be afraid to making significant changes to the position of your embouchure, while at the same time understand that even the tiniest changes can be significant.

You have said you have practiced playing pianissimo in the altissimo registers. This is important, but you should try to follow these rules:

1) Learn to start a note at ppp, not simply sustain a ppp. Do this by developing "embouchure memory." Start by playing an altissimo note at ppp. Then while sustaining it, concentrate on your embouchure, in particular the position and pressure of the lip and the pressure of your air column. Stop and then place your horn on your lap for a count of 10, then return the horn to playing position and attempt to preset your embouchure and breath support to what you remmember. You should then attempt to play that note again at a ppp without any noticeable attack. Do this until it becomes effortless.

2) Work on controlled decrescendos where a listener will have difficulty determining when you go from ppp to silence.

Be aware of pitch. If you are having to work hard to bring the pitch up or down using the standard fingerings, your embouchure is probably off. If your pitches tend high, try a softer reed and/or take in a little more mouthpiece (lip pressure lower on the reed). If your pitch tend low, move your lip pressure higher on the reed. A harder reed may be in order, but try moving the embouchure first. Do not assume a harder reed solves problems in the altissimo register.

Do not attempt to change too many variables a once. You probably have a decent mouthpiece, so don't change mouthpieces. Concentrate on reed strength alone, not brand (assuming you are using a quality major brand) but make sure the reed is properly balanced. Don't over work your reeds, but if you are not comfortable adjusting reeds, simply toss any reeds that are difficult to play or produces poor tone quality.

I've often found that most student's tone problems in the altissimo registers are due to a too relaxed embouchure. This is not the same a too little pressure. Likewise a firm embouchure is not the same as a tight embouchure (high reed pressure). Think of this as similar to applying pressure with a spring and with a screw. It is possible to apply the same pressure with both, but the spring will "give" and something held down with a spring can easily be dislodged. The screw, on the other hand, does not easily "give" and will hold it pressure. Your jaw should act more like a screw than a spring.

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Strangled Altissimo new

davedmg

2005-12-11 21:51