Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2015-11-22 12:24
Exiawolf, thank you for your reply.
You are doing the long tones which is great. Can I suggest to forget about the metronome and start with low E. Start softly, get increase to forte and back down to ppp. All in one long single breath. When doing this it should take maybe 30 seconds or longer at time goes on. After doing this judge yourself and ask yourself what sounded better, getting loader or getting softer, and why. Do this to open G, then go on to the middle register. Keep the notes in tune, listen to the quality of the sound. If it's wrong, don't go to the next note. Also hold the note at MF as long as you can. This will build up your embouchure. At first your mouth will be tired. By the way, even the advanced sym pros still do this, maybe not everyday, but they surely test their sound, often looking in a mirror.
In the orchestra rehearsal today all of the stings were buzzing around all over the place, but the horn section, lower brass, trumpets, french horns were all warming up with long tones. Kind of interesting. Some for 30 minutes. These brass players were taught well. Listening for that right sound. Repeating the notes if they weren't happy with. They must sound clean and in tune, no waving.
It seems that every better music school expects you to do this. Sometimes the instructor will ask you to do this at your audition to get into the school. Stanley Hasty at Eastman asked me to do this. It was an interesting audition.
You are off to a great start. Don't rush these long tones. You will develop a very wonderful sound. It may not happen in a year, but by the time you are ready for college you will be lots of steps ahead of the other players, if music is your choice. In 6 months you will notice a big change.
Something fun may/will happen. You are young. Playing an open G at pp after a few months of this daily practice, your lungs will also improve. You may be able to hold an open G for well over a minute. So you will be doing your body a lot of good as well. Feel free in emailing me if you have questions. Phone number is also on the website.
Hope this helps. Bob
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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The Clarinet BBoard
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