Author: grifffinity
Date: 2008-01-12 14:13
Quote:
But rather than help on scales and reading and such, I was more looking for advice on air support and especially embouchure issues way up there.
sfalexi's advice is good about learning how to find the correct amount of mouthpiece. Ian Gretzer uses a similar demonstration with overtones and it is helpful in some ways. The demonstration is always more dramatic than the actual movements you would make when playing - so its important not to go overboard when practicing that - trust me!
For years I've had a similar problem with the thinness of tone in the upper clarion (above A) into the altissimo - and thought, was it me, my horn, my mouthpiece....etc. It was a combo of my mouthpiece, my oral cavity and support. The latter two on that list really proved to be most crucial.
Outside of equipment issues, when dealing with thinness of tone, you are usually not supporting enough and/or doing something with the oral cavity via tongue position or squeezing too hard with the embouchure. Perhaps, even usuing the throat to focus the air...which leads to other issues when you attempt large leaps.
Keeping the tongue forward is important - sometimes it gets lazy when we are playing long tones or non-articulated passages. Also, think about the tone coming out of the top of your head. I don't know if you've ever taken signing lessons, but some teachers will use this description to help the student lift the back of the soft palate...or even use the yawn technique. You can feel it raise naturally when you yawn. I find raising the soft palate takes the edge off my upper clarion and altissimo notes.
At the end of the day, support is support - you are either doing it correctly or not. I don't find the basics of support change in any register - speed of air is key as well as focus of that air. Many times students take this big breath, but don't know exactly what to do with it or how to control it. Tony Pay has lead some great discussions of support on this board, which you can find using the search functions.
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