Author: oboedrew
Date: 2011-03-23 16:23
Hi, Rachel. Many players instinctively "bite" high notes, and that's a problem for ascending slurs to high D. As an exercise, replace high D with low D (not half-hole D). For example, turn an ascending slur from G5 to D6 into a descending slur from G5 to D4. You'll have to relax your embouchure and lower your jaw to make the downward slur consistently smooth. Master the passage like that. Then play it as written, but use the same embouchure for the high D that you used for the low D. Maintain pitch with air speed, not embouchure pressure. Ultimately, you'll have more control of pitch, dynamics, and tone color in the high range; and your ascending slurs to high D will become reliable.
Also, you don't have to have a Philly D key to use the Philly D fingering. Just press the rim of the D key with your RH 3rd finger, so that the pad seals against the tone-hole rim, but the hole in the key is left open. A word of caution: the Philly D trick can become a crutch. Unreliable slurs to high D are merely a symptom of an underlying embouchure issue. Regular use of the Philly D fingering masks the symptom, but doesn't solve the problem.
Cheers,
Drew
www.oboedrew.com
Post Edited (2011-03-23 16:25)
|
|
The Oboe BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
