 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Moopy
Date: 2007-10-19 04:30
Hey, my name's Mitchell. I'm fifteen years old, and I've been playing the clarinet for almost six years. I can comfortably play from E3 to C6, but I can't seem to hit the notes above the clarion register. Is there anything in particular I can work on to hit these notes?
I was also wondering if anyone could offer advice on double tonguing. I've been told that you should be saying "ta-ka," but I wasn't sure if it was correct. When I try to do that it sounds muffled and unclear. I can't tongue very fast; I can only really go as fast as 8th notes at 180BMP.
Thank you.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-10-19 10:17
Over the years I've heard double tongueing mentioned many times but never mastered it. Is it real or a myth. Is it a required skill for professional clarinet players?
Bob Draznik
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-10-19 11:27
Double tonguing is not required for pro's if they can single tongue fast enough!
Some people can just tongue like blazes (Drucker, Frost, Morales, and from recent BB recordings, Blumberg, etc...). For double tonguing I would reccommend thinking "tee-kee" because it minimizes the tongue motion and reinforces the high tongue position that we want to focus the sound properly. You could also visit Dr. Robert Springs website for more info, or look here in the Board under double tonguing:
http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/index.html
Mitchell, if you are not having success with the altissimo notes then I would not council learning to double tongue...your problem is elsewhere. I would guess (through the computer screen) that you have some embouchure and/or tongue position issue that is preventing you.
I have three beginning students whose embouchure are not perfect who can play altissimo notes with great ease (now I just have to flog them about the chin!!)
I second Dave, you need to study with the best teacher that you can afford.
James Tobin
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-10-19 14:42
It occurs to me that you an equipment problem could also be the cause of your frustration. So what mouthpiece/lig/reed combo are you using? Is your clarinet in good repair?
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-10-19 15:50
Have the clarinet checked by an expert. But then there are the ligature, mpc,reed , and you. So next is to get the the competent teacher.
richard smith
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Author: Moopy
Date: 2007-11-29 03:49
Hey everyone.
I got my Clarinet cleaned, and they put new corks and pads on it. I've been practicing a lot since then and I haven't really made a lot of progress... I can comfortably play up to E, and I still can't double tongue. I've also started taking lessons since then.
Right now I'm playing on a #3 reeds (Mitchell Lurie brand, if that matters), and a friend of mine (who can play up to C7) said that I should be able to play higher if I get 3.5 reeds. Is this good advice? I've been playing on 3 reeds for a while now, and my teacher hasn't really mentioned anything about what kind of reed I was using. Should I go out and buy new reeds or what?
I'm not really sure about anything else about my clarinet... it is just one that we rented to buy from Music and Arts Center. How can I tell what model it is?
Anyway, sorry to bump this topic back up. I thought I would just ask my question on this thread as opposed to making a new one.
Thanks.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2007-11-29 11:31
First off, ask your teacher about reeds. S/he will be able to ascertain whether you need to move up a strength level or not.
Same for the type of calrinet you have. If your teacher doesn't know, there isn't much we can do, given that you have not given us any clues to work on. If you newd help with identifying an instrument, there should be a brand seal somewhere on the instrument, along with a serial number. There may or may not be a model designation, too. Those would help. If you still have the contract orreceipt from the rental/purchase of the instrument, it should say there. Some folks save all this stuff, so as your parents.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-11-29 13:41
Hello again Mitchell!
About the reeds: your friend is partly correct. A 3.5 reed MAY help, but if that is a reed strength that is not suited to your mouthpiece then it will not help. Your personal preference for reeds is important, but the mouthpiece's resistance curve is just as important.
I personally believe that the type of clarinet is not exceptionally important to tonguing fast or playing in the altissimo. A finer clarinet is required to enable your performing as you begin to study advanced music. A pro clarinet facillitates your expression (and ease of technical execution).
It is useful to use this BB for advice and research, but I second Jeff's advice to ask your teacher. I personally have no great love of Mitchell Lurie reeds, but your teacher may have good reasons for you to stay on the same or switch.
What does your teacher say about the two issues that you think are most important?
Most important: stay with it!
James
PS...what part of your tongue touches the reed, and where does it touch?
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2007-11-29 16:10
Most double tonguing players (pros) can't double tongue above A (as in 1 leger line A).
Would interesting to know who can do it above C (2 leger lines).
Neidich can do it, but I suspect very few others can. (Navy Band soloist couldn't, etc)
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2007-11-30 15:39
When I was learning, and I used to squeak, my teacher would say 'It's not a squeak, it's a note; it's just not the right note.' The point (which I only got much, much later!) is that we can all play the high notes; it's merely hitting them cleanly and repeatably that's the problem.
For most people, the first altissimo note, C#, pops out fairly easily with a bit of practice... but D, Eb and E are more difficult, requiring a certain amount of confidence: it's much easier to play these LOUD, so go lock yourself away somewhere were no-one can hear you and give it heck. Tuning will be a disaster at first, I mean, sackful of cats, but it will come with practice. The Eb/Ab key is important here: at a push you can blag it on the D and Eb but the conventional E fingering will be a train wreck without the right hand doing a bit of work.
Another thing to explore is the alternate fingering for the 'E': play clarion 'G' and hit the G#/Ab key with the side of your left forefinger. This will kick the note up like an extra speaker key, and also explain why accidentally hitting the G# key in normal operation is a really bad idea. Keep those wrists up!...
After that I find the long F and F# get easier again, so if the E is demoralising, press on ahead. Above /that/, things get really interesting... we're into the realms of overblowing notes without necessarily changing fingerings. /Deliberately/ try to sqeak altissimo E and you get the A. Squeak the 1-1 long fingering for calrion Bb and you get a 'G'... or even higher. Which brings me back to where we started: they're all notes, they just need controlling.
[Of course it's always possible your mouthpiece is in a bad way, or your reeds are completely unsuitable... but it's hard to tell from here.]
As for double-tonguing - I do it occasionally where necessary. I'm not really sure of the best consonants to use... taka or daga or diddleiddle... it's worth having a play to see what works.
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Author: D
Date: 2007-11-30 16:31
I find the G and A are much easier than F and F#, it is probably partly finding the right fingering for your brand of instrument. If you find the fingering chart on this site you will see loads of different versions of those top notes. If your clarinet hasn't something obvious like Buffet Crampon stamped on it then you might need a non mainstream fingering to go with a non main stream clarinet.
If you have any clarinet playing friends you may be able to ask them to see if they can get those notes on your set up, and see if you can get them on theirs - or your teacher may do this.
If your teacher has no helpful suggestions then perhaps it is time for a new teacher..... Also, have you really been renting for 6 years?! Perhaps now is the time for a paper round/lawn cutting summer job to fund a second hand model of better quality that is your own.
Regarding the reed, I would guess that the ML 3 is quite soft so unless your mouthpiece is very open then it is possible that it is not ideal for what you are using. A firmer reed on a narrower tip mouthpiece may feel very similar in terms of resistance but give you more control at the moment.
Well done on getting up to the E by the way.
Post Edited (2007-11-30 16:31)
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