 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2001-09-27 18:50
in one of the songs we are playing in band i have 2 areas im having trouble with. one place i have to play a second line C (both hands) and slur up to high C above the staff and it has to be done softly. another place i have to go up to a high D above the staff. I can do it but not softly and the high notes stick out. and when i do them softly i get this grunting like noise between 1 note and the other. what can i do to make the transition smoother at a soft level?
thanks JL
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Author: William
Date: 2001-09-27 19:34
The answer calls for a properly balanced reed, steady breath support between notes. It might help to loosen your embouchure going to the high note as they will tend to be sharp anyhow, but keep the breath going steady without an extra burst of wind to get you there. To help you get to the high D, try covering half of the first finger hole instead of leaving it open as you normally would. This is a valid technique for helping to slur to this note smoothly--also works for high C#. Sorry, no such crutch for C, just breath support, a good reed and practice. A work of encouragement, no matter how difficult or impossible these slurs may seem, they are possible but take lots of practice and a steady, strong embouchure that wioll support the high tones even though slightly loosening to adjust for pitch and response. Good Slurring!!!!!!
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Author: Kyle
Date: 2001-09-27 20:46
When I have this prob., I look at my reed. If it isn't in it's right place then it will act like that. I keep mine where I can see only a hair line of the mp ubove the reed. Hope that helps!
~Kyle~
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Author: jmcaulay
Date: 2001-09-27 21:47
When slurring up to a d (third space above the staff), try using an extended clarion fingering. Keep the thumb on the register key, but remove it from the thumb hole. This produces a quite nice d on every instrument I've tried, and it avoids going into the altissimo with fingers flying all over the place.
Regards,
John
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Author: Bob Culbreth
Date: 2001-09-28 02:21
in addition to trying to speed the air up as you ascend along with making sure you are not increasing jaw pressure as you do this you might think of placing a fine piece china on high shelf. You want to gently place it there. Anyway this was one of my former teachers analogies that seems to help me.
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2001-09-28 12:05
i love analogies.
thanks everyone, i'll keep workin on this using your ideas.
JL
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Author: shawn
Date: 2001-09-28 12:57
In his book, David Pino recommends using the top-space Eb fingering and adding the bottom trill key (the one for low Eb) for a quieter and darker high C. You'd have to play the second-space C with your left pinky, unless you have the alternate Ab/Eb key.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2001-09-28 16:07
There are a few techniques I would recommend. Of course as others stated- firm (but not biting) embouchure, strong air support, balanced reed, strong enough reed. It also help to "voice" the tone. What I mean is to have the your tongue in a slightly raised position, as if you are saying ee. Next, have the pitch in your ear so you know where you are aiming.
It is often the disjunct nature of making the leap and we are afraid of the distance, which causes us trouble. Try playing a slurred c to c scale slowly and evenly, immediately, (do not stop) play the interval c-c. (cdefgabc-lowc-highc) It is important to do this while you still have the feel of the high c in your mouth and air. I often compare it to the muscle memory you would get shooting a basketball, putting a golf ball, whatever. What you are looking for is the ability to have muscle memory.
Another thing you could do is to practice long tones on the c, starting loud and making a diminuendo all of the way down to nothing, being able to control it all of the way. The next step would be trying to play the c at any level.
Good luck
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2001-09-28 18:43
thank you Ed. i will give it a try
JL
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-09-29 15:35
Janlynn -
Play first-space F (thumb only) and gradually press the register key until you "pop up" to the C above. Do this so slowly that you don't know exactly when it will happen. Carry the warmth of the low register up to the high note.
Do this several times, to get comfortable on the high C. Then get the same feeling making the narrower slur between the two clarion Cs.
Also, here's another aid that Bernard Portnoy showed me many years ago. Hold the clarinet fairly vertical for the lower C and push your thumb out and up (not too much) as you make the slur.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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