Author: donald
Date: 2020-07-15 04:47
Hi there,
Approach this problem methodically and you should be able to IMPROVE it (though many top players still find they have to spend a bit of time improving it!). This will also help work out if there is a technical problem...
[all these exercises = very slow, think minnums/half-notes]
Start with the left hand...
- can you slur middle C - throat A - middle C?
- can you go smoothly from "thumb F" to "thumb on register key, nothing else down" back to "thumb F"? (note- the thumb on register key is not a "real note" and just blow softly so it doesn't become a high register note- the real objective here is to isolate your thumb movement). Remember your thumb is pointing at 2 or 1.30 on the clock, NOT 12 or 3. [note, the thumb MUST come off the tonehole AND clear the ring]
When you can do both of these smoothly with no gap in sound or airflow, then...
- can you play middle C to throat Bb smoothly? [note, "middle C" is the left hand lower register C, we're still not in the upper register or using the right hand]
Then the right hand...
- Middle C to (low) Bb
- C to A
- C to G
- C to F
Now try coordinating both hands....
- Middle C to low F [right hand on its own]
- D above to F [two hands combined]
- E to F
- F to F
- open G to F
Then, depending on the student, I try this exercise...
- Low F - throat Bb - low F
Then...
- Low F - Bb - F - THEN register key to take it up to C (listen to the sound here, are you getting a smooth register jump? Is your throat Bb, fuzzy though that note may be, as STRONG as you can get it? Resist the temptation to "back away" from that note because of the resistance and fuzz)
Then...
- Low F to Bb to C but don't lift your right hand fingers, so it is just your left hand that moves.
Now, eventually you will want to use different fingers down in the right hand, depending on various factors (the note prior to Bb, the best tone/tuning on your particular clarinet) but try to improve/master the interval FIRST keeping ALL the right hand fingers down - each time you do that you will able to focus on the left hand movement. You can complicate it by (for instance) using different combinations of "right hand fingers down" later.
Also - check your embouchure rather than just worrying about support. The tendency is to PINCH the embouchure when playing the B flat (particularly if you have been encouraged to get a "dark tone" by using hard reeds) to help clear that note up, but this will cause B and C across the register to hesitate when you slur to them.
I have found that this "step by step" approach to this interval works with most students- even if they can't do it after one or two sessions, they have identified the problem that needs to be solved.
The 2nd step above- working the left thumb - has proven to be invaluable at helping students from early to advanced. Basically, I'd go as far as saying if you can't do that you can't really play the clarinet.
Post Edited (2020-07-15 06:27)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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