 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kelly
Date: 2001-03-12 15:41
I had always been taught (from fingering charts and band directors) that to play in the altissimo the first finger on the left hand was all the way off the hole. One of my friends plays them half holed, and I tried it. The notes came out so much easier than before! I am having a lot of trouble playing quick passages like that though. What are your thoughts on half holing versus not? If anyone does half hole, how high do you go up like that, or are there different notes you would play half holed? Thanks for any replies!
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-03-12 15:54
Kelly -
Half-holing really helps with slurring up to the altissimo. You roll your left index finger down to make a very small opening, which stabilizes the attack and makes slurs less likely to crack or make an intermediate sound.
The amount to open the hole varies with instruments, mouthpieces and reeds. Practice slowly, starting on low A, pressing the register key gradually for clarion E and then rolling your left index finger down slowly for altissimo C#. You should do it so gradually that you aren't able to tell exactly when you will jump up to the next register. Experimenting will show you exactly how much to open the left index finger hole.
Obviously, when you play faster you just lift your left index finger, though you can roll or slide it quickly off the hole for notes that are unstable.
It's all a matter of practice and getting used to it.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-03-12 22:25
Most fingering charts in band books only show a single basic fingering or at most one alternate. They are far from complete.
More advanced charts do show the half holing technique as an alternate fingering. I only use it when there is a sustained high note as it seems (on my clarinet) a bit more stable than without. On moving passages, I don't half-hole.
You should try to get hold of a good, portable fingering chart. The ones in the complete Klose method and in the Rubank Advanced Method books are both pretty good and can be removed from the book so you can take them with you. By the way, in approximately the center of the Rubank Advanced books is a nice trill chart showing how to perform the awkward trills such as the clarion (i.e. one ledger line above the staff) Ab to Bb trill.
For more extensive fingerings, there is a book by Ridenour and another by Sims. Both are available from Gary Van Cott, one of the sneezy sponsors.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-03-13 00:14
I learned half-holing in Keith Stein's book many years ago.
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Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-03-13 07:03
I was taught that I should uncover the L1 hole completely for altissimo, but that I shouldn't lift the finger, I should slide it sideways off the hole. This is the equivalent of half holing at the start of the note.
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Author: Bart Hendrix
Date: 2001-03-13 14:27
Dee--
Interesting you should mention the Klose fingering chart. I have been looking for a copy of the Klose book for some time without success. I have been told it is out of print and have been having no success with current or out of print sources -- including on-line clarinet exercise book sellers and three months of searching so far at Amazon. Unlike my local music store, however, Amazon at least knows what it is. I had a copy some forty years ago, but tossed it when it became totally worn out -- "after all, it is a standard that will always be available".
Any suggestions where I might be able to find a replacement?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-03-13 14:48
Well I bought a brand new copy less than 5 years ago. Perhaps your local band music store can order it. The version that you should be able to find is published by Carl Fischer. It is the Klose Complete Method as revised by Simeon Bellison. You might try looking through the resource section and call the music stores listed there such as Luyben, Eble and others.
I seriously doubt that it is completely out of print. It's probably a case of knowing who, where and how to ask.
They do come up on eBay from time to time but I would caution you to query the seller and make sure the fingering chart is still with it.
As far as the fingering chart goes, the one in the Rubank Advanced books is pretty close in quality to it (but not the ones in the intermediate or elementary books). The Rubanks are now published by Hal Leonard.
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Author: Doug P
Date: 2001-03-13 15:53
Barnes and Noble online (www.bn.com) has the Klose book - I bought my copy from them about 2 years ago. I have found B&N to have a deeper and better stocked selection of books of all kinds than Amazon - just my 2 cents.
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