 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: brahma
Date: 2008-10-19 16:35
Hello All.
I wonder if you can help me with a beginners question?
I have only just started playing the clarinet (literally!) and have a question about how you play multiple notes. If the music calls for 5 G's, do you blow separately for each note, or do you use you tongue to block the entry of air into the clarinet?
Sorry - probably a really silly question!!
Many thanks,
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-10-19 16:41
Close - you use your tongue to stop the reed from vibrating.
You never attach a note with your diaphragm (ie with air pressure) alone - you always use your tongue to "trigger" the note. Say "too" or "dhoo" when playing, not "humm".
Do you have an instructor of some kind?
--
Ben
Post Edited (2008-10-19 16:42)
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2008-10-19 18:02
tictactux wrote:
> You never attach a note with your diaphragm (ie with air
> pressure) alone -
Never say never ... but for someone just beginning, I think you've given sound advice.
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Author: brahma
Date: 2008-10-19 18:41
Hiya!
Dont have a teacher yet - sounds daft but as I'm 42 years old I feel a bit embarrassed about having lessons! Bought some books and was going from there! Do music teachers teach adults?
you say to use your tongue to stop the reed from vibrating - to you put your tongue right on the end of the reed or the side?
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-10-19 18:57
brahma wrote:
> Dont have a teacher yet - sounds daft but as I'm 42 years old I
> feel a bit embarrassed about having lessons!
Pfft. I started with 41 as well. With a teacher some 20 years younger than me.
> Bought some books and was going from there!
Books can help, but only so much. A teacher will see things a book (obviously) can't. Don't you start on the wrong track. Bad habits are difficult to un-learn.
> you say to use your tongue to stop the reed from vibrating - do
> you put your tongue right on the end of the reed or the side?
Tip of tongue on tip of reed. That'd be the idea. Don't worry if you're landing off-center, you will feel when it's working right.
--
Ben
Post Edited (2008-10-19 18:58)
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Author: Joseph Brenner, Jr.
Date: 2008-10-19 19:01
Dear Brahma,
Abandon your embarrassment...even the stars of clarinet playing take lessons. Oh, some of them may see it as "coaching", but study with teachers they do...and they're smart to do so. After all, is the artist, the athlete, the chef, the designer, or the actor the best judge of his or her work? Does he or she spot problems or trends or ruts?
Tongue to the tip of the reed, as a general rule. Some will say tongue to the very tip; some will say tongue to the end of the underside. You might go to the top of the menu and search under "tonguing". As with starting the tone, advanced students and professionals will tongue in all manner of ways to play musically.
Best wishes
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Author: brahma
Date: 2008-10-19 19:37
Right - gonna do some more research into tonguing. Still not sure about the teacher tho but I dont want to get into bad habits.
Guess I'll see about t teacher then ....
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-10-19 20:39
I get a bit nervous when I hear "put your tongue on the tip of the reed" because a beginner can think that means on the very end of the tip. I think "just back of the tip" describes it better. Yes/No? False tongueing is a beginner's cop out too and is done without the tongue.....using a "Uh, Uh" voicing style. It's generally frowned upon but then so is growling and some other jazz sounds.
Bob Draznik
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Author: CarlT
Date: 2008-10-19 21:18
I have been playing and taking lessons for six months now, and I'm 71. Do you think I'm embarressed to tell people I'm taking lessons? Heck, no; I'm proud of it.
BobD said: "I get a bit nervous when I hear 'put your tongue on the tip of the reed' because a beginner can think that means on the very end of the tip."
I agree with BobD. I tried to take that literally, and it just wouldn't work for me. When I asked my teacher, she said, "Oh, that really means 'near' the tip." It varies a little depending on whether you have a large, medium or small tongue I believe. But there, again, ask a good teacher about your specific case.
I am a believer in reading and learning most things by myself...to a degree; however, I have NO regrets of having a teacher's help in learning to play the clarinet. I go every other week for half hour sessions now, but I started out going once per week, every week. I really needed it then, too; it got me off to a good start.
CarlT
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-10-20 05:51
Bob, some people actually tongue with the tip of the tongue to the tip of the reed (I don't).
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2008-10-20 06:18
With five g's you should be thinking of one long note. The blowing should remain "rock solid" throughout. There should be no separate blowing for each note. Separate blowing is very common amongst beginners. The tongue lightly touches the reed to separate each note. Experiment with playing a long note and bringing the tongue up to the reed very slowly. As it gets very close the sound will start to be interupted. Keep blowing! Then withdraw the tongue. The "doo" touching of the reed shouldn't be too slow but err on the side of a light approach at first.
Here is a suggested exercise #1. play a sustained g #2 bring the tongue gradually up to touch the reed #3 The tongue touches the reed stopping the sound #4 Keep blowing through all this(even the silence there should be air pressure) End of series.... Now do the same series #1-#4 without stopping the sound. The tongue just touches the reed. Experiment with how long the tongue is on the reed. It takes very little to interupt the reed vibration. (just a millisecond on the reed) The tongue doesn't need to be very fast or heavy. Clarinet playing is all about doing things simultaneously. Tonguing and fingering shouldn't interfere with your air flow. The air is very important.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2008-10-20 07:57
Hi Brahma,
Welcome to the clarinet world!
As far as your tonguing question is concerned, I think Arnoldstang has put it pretty well. You should not take separate "puffs" for each note, whether repeated on one pitch or not. Think about the air flow continuing all the time.
I would agree that it is probably a good idea to find a teacher. Plenty are more than happy to teach adults and used to doing so. I see your ISP is in Brighton - where do you live?
Vanessa.
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Author: brahma
Date: 2008-10-20 12:41
Thanks very much for all your comments.
Have tried using my tongue to "make the notes" and it worked!! I played the tune while blowing continuously!! Found the vibration was "very tickly" on my tongue tho'!!
Thanks Arnoldstang, might try that drill tonight
I live in Wimborne, Dorset Vanessa - where are you?
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2008-10-20 16:22
Hi again,
I live in London but know the Wessex area quite well having spent a lot of my younger years in Hampshire. You could try contacting local education services or schools (state or private) to see who teaches there - quite likely their teachers will be interested in taking on the odd private pupil.
I would suggest that you go for someone who has experience and qualifications in teaching (not just playing) and who is chiefly a clarinet specialist - you will find some wind teachers will offer to teach almost anything you can blow plus piano and theory and, in many cases, they are not as equipped to teach some instruments as other instruments. Of course some may be but most would admit themselves that they are stronger on some instruments than others.
In terms of qualifications look for something like LTCL (teaching diploma) or a teaching degree from university or music college.
It saves a lot of retraining and heartache if you get the first steps that you're taking now right and a good teacher will help you to do this (a previous poster said something similar).
Good luck!
Vanessa.
PS - How could I have forgotten - there is a fabulous teacher in Somerset - don't know whether you would feel able to travel in that direction or whether he would have capacity to take you but he is a great teacher. Email me off thread if you would like to know more.
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Author: brahma
Date: 2008-10-20 19:38
Ok so touch the reed quickly and no tickling - that worked!! Trouble is now I've started getting a hissing sound!! Got to get my embouch thing right!!
Where I live in Wimborne is quite a way from Somerset Vanessa so I'have to leave him - thanks anyway tho.
Gonna try that web link SteveL and see what it turns up.
Many thanks all!
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Author: russjm
Date: 2008-10-30 18:00
brahma, I'm 43 and had my first lesson today while a young girl and her mum watched while waiting for her lesson. I was nervous too, but it was great fun, and I've nipped a couple of bad habits in the bud early too. Definately worth it, even if you only have a lesson once a month, it's worthwhile, otherwise you run the risk of developing some bad techniques which will be tough to correct further down the line.
It's an advantage if your teacher is a younger, attractive member of the opposite sex of course. Can't wait for my next lesson ;-)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2008-10-30 21:09
"It's an advantage if your teacher is a younger, attractive member of the opposite sex of course. Can't wait for my next lesson ;-)"
Blummy....maybe this explains why you are getting fewer calls.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2008-10-31 00:23
DavidBlumberg wrote:
> Still waiting to get a mid-life crisis car though...... 
I'll lend my 50mpg 2001 diesel New Beetle to you for a day ... it's chip-tuned, "custom" interior (OK, custom-fit race type seat covers), and mag wheels ... only 132K miles on it, so it's almost broken in now 
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