The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

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

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Altissimo A thiness and unstability

Author: Aaron
Date: 2000-11-26 20:59

This note has many problems, much like the Eb/G# key. Very edgy, and can be almost metallic on FF passages. The A, or a2 for those of you who want specifics, has problems that are inherent in the horn. The main problem that I find my students have with this note is caused mainly because of breath support, embouchure, and tounge position.
a2 tends to bring out, or magnify the faults in a persons playing. It is an unstable pitch. On the Buffets this note has a smaller resistance than the notes around it above and below. A compensation in the earlier stages of playing is needed. However the more advanced the player the less compensaton is needed.
One aspect I use in teaching to correct this note, and the overall sound on the horn is to change the embochure and tounge position. The young student may feel that to make a darker/fuller, more rounded sound that they must drop the tounge to the back of the mouth making the largest possible cavity for the sound to resonate in the mouth. This causes many problems. The main problem is that this disrupts the air stream in the throat, therefore causing the air to be unfocoused when it hits the reed, and a drop in air support arises causing unstability in playing.
What must be done to change this is in fact making the cavity in the mouth as small as possible. This is achieved by making a stressed "Ewwww" syllable. Stressing it in the lips. This causes the embochure to move forward, bringing the tounge forward and having it pointed for better tounging and articulation.
Now the embochure can be called what I say is a modified double lip. With the double lip, the lip is the only thing in contact with the mouthpiece causing a coushion of suooprt and allowing the reed to opens up and vibrate fully. With the modified double lip the mouthpiece is almost held away from the teeth by the lips. Using the stressed "Ewww" or "Ooooo" syllable. In doing this the jaw is left to relax, and biting on the reed should be able to stop. Tis also helps form the correct toung position, forward and arched forming the smaller cavity in the front of the mouth.
With correct breath support and many other aspects the notes, including a2 and even the altissimo registers to the low e are able to be produced with the wonderful ring the many people love about the American clarinet sound.
Hopefully I have made some point with this and made it somewhat clear. If more clarification is needed please feel free to e-mail. Pay no attention to spelling, I give it my less then worse effort....

Reply To Message

RE: Altissimo A thiness and unstability

Author: Anji
Date: 2000-11-27 00:20

This is VERY helpful. I'm stymied by this particular note. Double lip is something I use more as an exercise, but this may be a mindful method to call into play (particularly on this note).

So what gives with the A? Why is it so brittle in comparison to it's neighbors.

Thanks for digging into this

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.