 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LaLa
Date: 2002-07-03 00:30
My articulation from High C down is gorgeous, quite clear, quite even, and quite without grunts and undertones.... however as soon as i go beyond that starting with C# i get all kinds of undertones or overtones... You would think i had no idea what the meaning of articulation is... I've been trying all sorts of things and the only thing i can come up with is this: i've noticed that my throat moves alot more when i articulate up there probably due to the increased resistance of the air column, i just can't figure out how to minimize the throat movement while articulating. I don't know if this is the problem but that's all i can come up with considering that that's the only thing i am doing that is noticeably different when i articulate up that high.
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Author: Kristen D.
Date: 2002-07-03 02:16
IMO: These tips have helped me and my students:
Try making sure that your tongue is "high" enough. Think of
syllables such as "Tee" "Hee" "Thee" "Thee-you" (combined), etc.
Keep the air going no matter what and push your stomach muscles
as to do a sit-up. Also, make sure you are tonguing lightly. Too
heavy of a tongue can cause grunts (as well as not enough air
behind the tongue). I would try long tongued tones first. When
you hear a grunt starting, try to speed up or focus the air
a bit. See if that gets rid of the grunting. Then move from say
whole notes, to half notes, then quarters, and so on.
Good luck... consult with a private teacher if possible.
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-07-03 16:54
There really shouldn't be much or any throat movement when articulating in any register on the clarinet. Follow Kristen's advice. The high tongue position is absolutely necessary. Then only the tip of your tongue needs to move, and your throat shouldn't have anything to do with it.
Think of the air column as being an arrow shot from an archer below your belly button. The arrow's target is right behind your front teeth. Also imagine the actual bullseye as being at the END of your whole clarinet, no matter what note you're playing. Another idea for focusing the airstream is to whistle just before you play. When most people whistle, they're blowing the air right behind their front teeth.
Just my 2 cents.
Katrina
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2002-07-03 19:43
It helps me to recall that I need only just touch the reed to stop vibration. Air can continue through the instrument. Then I need only remove my tongue to let the reed vibrate. You probably knew that.
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Author: nzdonald
Date: 2002-07-03 20:20
the whistle thing is good advice- but the problem is that some people puff their lips out when they whistle, so that their lips are away from the teeth (not ideal when playing the clarinet).... so it is best advice to give when you are actually with a student and can watch what they do....( and "take it back" if you see they are a "puffy whistler")
one thing i could add- you say you can play a good high C but can't articulate above that.... well- if you can slur from C to Csharp then there's no reason on earth why you can't easily tounge both notes... practise SLURRING from C to Csharp until it is really secure, then play "long note, short note----slur to C sharp------long note... short note" using a legato tounging style..... do this same exercise down in the lower octaves..... try not to change what's going on as you cross registers ("duplicate the sensation")
watch for - not enough airflow...... -air moving too slow.... -throat too tense/restricted.... -tounge moving too much when artculating....
unfortunately some of the words/vowels used to encourage a high tounge position also encourage throat tension, the real trick is being able to do the "htpos" thing while keeping the throat relaxed.... (incidentally, some famous teachers actually recomend a tense throat... either directly or through advice that is easily misconstrued- practise saying "eeee" with an Amercian accent, then a French one, and then a NZ accent and you'll get three very different results- this is why we need REAL teachers to be in the same room as you, as oposed to learning via the net etc....)
hope that this was helpful
donald
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Author: nzdonald
Date: 2002-07-05 20:39
no, it's "fush nchups" you're right- only the "u" sound is is quite "ih"y at the same time- not at all how any of my foreign friends would imagine it would sound from reading it....
i made good friends with a French surfer, and after hearing her accent for a while i came to appreciate the way "eeee" can be placed forward in the mouth with a relaxed throat.... also you should hear my ex wife Antje say the word "tchuess" (sp? it's one of those words you never have to write) or my old teacher Dr Etheridge say "Chicago"..... both great for helping tone etc, but also easy to ge the wrong end of the stick when mangled/mis-interpreted etc due to different accents.
my young students love it when i impersonate Dr E, actually, it adds a lighter touch to the lesson, and to hear them impersonate me impersonating DrE saying "Chicago" is really good. i think it helps their playing!
donald
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Author: David Dow
Date: 2002-07-11 11:48
You may also find that the togue tip goes higher up on the tip of the reed when you start going to high F 3 and above and this will allow for easier staccatto. don't put all you time on working up here but practice legato first and add staccatto after you embouchure is used to attaining these high altissimo sounds.
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