 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ashley
Date: 2000-12-11 22:30
I got an audition scheduled today for college.. the clarinet performance studio and the University of Iowa, Feb. 16th. I'm majoring in music ed, but i have to audition for and be accepted to the performance studio.. I talked to the clarinet professor today and got my audition time in order, and I know what i'm playing and everything (Bb - Allegro - Verhey/Voxman, Bass - Sonata in G Minor - Eccles), but the way it sounds I'm auditioning primarily on Bb. Thing is, I'm not good at Bb!! I'm good at bass!!!! I have to be able to play major scales and stuff, which i can on bass, but i'm having a hard time transferring them to Bb.
Anyway, the problem I'm having - my high notes are really unstable and very not in tune. Is it my breath support or what? Its frusterating, trying to play my highest G, it sounds horrible. I can get it out, but it doesnt sound much different than the F# below it. Its really frusterating, I dont want to go and make a food out of myself. I'm terrified that this lady that has a PhD is going to laugh me out of the room. My other stuff is ok, its the high notes I'm concerned about.
If it helps, I'm trying to change my embouchure, my chin wasnt flat (I know I know, should have done that years ago, but what can i say, i play bass most of the time). I'm playing on a Buffet International, with a B45 and a LaVoz medium reed. It works well for me and i get a really good tone in the low register.. but the high register needs help!! thanx
-ashley-
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Julia Meyer
Date: 2000-12-11 23:12
Ashley,
If I were you, I wouldn't audition on Bb---there are people who do primarily play bass like yourself. it is better to be really prepared and do a good job on one audition than to have 2 ok , but not great auditions. its already december; now is the time when you need to really be polishing your solos, major/minor scales, and working on sight-reading.
As far as not having a good tone quality in the upper register: 1-you need to make the air stream move faster 2-you need to have a proper embrocheure (as you said) There are other things too, but these are probably the first two areas to look at. One other thing is the reed strength--for me I've found that lavoz reeds don't work all that well ---but with this aside, a medium hard is probably too soft for you to get a good sound in the upper register. I would try either a lavoz hard or a vandoren 4.
Good luck,
Julia
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-12-11 23:19
99.9% of the time you're going to have to audition on soprano, not bass. If the school and auditioner say soprano - then that's the way it is.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: 'nifer
Date: 2000-12-12 01:48
All of the studios that i know of require Bb in addition to bass if you would like to play bass.. although bass is extremely marketable ONCE you get into the studios.. you need to also have the ability to play the Bb.. :-( i know it can be a pain to work up Bb too but the way that i raised my comfort level on Bb was to play it more in school band if possible (if you can convince your band director to let you play first parts as they are usually higher) and especially in pep band music.. the parts are usually loud (so you dont have to worry about sound too much) and high so you get the practice up there.. ;-) and if you sound bad in pep band most people won't notice! ;-) Good luck! The one other thing i notice between the two and with my students who play both is that they often like the Long G and F# better when on Bb.. long g is like high C# (e, a harmonic series) up a partial.. also check for throat movement that can be deadly up high on Bb while not half as noticeable on Bass.
"nifer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Curtis
Date: 2000-12-12 02:09
Ashley:
My sympathies to you !! I would talk to your faclulty advisor and see if you can play something on the Bass Clarinet. There is a world of music out there written for this instrument that would show off your abilities. I remember my Jury exam at the University of Texas in 1952 - I was scared but knew that I could do it. Hey, I knew all of the individuals and they are really just people like you and me. They do not want to skin you alive, just hear you play prepared music to see if you know what you are doing and can do it musically. You are not trying out to be a performer on stage as a soloist with a symphony orchestra, you are trying out to show them that a music education major does know about their instrument, and has style. I know, I taught band for 37 years and enjoyed every moment of it.
Good Luck.
Bob Curtis
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2000-12-12 05:08
As someone who used to teach at a college, I think that you might be getting a little too on edge about the Bb part of the audition. Mark is right; you will have to audition on both Bb and bass most of the time. However, the professor will probably be keeping in mind that your primary instrument is not the Bb, but the bass.
LaVoz reeds are not particularly easy to get the high notes on. A possible next step for you in reeds would be the Mitchell Lurie. I find (and found that the same has been true for my students) that the upper register is easier to play on these than on the LaVoz, but not as easy as on a Vandoren V12.
Another thing to consider is that the B45 requires a bit more lip/jaw pressure than a closer facing mouthpiece, such as the Vandoren 5RV. As a bass clarinetist, you've learned to play with very little of this type of pressure. You would probably have more success on Bb with a 5RV, Vandoren M13, Gigliotti #2, Hite, or a Greg Smith. Remember that with a close facing mouthpiece, a higher numbered reed will feel fairly soft.
Working on the embouchure, as you are doing (flat chin, etc.) will help this upper register problem. Good luck! You have plenty of time to get ready.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-12-12 16:58
Ashley -
Don't panic. You have plenty of time to get comfortable on Bb.
You should of course play a lot of bass clarinet at your audition. However, as 'nifer says, an orchestra will have you playing Bb most of the time, because comparatively few pieces (and almost none prior to the 20th century) have bass parts. Unless you want a career in a military band, you'll have to play lots of Bb (and even in a military band, you'll have to march with a Bb). If you want a music degree, and even more if you want a professional career, you just have to be able to play Bb.
First, you need to play as much Bb as possible between now and your audition. The embouchure is different enough that you need to strengthen different muscles. The same goes for breath -- Bb takes less volume but higher pressure. I would say you should at least alternate days on Bb and bass, and maybe do Bb 2 days out of 3.
One good way to get into the high register is to play scales, concentrating on carrying the tone from low to high.
Another is an exercise I've recommended several times.
Play a low E at a good but not forced forte, hold it for about 1 second, and then slowly press the register key, so that you don't know exactly when you'll jump up to B. When you get to B, do a dimuendo down to pp over the next 2 to 3 seconds, concentrating on keeping clarity and good color in the sound.
Then go to low F, up to C, and so on.
When you get to A, go to E and then slowly roll your left finger down to get the altissimo C#. Once again, you shouldn't be able to predict when the jump will come.
Concentrate on carrying the low register roundness and color up into the third register.
Also, you need a good mouthpiece. The Fobes and Hite student mouthpieces (among others) are simply better than any machine-make mouthpiece, including the Vandorens. The cost in the $20-30 range, and you should get one right away. That will probably solve a lot of problems.
Good luck on your audition. You should do fine.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Daniel Bouwmeeszer
Date: 2000-12-12 22:05
Ashley,
Work on embouchure... make sure your chin is sticking out.. and the muscles between chin and lips is as hard as rock.
Check out mouthpieces... usually, on a bass you play as if you played on a small openeing mouthpiece... myabe try vandoren 5rvlyre using hard reeds (~ vandoren V12 strength 4). Or go to the shop and try to find something that looks like a bass in terms of response.
Practice on long tones, at least play half an hour of long tones a day... Ashley if you're gonna study clarinet you should be playing at leats 4 hours each day spending most of the time doing scales and long tones and etudes for improving technique.
Good luck
DAniel
Geneva, Switzerland
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2000-12-14 14:58
Sounds like your embouchure needs strengthening to support the high register, or you need to select and balance your reeds more carefully. The high register of any clarinet will always be notoriously "out of tune" and it is normal to have to lip these notes( usually down) to bring them in tune. You just have to practice with a tuning device and learn how to adjust each note Also, try these fingerings: F#--TR, 1-2 4-5-6-Eb G--TR, 1-3 4-5 Eb or TR, 1 Eb (overblowing B) . IMHO--as most clarinet programs usually need more performance majors, if you "dazzel" them with your bass, they will be forgiving of you sop audition and admit you with the understanding that it will improve with practice and experience. John Bruce-Yeh, of the Chicago Symphony, told me that he got his college performance program on the strength of his bass clarinet audition (after which he "quickly switched to Bb). "Just do it!!!!" Knock 'em dead, and GOOD LUCK!!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
