 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2014-04-05 19:51
Woodwind Technique 1.1: Clarinet Study
November, 2002
Dan Higgins
CLARINET was my first instrument and in some ways still my favorite. As a saxophone and woodwind player, the clarinet can seem like the toughest instrument of all. When I was practicing mostly saxophone and allowing my clarinet chops to slide downhill, I didn't realize the amount of strength the clarinet required. It wasn't until I needed to play the clarinet on recording sessions that I realized I had made a mistake by allowing my clarinet performance to wane.
The discipline of the clarinet embouchure must be dealt with on a daily basis. Now I practice long tones and slow even scales as part of my daily warm-up routine. Slow etudes which aren't written too high in range are also great for building up the endurance needed for clarinet performance. After practicing these exercises for a short period you will notice the reed strength going up, allowing for a bigger, fatter tone with improved pitch. It's very difficult to play the clarinet in tune with a soft reed. Pitch and tone are among the top concerns for woodwind players. Generally, studio clarinet music does not require technique of concerto level, but just a simple, beautiful melody played in tune with a lovely sound.
Finger technique on the clarinet can be achieved by more intense practice but serves little purpose if accompanied by a weak sound. Practicing long tones in the low register is a great place to start, giving the player a chance to focus on the tone and build up the muscles required for long phrases. Try to avoid the upper register until the embouchure is solid and can support the higher notes.
The clarinet is no doubt the most physical of the reed instrument family and without good muscles the tone and critical tuning suffer. There is a certain amount of "weight lifting" involved before long, soft, beautiful phrases can be played in a musically controlled manner. As with all instruments, studying with a teacher is of paramount importance. The insights and problem-solving from an expert can save much time and energy in the quest to become proficient on many instruments. Find a great teacher and dig in!
bruno>
http://www.lastudiomusicians.info/danhiggins1.htm
(scroll way down for the "jams".)
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Author: PaulIsaac
Date: 2014-04-06 02:13
Wow! He certainly makes it look effortless and his tone on those clarinet jams is exquisite. Another "hero" for my list!
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Author: donald
Date: 2014-04-06 13:02
As a professional clarinet and saxophone player I can honestly say that I don't find there to be any extra strength required to play the clarinet. For many years I played with a poor embouchure, and would tire quickly when playing sustained passages (scales for instance, transcriptions of Baroque repertoire just about killed me). However mid career I put in considerable time and energy (and both self criticism, plus the advice or colleagues and former teachers) and made huge improvements to my embouchure- greatly improving my stamina (in addition to tone quality and articulation).
As a generalisation....
On the clarinet- embouchure shortcomings have more impact the HIGHER you play
On the saxophone- embouchure shortcomings have more impact the LOWER you play.
[Feel free to disagree with me, but at the Australian Sax/Clar conference last year a table of classical sax and clarinet players, all top players, agreed with me on this point, so I know I'm not alone in my opinion]
But neither require me to forcibly bite the reed in any way, and neither requires more strength than the other.
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2014-04-06 15:50
Donald,
Dan just means that the clarinet is a bit more demanding than the other woodwinds. I must say I have to agree with him. If I pick up a sax after not playing one for a few weeks in preference to the clarinet, it seems as smooth as butter.
bruno>
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2014-04-07 01:46
I play Flute , Oboe , & Clarinet. The truth is simply this and stating the obvious. Leave out practicing on any of ones instruments for say a week, and you are in trouble with your embouchure.
Don't practice for a week and then pick these instruments up again , first off , good tone has gone 'out the window'
Then there are these uncomfortable situations.
Flute. The facial muscles feel like they are 'burning'
Oboe, The embouchure feels like it's turning into 'mush'
Clarinet. The embouchure feels like it's going to 'bleed'
All in all it gives you the feeling that you have taken two steps forward and one step back. Or is it one step forward and two steps back.
As to fingering. I have no problems as the 'memory' is in the fingers as it were.
All the woodwind instruments are difficult in their own way but the Oboe is the most difficult of all of them. Mostly because of the reed and the back pressure. As stated by Anthony Baines (Woodwind Instruments and Their History) "The Oboe is the only wind instrument that is virtually impossible to play without felt expression" In other words , if you don't 'sing' into it the result is not going to be pleasant to listen to.
Another quote from Anthony Baines "In breathing, playing the Oboe feels rather like swimming under water ; the lungs must be filled, but very little breath is expended. Therefore the accumulated stale air must be breathed out before a fresh breath is taken in, otherwise the lungs will become tired"
Clarinetists have no idea how difficult this all is until they have actually tried it.
As for the resistance grade of Clarinet reeds. The basic truth is that you must match the reed to the mouthpiece. I personally like the less resistant reeds and I have several mouthpieces that suit this type of reed. No problems with tonal quality or range. It is a common myth that you must play on a high resistant reed to get good tone and range. It all depends what mouthpiece you are using.
I spend equal time on all three of my instrument types and have no favourite one.
The Flute is wonderful with it's light agile mechanism and beautiful clear sound. easy agile range and no reed problems of course.
The Oboe is exotic with it's rich tone full of expressive character even though it has the smallest range (compass) of the woodwind.
The Clarinet with it's fabulous compass and lovely clear "woody" voice.
BJV
"The clarinet is not a horn"
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Author: donald
Date: 2014-04-07 07:54
@ Bruno, I'm sorry if i misunderstood sentences such as this...
"I didn't realize the amount of strength the clarinet required."
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