Woodwind.OrgThe Clarinet BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard Equipment Study Resources Music General    
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 
 High Note Issues
Author: am0032 
Date:   2013-11-14 13:03

I have a student that when they try to get D above the staff(and Eb, E, etc.), it overblows to the partial above. I have tried everything I can think of with her but have not been able to remedy the problem. She is an advanced high school player and this seems to be her only problem. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Adam

Reply To Message
 
 Re: High Note Issues
Author: Steven Ocone 
Date:   2013-11-14 13:29

Being a repair tech, The first thing I do in most of these cases is to make sure that the clarinet is sealing. Suction tests are not accurate since a pad can be blown open when playing but not when sucking. Also a leak can occur if the ring heights are too high (or low), or if the tenon cork is old, or if there is a crack.

Steve Ocone


Reply To Message
 
 Re: High Note Issues
Author: pewd 
Date:   2013-11-14 14:04

What happens when you play the student's instrument?

- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas

Reply To Message
 
 Re: High Note Issues
Author: am0032 
Date:   2013-11-14 17:42

When I play the instrument it works fine. She had the same issues playing my instrument.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: High Note Issues
Author: kdk 2017
Date:   2013-11-14 18:51

If you haven't already, check the amount of reed she has inside her mouth. Taking in too much reed can encourage those higher partials.

The higher you go in the clarinet's compass, the more critical the tongue shape and position ("voicing") become. You certainly know what small change you need to make to make those partials come out when you want them. Maybe she's already there and it just isn't affecting her chalumeau or clarion enough to cause wrong partials because the air column is more stable at the lower harmonic levels. See if you can describe to your student what you do to play the "overblown" notes (G6, Ab6, A6, Bb6) and then try to decribe what you do in reversing the process to get the "voicing" back down to the lower partials.

She can practice this by playing bugle calls using her tongue position to move from one partial to the other in something like Reveille or the first part of Taps.

Karl

Reply To Message
 
 Re: High Note Issues
Author: clarinetguy 2017
Date:   2013-11-14 20:15

Karl is right about voicing. Have your student play a second line open G. Then ask her to "squeak" it. She might struggle for a moment, but before long she'll probably produce the D above the staff. It's out of tune, but it's a start. Have her add her A key, and she'll hit a high E. Adding the register key will produce an F. After she's comfortable adjusting to the voicings in this register, transition to the regular fingerings. It just might work.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: High Note Issues
Author: John Peacock 
Date:   2013-11-14 20:17


> When I play the instrument it works fine. She had the same issues playing my instrument.

When you swap instruments, what about mouthpieces? Different mouthpieces can have
a big effect on stability in altissimo.

But if you're OK on her mouthpiece and she still squeaks on yours, then it's clear where the problem lies.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: High Note Issues
Author: TAS 
Date:   2013-11-14 22:25

Try using less lower lip bite and more pressure down from the top teeth.

TAS

Reply To Message
 Avail. Forums  |  Threaded View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 


 Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here 
 User Login
 User Name:
 Password:
 Remember my login:
   
 Forgot Your Password?
Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org