 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: timg
Date: 2007-11-26 01:37
After 6 months of lessons, my music teacher is starting to teach me the altissimo register. The theory is that if I can get the difficult high notes right, then the lower notes will become easier and more natural. For the most part this is working well, but I'm still squeaking like a madman on the clarion A (two fingers and thumb).
Apparently my throat is too tense, and this is causing the instability in the note. The trouble is, I don't know what to do to relax my throat. It's not like an arm muscle which I can flex voluntarily.
Previously my teacher has suggested singing difficult notes before playing them, so as to get the correct throat shape. The trouble is that I'm the world's worst singer, with a very wobbly range of about half a octave.
Any suggestions? Are there any exercises for developing better control and sensation of the throat?
thanks,
Tim
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-11-26 03:11
do overtone excercises. play the low C and then try to play the clarion G without using the register key. The intonation is not the goal here so don't try to be in-tune, it's impossible.
Try to do this on all fingerings- playing the fundemental and then the 12th. After this feels good (a few weeks of 15min/day) you can try to the next harmonic.
Eventually you will be able to play high notes with the real fingerings much easier.
[edit] each note of the overtone excercise should be played seperately. Don't bother trying to slur from a low to a higher overtone.
Post Edited (2007-11-29 08:58)
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Author: buedsma
Date: 2007-11-26 06:43
with to much tension in the fingers , it could well be that you are touching the Bb key between hole 2 and 3.
Otherwise try first to play all the notes while concentrating on relaxing fingers and don't pay too much attention to the embouchure. When you don't have problems with this exercise , probably your embouchure is to firm.
Ever tried double lip ??
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Author: Philcoman
Date: 2007-11-26 17:00
There are many reasons why you might squeak, especially as you move higher in the clarion register: air support, embouchure variation, finger pressure or slippage, a tight throat...
Try everything mentioned above, and try playing the note with slight variations in everything from your air pressure to the way you hold your instrument. And remember that you're just starting out -- you'll hit little roadblocks like this often, and you'll always find your way through eventually.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-11-26 17:30
Ya know.... I don't even know what tight throat is. I would suggest that you may have a leak from the pad just above the second left finger OR the ring is too high and the second finger is not sealing the hole. Either way, the clarion "A" should be an easy note. I suggest not really making much to do about any unusual tongue position. It really lays rather naturally for the most part, perhaps just think you are saying, "EEEEEE." Other than that there should be no oral gymnastics at all.
...........Paul Aviles
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Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-11-26 18:12
Make sure the reeds aren't warped. Also do skygardner's overtone or "12th" exercises. You can also practice slurring up from the low D, just add the register key. You can do that for all your 12ths starting on low E to B, etc. It reinforces good throat position. You have to firm the embouchure and increase the airflow for the upper notes, but try to keep the throat fairly open. You might have to "voice" the upper note by moving the tongue position higher. "EEE", like Paul says.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-11-26 20:18
First, check the instrument; then proceed as suggested. Leaks are not uncommon, particularly on the upper section. For best results it must be tight. See a competent technician.
richard smith
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Author: Wes
Date: 2007-11-29 06:57
I was told to act like the French girl sitting in a sidewalk cafe in Paris, sucking on a straw to her drink. This came from the late Glen Johnston, the "mouthpiece man".
The above advice is very good, however.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2007-11-29 13:44
I completely agree with Paul. The throat can really get a bad rap for no reason.
As far as your teacher's suggestion to sing the notes: you don't have to sound like Pavarotti to gain the benefit of the exercise. The quality of the sound is irrelevant, they just want you to be certain of what you're going to play BEFORE you play.
If you are squeaking like a madmen and there are no equipment defects, you might be biting!
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: timg
Date: 2007-11-29 20:53
Thanks for all the suggestions, especially Claritoot26 & Skygardener who seem to have hit the nail on the head.
Equipment faults may be common, but in this case my clarinet seems to be blameless. Still, I've more or less conquered the 'A' now. Simply having confidence that the note will play helps enormously with reducing any unwanted tension.
The things I did were: yawning to relax the throat, learning to sing an 'A', and selecting the strongest reed from a box (Vandoren strength 3). For the moment 3.5s are still a bit too strong.
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