 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tim
Date: 2000-11-10 14:19
Hello everyone,
My new (ish) teacher has recently told me something that seemed rather surprising at first: he told me that my inability to play certain high notes is not because I cannot play them, but because I expect them to be hard, and so I make an extra effort - in particular I tense my embouchure - and so the note doesn't come out. If I were to relax, he says, then I could do it much easier. So can anyone give me any advice for overcoming this mental block? Or perhaps it is just a case of practice, practice, practice?
Tim
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2000-11-10 15:26
Get a copy of the 'Inner Game of Music' or the Inner Game of Tennis. Also sorts of mind/playing connections exist. I actually prefer the Tennis version.
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2000-11-10 16:29
When you feel really good just start going up the scale without even thinking about it and you will be able to hit the c and b without any problems. Trying to hit it as a first note may be a problem, but what the heck just go for it. If you blow it will be there.
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 2000-11-10 21:29
This is a good exercise to get yourself used to high notes:
Play your low A for about two beats at quarter note equals sixty, or however long you need to establish it solidly. Without changing air or embouchure, gently hit the register key to get clarion E, and hold that. Then, again without changing anything else, lift your first finger on your left hand to get altissimo C#. At first this will probably startle you, but just keep concentrating on holding everything still. Do this again for Bb-F-D, B-F#-D#, C-G-E, and C#-G#-F. Whenever you get tense about moving to the high note, remind yourself that it's just the same as the lower one, with a small change in fingering. If you get too tense, take a break for a bit and go back to it; don't get yourself in the habit of tensing up your shoulders to go up to the altissimo.
Once you're comfortable doing that, try playing A-E-C#, stop the note, pause for a second, and then just play the C#. It's important to keep the sound of the C# in your memory, so at first the pause should be pretty short, but gradually add more silence in between. Then, when that's comfortable, you're ready to just hit the note C# without any preparation.
Another good exercise is to do octaves--playing E-E-E-E, F-F-F-F etc.; you'll only be able to do three octaves for C#, C, and D, but it's still enough to get used to the feeling of it.
Take your time with all of this; you want to make it feel totally comfortable before you try doing any of it in a faster context. I did both of these exercises, and it really helped; I hope it helps you too. Good luck!
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Author: Ted
Date: 2000-11-12 01:44
Your new teacher is entriely correct. Maybe if you used more AIR and blew through the notes instead of trying to beat the crap out of them by blowing so tightly and closing down the embourchure you would be able to hit them easily. It would be a good idea to go back to basics and not try and play past a E for now, just to let the first couple of notes up there settle. After that work your way slowly up to the D above that and by then you should have a decent set up for trying to play the real altissimo on the clarinet.
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Author: Tim
Date: 2000-11-12 16:20
Thanks everyone for your advice, especially Katherine - I found that the exercise you mentioned helps a lot. I will keep working at it and let you know if there are any more problems. Thanks once again,
Tim
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