 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rapidcif
Date: 2013-01-03 04:43
hey so i'm a beginner-intermediate clarinet player and while i was practicing my scales something really bothered me. For example, i was playing the diminished chords of the 7th exercise in baerman and i was hitting all the notes at the tempo i was playing in but i noticed that between some notes, it seemed as if i was stopping my air and then re- exhaling at split second speed. For instance from the altissimo C# to the G and like from altissimo C# to to E5 it seems like i can't hold the fingering for the C#, add the additional fingers for E5, maintain a steady airflow, and get the notes to transition smoothly, hence this split second breath stopping and restarting. I guess my question is if this is considered bad technique when playing a scale and if yes how to combat it? Thanks.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-01-03 09:47
With any transition note to note you need to isolate this and take it S-L-O-W.
It may also help to know that you make minute (almost imperceptible) changes in with your tongue to achieve greater air speed for higher notes (or you can think of it as actually pushing more air for the higher notes).
So take them as whole notes (no rhythm, just hold) moving slowly and deliberately from the first note to the next. Do this until you can make this connection smoothly just between those two notes. Do this for five or so minutes, shake it out, then try the passage again.
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2013-01-03 16:38
I agree with Paul about C#6 to G6. You need to develop good control of each of those notes separately, though, or connecting them may be a moot issue.
C#6 down to E5 can be more of a problem because the same length air column is used to produce both notes, but C# is vibrating at a higher partial (harmonic). Sometimes getting the reed and air column to slow down suddenly is difficult and, by the way, can be easier with some reeds than with others. In general, you should try to do this kind of downward leap the way Paul described, but if the pitch just won't drop, you can brush the reed very slightly with your tongue to make it slow down. For a really long drop (generally longer than C#6 to E5)you might have to very slightly let up on the air stream for an instant. The goal is to make it not obvious, unobtrusive, so you need to keep any interruption as imperceptible as possible. You often hear the drop in sound even with excellent players if the leap is wide enough and you're listening for it, although most of the time they won't admit to it.
Karl
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