Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2023-09-12 01:20
Hi Clarinetpassion98. As I read your post, you seem perhaps to have good speed at times but lack control. That is not an uncommon situation. Some people are naturally speedier than others. I'm not sure that they necessarily should all follow the same progression plan. Anyway, here are some random thoughts about control.
As someone said previously, a note begins when the tongue leaves the reed. That also means the tongue must return to the reed **before** the next note arrives. If the tongue arrives at the same time as the note, then you're audibly out of control, and it's: "Next!" There's a little timing thing you set up and run with the extremity of your tongue as the notes go by, off and back, off and back, and that needs not to slack.
As a conscious exercise in control, touch the same exact place on the reed with the same exact place on the tongue every time. So, tongue every single note you play, and focus on making the tongue always release/stop at that same exact point throughout the range. Make your other systems adjust to allow that: the jaw, any voicing, etc. - anything that might move your tongue and screw up that point - don't let them! Keep them there, don't let 'em leave, but if they insist on interfering, then the hot bright lights are going swing right to them. If you can maintain that touch point for all notes and dynamics, then you have control over it.
ZOOM in and seek instant response to your touch, whatever your chosen attack and decay. But, your touch will be tender and light, so light that even when applied, your sound audibly is begging to emerge, actually might be sneaking out just a little bit . . . because you love your sound too much to shut it down tight.
Maintain your Best Sound while practicing articulation, any note, any dynamic. This is the quickest way to identify anything that's messing your articulation up. If you fix something while using crappy sound, you'll just have to come back to it later with good. It's also no coincidence that people with great articulation have great sound.
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