The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: Long Tones 2009

Author: oliver sudden
Date: 2009-04-10 10:48

> For a half decent player, however, I think the practice of long
> tones is, at least superficially, pretty close to worthless.

Since we're all up with the YMMV principle I'll just say that for me long notes are one of the few things that are _absolutely essential_. (That and scales in thirds...) Especially if you're a half decent player who would like to ditch the 'half' bit. Of course there are people who've been blessed with birth with the innate ability to control every aspect of tone production but I'm not one of these lucky individuals...

I don't know of anything that better focusses on the matter of keeping the air supply in condition and without that we may as well pack it in - doesn't matter what you can do with the steering wheel if the engine's not working. I notice you don't mention control of dynamics - maybe we're not talking about exactly the same thing then, since when I think of 'long note practice' I'm thinking of playing every semitone (or at least every diatonic note) within at least the basic three octaves, from nothing to fff and back. It should indeed be a concentrated process - you should be listening like mad, not only to the dynamic and intonation but to the whole harmonic profile of the sound.

>>>is it [your sustained note] totally even from start to finish? Even if there is a change in tone, is it a smooth change or is the sound unstable or 'shaky'? How do your lips feel after 15 seconds on one note? I assume they feel a bit more tired than they do when you run up and down a scale for 15 seconds<<<

> My answers were: Yes, No, Fine, and Nope. Should I still
> practice long tones?

There are of course two possibilities here. Either you do indeed have perfect control of the sound you're producing or there's something that isn't under complete control that's escaping your ear. I'm sure it's the former of course in your case but for those of us who are less certain I think long notes are the best way to work out which of the two it might be.

I think it's often worth remembering that 'technique' for a singer (at least for the ones I've hung around) basically means what we call production. How quickly you can get around the instrument is 'agility'. It's just a difference of emphasis but it's one I've always found worth thinking about.

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics

Author

Date

Long Tones 2009 new

Liam Murphy

2009-04-10 04:43