 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sneakers
Date: 2001-09-08 02:24
The two topics have nothing to do with each other, but I don't see the need to make two entries.
Does anyone know why the high F# on my A clarinet would sometimes come out as a B(first space above the staff)? All my other high notes speak fine and the F# comes out fine some of the time.
The question about Weston refers to her book on clarinet teaching. She says to tell students "in swabbing out the clarinet the reed has to be removed, but should be put back on the mouthpiece afterwards so that it retains its shape and will blow the same next time." I have never heard this before. What are your opinions?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-09-08 03:01
sneakers wrote:
>
> ... The question about Weston refers to her book on clarinet
> teaching. She says to tell students "in swabbing out the
> clarinet the reed has to be removed, but should be put back on
> the mouthpiece afterwards so that it retains its shape and will
> blow the same next time." I have never heard this before.
> What are your opinions?
Hocky Puck. You should be rotating your reeds. They will last longer and play better and you won't get so used to one particular reed that you have difficulty adapting to a new one when you change.
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Author: Jonathan (Aus)
Date: 2001-09-08 09:19
Which F# are u using? There are probably over twenty different ways to finger it, each producing a slightly different voicing/colour/or pitch on different clarinets. You should look at using a different fingering maybe. My standard/favourite fingering for F# on both clarinets is overblown Eb with the register key(RT - - o (sk1)|ooo) but i use one or two others in situations that call for it. Otherwise it could be that you aren't voicing it correctly - try using a more open voicing ie. don't squeeze to get it out.
Hope this is of some help,
Jonathan Farquhar (from Aus)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-09-08 13:36
That's the way I dry out my horns and it appears to be successful. I do practice some reed rotation as Dee suggests, but my with once-a-week [about] bass cl playing, [1 1/2 hrs] they are quite long lasting. I also do not leave damp swabs in the joints , but do keep them in the case for slight humidification. Conclusion, To Each His Own [way]. Dont have many high F#'s any more!! Don
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Author: Jerry McD.
Date: 2001-09-08 14:15
Sneakers,
I would not put the reed back on the mouthpiece for several reasons. First, I believe it needs to be allowed to dry on a flat surface. Second, I think there are mold and moisture issues for both the reed and mouthpiece if they are kept together over too long of time. As for the F#, all of the notes of the altissimo register are overblown fundamentals. What you are hearing is the lower fundamental coming through. There are several possibilities that could make this happen.....bad reed, leaky horn, faulty fingering, not enough air stream support, and most likely an embouchure that is not firm enough (I don't mean biting!). If the chops aren't firm, you can't 'force' the reed to vibrate on the upper partials. Try playing these scales in one octave in the top register, E, F, F#, G, and G#. Play them slowly and listen for the lower fundamental peeking through and try and keep it from happening. The throat and oral cavity shape and feeling are different for everyone, so what works for me might not work for you. I hope this helps, good luck.
Jerry McD.
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Author: jr
Date: 2001-09-12 02:55
Sneakers,
I have been having the same problem. I quit playing about 20 years ago and have played off an on for the last 5 years. I started practicing seriously and regularly a year ago. I used to have a high F#, but have lost it. It is very unstable, I get a flat B (above staff) or a pretty yucky multiphonic between the B and the E at the bottom of the staff. Roger Garrett has an article on "Air Speed" at the following URL:
www.ocr.sneezy.org/articles/garrett3.htm
I have had some success with it, not there yet, but more than half way.
best of luck
jr
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