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Re: Legere and high notes

Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-01-08 22:13

Quote:

I have found myself taking as much reed as possible at all times. You have to learn to control other notes better but it does facilitate high notes with ease. In any case, if it works with a change in a fundamental position, you can't blame the reed.

This route works very well for me. I use legere european 3.75. I have a very light embouchure (very little pressure), and take in a LOT of the reed. FWIW, I think taking in more reed will help you play the full range easily.

I find the amount based on an old exercise showed to me by Tom Puwalski. Take in reed. Play a strong open G. If it works, take in a little more, play a strong open G. If it works....etc. etc. At some point you will have taken so much reed that the strong open G you tried to play comes out overblown (altissimo D). Then you step back just a hair, and THAT'S how much reed should be in your mouth. (hint, it tends to be around where your reed meets the curve of the rails...you can also find a good starting point by slipping a piece of paper between the reed and mouthpiece, marking where it stops, and put your lower lip around there)

What this does is provide a place on the reed that allows the full reed to vibrate (you're not choking off the reed), but needs very little embouchure changes to change registers. It feels like you don't need to change it all, or at most, very SLIGHTLY throughout the whole range of the clarinet, through the altissimo A and beyond.

Alexi

[EDIT]

PS- Another good test to see if you have optimal amount of reed in, is to use Tom Ridenour's test for a balanced reed. Take in the optimal amount using the "open G", then play and sustain a forte C (below the staff). Press the register key without manipulating embouchure, and it should easily change to G. Lift your index finger without changing and it should effortlessly change to E. Press the LH C#/F# lever down with no embouchure change and it should effortlessly change to an altissimo A. (you might need a SLIGHT change in bottom lip location, MAYBE shifting it down the reed a hair, but you should NOT have to bite or increase pressure at all.... focus on keeping a light pressure)

US Army Japan Band

Post Edited (2017-01-08 22:16)

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