 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris
Date: 2000-12-16 01:44
My little sister recently started playing the clarinet in school. She loves playing, but her teacher is making them do scales and she says she's having a lot of trouble hitting the High C. Nobody in my family plays and can't help her. She says she can either blow hard and get a squeak or if she doesn't blow so hard she said it sounds just like air coming out. She is a really small girl could this be that she can't blow hard enough or maybe her fingers are to small to seal all the holes. I just want to help her out so she doesn't get discouraged. I love that she plays and I wish I had I just don't want her to think she can't do it and quit because I think she'd regret it. Any helpful words from someone who has been in this position before I think would really boost her confidence.
Chris
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-12-16 02:45
Most of the time my students have a hard time with the clarion register because they do not have enough mouthpiece in their mouth. I have my students play an open G several times. Each time I ask them to take more mouthpiece in. It really opens the sound and eventually they will get the "squeak". It is then I tell them to back off just a little, but keep as much mouthpiece in the mouth as possible without getting the harmonic (squeak). I then ask the to play the altissimo G-A-B-C slurred in slow quarter notes. They are usually amazed how much easier it is to produce. I think this is one of the most common errors young students make...that is not taking in enough reed. Have her try it and see if that doesn't help. Also, I will add that stronger reeds help with the clarion register also. I don't know what strength she is playing, but I have my beginners play on at least a Mitchell Lurie 3.5 by the time we are getting to the higer clarion notes and I recommend they use at least a Mitchell Lurie 4 or eqivalent. I'm sure there will be more responses to your question since there are many different teaching styles. What is your opinion Dee?
John
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Author: Karen
Date: 2000-12-16 06:24
When my son started playing clarinet last year, he couldn't get the clarion register out well at all. What turned out to be the problem was he wasn't sealing the holes fully. He initially insisted there was something wrong with the instrument (his is 55 years old), but I had no problem with it, so we did the following test. He sat on my lap while I held the instrument and blew. With me fingering, he had no problem with the clarion register. The problem was his fingers (at age 10) just weren't strong enough. After playing for a few months, he built up the finger strength and learned to be careful covering the holes, and now after 1 year and 3 months has no problem with the high notes. You can watch your sister's fingering, to see if that's the problem. I'd also highly recommend at least a couple of private lessons, possibly with an advanced high school student if you can't afford another teacher. A few pointers from a more advanced player could help a lot. But definately tell her that squeaking and squawking are part of the beginner's game, and that in a year or so, if she keeps practicing, she'll be sounding great.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2000-12-16 12:38
The high C has just the thumb down, right?
Test the seating of pads with a very thin piece of paper (cigarette paper, ahem "Rollers") are about the same dimension as the feeler gauges used in the shops.
If the spring loaded pads are set correctly, the pressure of the pad should prevent removal of the paper slip.
(Coffee filters may be too thick to give an accurate reading.)
If the paper slides around with no resistance, a trip to the shop for adjustment is in order.
****
Does she have a slightly harder reed to try? One half step in strength may be sufficient to help.
How old is the reed she's playing?
May I recommend you look into the Legere synthetic reed... one less variable.
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Author: jerry
Date: 2000-12-16 14:08
You didn't say how long she has been playing. I've just started (3 months ago and I'm 62) and am told that it is too soon to attempt the higher. However, I have experimented with the register key and I'm here to tell you that it is not easy. Unless of course, you know how. The book I'm reading suggest that it does not take *force* but finesse. In his book Stein suggests that, while maintaining a constant air stream and playing a "G" (for example, below the staff - all fingers and thumb down), that the teacher (from behind and unknowingly to the student) reach over and touch the register key. It seems to work for me as long as I concentrate on a good strong and constant air flow from the diaphragm. I've noticed also, that if there is the slightest bit of leakage around a finger, it's like blowing into the end of my thumb - I get nada out.
It seems as though it takes a lot of concentration and less force. I'm sure others can contribute more but this is as a beginner sees it. So, if she has not been playing long there is no need for discouragement but a tutor, by far, would be the greatest help.
GL ~ jerry
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-12-16 16:56
You don't say which C she is having trouble with. Squeaks and breathiness are normal beginner problems. However, as the others have mentioned, it never hurts to check and make sure that there are no leaks in the instrument. Even new instruments may need a little adjustment.
If it is the C that is in the middle of the staff, then she probably isn't getting the holes covered completely. This is a problem for many young beginners especially if they are small. If any of the fingers are a little bit off, there will be a leak and the note will not play or will squeak. My older daughter had very thin fingers and had a slight problem with this. With small or thin fingers, the position must be more accurate. Slow practice will help here. Also try starting a note or two higher and going down to the note. This helps too.
If it is the C that sits two ledger lines above the staff, I would question why the students are going this high this soon. The student needs to develop some breath support and embouchure (mouth position) before going up here. When these are better developed it should clear up.
Let her know that these are perfectly normal problems that all beginners have to one degree or another. They will clear up with time.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-12-16 17:00
J. Butler wrote:
>
> ... Also, I will add that stronger reeds help with the clarion
> register also. I don't know what strength she is playing, but
> I have my beginners play on at least a Mitchell Lurie 3.5 by
> the time we are getting to the higer clarion notes and I
> recommend they use at least a Mitchell Lurie 4 or eqivalent.
> I'm sure there will be more responses to your question since
> there are many different teaching styles. What is your opinion
> Dee?
I've posted further down but just want to comment here that I started my daughters on Mitchell Lurie 2.5 reeds and this was sufficient to play in the clarion register. When they went higher, I switched them to a bit stiffer reed. It is my opinion that softer than 2.5 would be too soft though.
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Author: A
Date: 2000-12-16 21:25
You can also try wedging the mouthpiece a bit by using upward pressure with the right thumb under the thumbrest. Keep the mouthpiece snug; don't let it slide into the mouth. This can solve many altissimo difficulties.
Al
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