 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Maruja
Date: 2009-08-10 09:29
A quick question - why, when I tongue, does the note sometimes go up a register? Any suggestions as to how I can avoid this? Thanks in advance...
P.S - I've only been playing just under a year....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2009-08-10 15:02
Too much mouthpiece in your mouth is the most common reason for producing the unwanted harmonic (sqweek). Too little mpc will cause a weak, pinched sound or not allow the reed to speak at all. The correct amount of beak to insert is somewhere in between the sqweek and "no speak". The fact that you say "sometimes" suggests that you are not being consistant with your mouthpiece placement, generally refferred to as "embouchure". Firm corners, flat chin, lip over bottom teeth with a sense of upper lip pressure from above with a little "bite" but not that it hurts. Also, steady breath support, strick the tip of the reed from below with your tongue just a little back from the actual tip and avoid a sudden "burst" of air--just steady pressure from your belly muscles. I know, so much to always think about--but, you must learn to control everything embouchure and air related consistantly if you want to avoid those unwanted harmonics. If it is any consulation, there isn't a clarinetist in the world, no matter how experianced, who doesn't inadvertantly sqweek from time to time. It is just that the true professionals "almost never" do. Consistant attention to embouchure details, quality practice and experiance will get you through the sqweeks. BTW, some private lessons would really help get you off to a good start. Good luck, I hope this helps a bit.......
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Maruja
Date: 2009-08-10 15:13
Thanks for such a full reply. I will endeavour to put some of this into practice. I do have lessons - but my teacher says that I must keep the same embouchure for all the registers - so if I am in the bottom register and then, for instance go to top D, I need enough mp in the mouth to be able to move up without shifting.
But I do understand that just with practising, my embouchure and lips are getting stronger and I can do things I couldn't do before....
M.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2009-08-10 15:32
A vast majority of beginners move their jaw muscles when trying to tongue on the clarinet. It's very natural to do this. When in life do you ever move your tongue around without also moving your jaw and lips; as in eating, chewing, talking etc.
To successfully tongue on the clarinet you must learn to isloate the tongue muscle from the jaw muscles (they are not really connected, even if your brain wants to think so.)
Most beginning players are not aware that they are moving their jaw up and down. I put a small hand mirror on the music stand, and let them watch themselves. That seems to works as well as anything.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
Hand Crafted clarinet mouthpieces
Buffet Clarinets
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2009-08-10 15:33
Isolate - not "isloate". I hit enter, THEN saw the word was mis-spelled! I hate that!
Walter
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2009-08-10 15:52
Walter, you must discover the "edit" funcition. It's great when you make those occcasssionall misteakss.......lol.
None the less, good aditional advice by "one of the best".
Post Edited (2009-08-10 15:54)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Maruja
Date: 2009-08-10 17:42
Many thanks Walter - I will check that. BTW, I notice that Americans don't seem to differentiate between practice with a c (noun) and practise with an 's' (verb). Since you brought up spelling, I thought I might ask....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-08-10 17:49
In American English, it's the same for either word. We use the spelling with a C.
Jeff
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mrn
Date: 2009-08-10 21:06
JJAlbrecht wrote:
> In American English, it's the same for either word. We use the
> spelling with a C.
True. American English also uses just one spelling for license/licence, except we use the S for license, rather than the C as in practice.
I would say that American English tracks American pronunciation (with a voiced "s" in license and an unvoiced "c" in practice), but then there's the American spelling "defense," which really sounds more like the British spelling "defence."
I suppose if there's anything truly universal about the English language it's that wherever you go, there's an exception to every rule. 
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-08-11 02:38
Check my website and look at the clarinet article page for suggestions on tongue position. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gigaday
Date: 2009-08-31 16:33
I have read several conflicting views on tonguing and embouchure, I think that some degree of personal experimentation is needed as we aren't issued with standard lips, teeth, mouths, etc.
I am following a piece of advice that I read to use the tip of the tongue on the tip of the reed (having previously being doing something quite different). It is coming together for me and after some weeks of practice it is becoming more natural and reliable. Take a look at http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Study/TongueFaster.html
I also found some interesting stuff on "anchor tonguing" on this BB or with Google perhaps. It said that some top professionals use it but that it was generally not a good idea - it was very much what I had been doing.
I have read about the "one embouchure fits all" idea as well as those who advocate very subtle adjustments pretty well for every note (can't find the reference) but someone actually recommended playing scales with the mouthpiece only as an embouchure training.
As I find that I have to make embouchure adjustments when going from one reed to another as they are not all identical I can't see how the "one for all" idea can work. Also most instruments seemed to be accepted as having weak or more difficult areas and I can't see any way of coping with this other than adjusting the embouchure.
But then, I'm not an expert!
Tony
Post Edited (2009-08-31 16:34)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
