 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BJ Marks
Date: 2001-02-19 15:43
I am a MS band director. I am having trouble getting my clarinets to play on pitch for G-C right above the staff. They are consistently sharp by 15-30 cents. We tune to their 3rd space C. Should they be using alternate fingerings to shade those notes? Any suggestions? Thanks!
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-02-19 16:15
I don't think it's an alternate fingering issue. I think that they don't have their embouchure set and are squeezing (biting, pinching, whatever you want to call it) to get the higher notes out. They are more relaxed at 3rd space C and therefore in tune. The solution? If their mouthpiece/reed setup is adequate, have them work on breath support and embouchure for the higher notes by playing a slowly ascending scale while looking at a tuner. They need to be trained in what is "right" and the tuner will give them something to measure by.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-02-19 17:08
I think you're right, Fred. Don't think about fingerings. When they sound good, they'll play good.
Breath support *from the diaphragm* will improve things remarkably. Overnight in most cases. Right now (some of) the kids are struggling for breath, a panic situation. Most kids bite, pinch, squirm and strain because they don't have the breath support they need to even keep their composure. They're running out of air and they can't think of anything else. Remedy that. If it's not corrected now it'll be a big time problem down the line.
Best wishes, BJ. Tell 'em to sit (or stand) up straight, breathe deep and play soft... about half the volumn they do now, *whatever* that is  )
They'll amaze themselves... and you.
ron b
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 2001-02-19 20:29
Aren't quite a few student clarinets on the sharp side in this part of the range anyway? This would tend to make the problem worse.
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2001-02-19 21:03
I had a band director in grades 7 through 9 who constantly harped on us clarinets to "loosen up" and "support! support!" when we inevitably went sharp. He never taught us how to count, but wow, did I get great ear and embouchure training.
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-02-21 01:58
Actually as a beginner my band director with us just getting out a good sound, he never cared how we did it as long as we did it. I mean I never got yelled at for support untilI atarted taking pprivate lessons, and I stilled get fussed at like when I'm trying to play that high A and B's a killer too.!
Sarab
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-02-22 22:50
My high school band director had all the woodwinds tune to an "A concert" pitch ( for a Bb clarinet that is the B below the C you are tuning to). This does work! I have found that 9 out of 10 clarinets that play the B in tune will play the rest closer to in tune then when the C is tuned.
I always tell my young clarinet players to just relax, if they are tring to hard it will not "natully" tune.
Good Luck.
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