Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-09-02 00:03
SymphonyofMajesty wrote:
> It worked fine during our lesson and the day after...
It sounds like something changed, not the kind of problem that comes up from disuse, which would be obvious immediately.
You borrowed this one because you don't own one of your own, I assume. It's also possible that you just aren't used to playing an A clarinet. The finger stretches are **slightly** wider, so you may not cover everything without practice. Also, historically, A clarinets at one time tended (with exceptions) to be more generally resistant than Bb clarinets. Is this one an old instrument?
None of this would explain why it seemed to play well when you first tried it but then stopped working two days later. Unless you've simply begun to tense up as the audition gets closer.
Have you tried playing slow, smooth diatonic scales on the instrument? Do you have problems with the same notes that you mentioned in your original post? You may have already tried it, but if not, spend a half hour or an hour away from the Mozart, just playing slow scales and whatever other rudiments (scales in thirds, arpeggios, chromatic scales, etc.) are part of your normal routine. Not new material, not Mozart and not fast. Be sure you're covering the open holes completely. You'll find out more easily which notes have response problems. Or that when you're careful about fingering, the problems go away.
Try, if you haven't already, checking the throat G# key's closure as in the previous posts. Also, check to see (with the piece of feeler plastic I described) if the register key pad is closing firmly. If it's binding, it might not close when you release it after playing clarion or altissimo register notes.
Getting a firm handle on what exactly isn't working may be hugely important in fixing the problem or finding a workaround (a mechanical first-aid solution to get through the audition).
Because of your restricted time frame, there really still isn't a good substitute for getting someone knowledgeable - your teacher ideally - to try the clarinet and see if the problems you're having are mechanical ones.
Again, from my last post, "which 'C# key' do you mean? And regardless of which key, what notes other than C# involve the key in question? Which specific notes are you saying don't speak?" If we knew which specific notes are involved, it might focus any ideas about what the problem could be and what might fix it.
Karl
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