The Clarinet BBoard

Re: Fingering Practice

Author: WhitePlainsDave  Date:   2017-07-26 02:40 First off, sometimes it's not always the fingers. I'll explain. You may be covering all that the fingers need to cover (then again, you might not) and still have issue playing these long pipe notes (this means the air doesn't come out until the bottom or near bottom of the instrument) because you are not taking in enough mouthpiece. One way to test is to see if you're having trouble with the C#5 as well. So how much mouthpiece is enough mouthpiece? The answer is to take in mouthpiece until you invariably squeak. Now back off a micron at a time. When you stop squeaking, that's your place. Next, why not consider practicing something bit easier, say C4 to C5 to ? It's easier in the sense that the left hand will already be covering the tone holes for the C4 needed for the C5/B5. Then try D4 to C5, etc., working your way to A4 one finger at a time. Something in most of the etude books called interrupted scales is useful as well. This is an exercise where you, in a particular key signature, play 4 notes in a row going up or down, following but a new set of 4 notes where note "2" in the previous set becomes note 1 in the new set during ascent.....and vice versa. Those are useful here. Next, cover all fingers for B4 and then take off just the ones you need to play A4. Then take off some more fingers to play the A4 until you achieve your desired goal. Keep those fingers curved and close to the instrument. BTW: nobody trills this A4 to B4 gap, known as crossing the break....the 2 upper side trill keys on the upper joint, played by the right hand are used depending on the note desired. Music may have you take these notes fast during an ascent/descent, but special fingers handle going back and forth between them quickly. Try starting with the B4 and going to the A4, and THEN back. Sometimes the instruments pads can have leaks and those leaks manifest themselves the more pads you have down. You can rule that problem in or out by taking either or one of the joints an put its bottom end up against exposed skin, like a thigh during the summer when shorts are worn. Cover all the holes and blow and suck through the open hole. Was resistance achieved in both directions? If so that's good. My first teacher, when I was young (before electric) and giggled use to tell me to practice my "Abe...eees...." as if I was practicing doing something to some guy named Abe.

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