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Re: Improving resonance and projection at pp

Author: JosephDvorakClarinet
Date: 2019-08-23 08:46

A couple anecdotes from two members of the Philly orchestra that may help...

One told me, "pp means...'Play Powerfully!'" The other said that the sound actually needs more energy/presence the softer you play. Obviously, for Premiere Rhapsody we are often trying to use the most gossamer-like pianissimo we can, so maybe the "play powerfully" thing doesn't apply lol, but I do think that the concept of increasing the energy/presence in the sound as you get softer is a valuable one.

I second the Weber Studies...if you can get your hands on it, there is a study titled "Transition from Chalumeau to Clarion" ... not sure if it is widely available, I got it from my teacher.

Additionally, believe it or not, the Kalmen Opperman Chromatic Machine book is great for this kind of thing. You would not believe the wonders that playing a chromatic scale once forte and immediately again subito pp does for your sound in both dynamics.

Finally, make sure you have some good resonance fingerings for all of those throat tones!!! Ricardo's fingering books from Backun (if still available) have awesome lists of fingerings, including resonance fingerings for throat tones!!

Good luck!!!