Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2008-07-25 15:28
Rosario Mazzeo had his Ab key extended. See http://www.usd.edu/smm/Mazzeocollection.html. Extending the Ab key is a simple alteration, which any well-equipped shop could do. On many, but I don't think all, Oehler instruments, the A key doesn't open the Ab key, so an Ab/A trill would be out of tune with both keys open.
If it goes quickly (that is, in a trill), you can start with the standard A fingering, let the A key close so you're playing Ab, and trill with the next-to-top trill key, which will give a sharp A, but if you start the trill with the A in tune, the ear holds that note even if the upper note is too sharp. On a half-step trill, better to be too wide than too narrow.
Learning to move around in the throat area is something every clarinetist has to work on. The Langenus Method (I think in Part 3) has an excellent etude for this.
Work on small groups of notes (3, 4 or 5) that move around in the A/Ab area. Watch yourself in a mirror to make sure your finger movements, especially with your left index finger, are as small and economical as possible.
Ken Shaw
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The Clarinet BBoard
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