 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: davedmg
Date: 2005-11-09 21:43
My teacher wants me to drop my jaw to slur down from Clarion G to middle C. I infer from Tom Ridenour's book that this is bad advice.
I can play the change UP with no embouchure change, but I can't slur down unless I break the airstream. What's the secret? May I have your advice? -- Old Dave, Still Trying After All These Years
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Author: Tyler
Date: 2005-11-09 22:42
I'm just starting to understand the technique of slurring large intervals down. Here's what I am noticing in my own playing, which may not be a shining representation of correct playing but here you go:
You have to start with minimal jaw pressure. You should 'set' your embouchure for low notes, and then let your fingers work the high notes out without any help from your jaw or tongue (not sure about lip movement). Just LET the high notes come out. Then when you slur down your don't have to change anything but your fingers. The only other thing to consider is how much reed is in the mouth. Take a piece of paper or credit card and slide it in between the reed and mouthpiece. Where it stops (without you using any force) is where the bottom lip (which is pulled over the bottom teeth) should contact the reed. Too much and you'll be squeaky and strident. Too little and the sound will be thin and weak.
Oh--and air--inhale well, so that you don't have to work your abdomen so hard to pressurize it on the exhale. Feel that your air 'fills you up' even as you are going to ppp.
-Tyler
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-11-10 00:22
"I infer from Tom Ridenour's book that this is bad advice."
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There are many different ways to do things on the Clarinet - you will find that here big time.
Listen to your teacher if you respect his advice and if you don't, then get another teacher that you will respect.
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Author: vin
Date: 2005-11-10 06:54
A student of Michel Arrignon's told me he talks about "supression of the air stream" (i.e. blowing less) as a way of slurring down with no embouchure change. That worked for me for difficult downward slurs.
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Author: davedmg
Date: 2005-11-11 20:31
Forum Members: Thanks for the advice. I am especially intrigued by the advice from Vin and from Ken Shaw.
A pretty good clarinet player friend of mine can't play the downward slur either. She believes that her missing uvula (removed by a surgeon during a childhood tonsilectomy) may be the reason. Interestingly enough, I too have a missing uvula -- and from the same cause.
-- Dave
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Author: davedmg
Date: 2005-11-11 20:43
Uvulas 9missing ones) are the problem! see http://www.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/2005/05/000455.txt
-- Old Dave, Still Trying After All These Years With No Uvula
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