 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Amster87
Date: 2014-04-17 17:27
H everyone, I have been lurking and reading for quite some time but I have finally decided to come and ask for some suggestions and help.
This past school year I took on two new clarinet students. I will admit as well that it is my first year of teaching clarinet although I have been playing clarinet myself for many years. Both my students have been making wonderful progress but within the last week we have run into a problem. My younger student suddenly can't play anything above B flat. Nothing using the register key will come out or barely come out. We have gone back and working on breathing. I've checked tongue and mouth positions. We checked reeds and the strength and tried some new mouth pieces. Nothing works. I would like some suggestions from the experts on here as to what to do next.
The only thing that changed was that she recently acquired a different clarinet. I tested it and it works well for me. Perhaps I missed something on it? I did ask them to take it to a technician but they have not as of yet.
Thank you for any help you can give!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2014-04-17 18:06
Old trick - rotate the mouthpiece 180 degrees so that the reed faces up. Then have the student blow while you "finger" the instrument (you two stand facing each other, you'll have to hold the instrument "keys down" while you play). Then try to switch positions and see what gives.
> The only thing that changed was that she recently acquired a different clarinet.
I'd say that is a substantial or fundamental change. Maybe, with the slightly different ergonomics, not all fingers hit all required holes, or a finger inadvertedly touches a "taboo-for-that-note" touchpiece...
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2014-04-17 20:25
Just guessing, but since the student can play below the throat tone Bb and the trouble begins with adding the register key, I would take a look at what happens with the left hand when doing that. It sounds likely to me that Ben's thought about fingers uncovering holes or touching another key could certainly be what is happening. Watch what the thumb does and the first finger especially. The new clarinet might be different enough to cause this problem. The student's old clarinet might have been more forgiving.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-04-17 20:34
Have you had her try your clarinet?
Karl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Funfly
Date: 2014-04-17 20:45
As another student I can vouch for the ability to suddenly not be able to play anymore.
I have a section of a piece where my clarinet just looks at me and blanks!
I can play the notes in other pieces but this section looms up like a brick wall and the sound stops.
In my case it's tension - tension on the fingers and in my breathing. The more I try the worse it gets and it's driving my tutor mad, as soon as she checks my fingers my breathing goes, as soon as she gets me breathing my fingers jam. In fact sometimes I actually forget to breath and it's a wonder I don't drop down dead!
I honestly believe that with patience on my part and my tutor's part I will get through this. If it was golf we would call it the 'yipps' maybe there should be a word for it in woodwind.
So maybe its just a question of removing the growling tiger that sits on the sheet of music at 'that' point.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2014-04-17 20:48
or conversely I was going to say, have you tried her clarinet and ruled this out being an equipment problem?...with noted respect to the fact that if pads were leaky this problem might have already manifested itself in inabilty to play notes below (I am presuming) throat Bb?
First rule out the clarinet being the problem--even though odds are it's not.
(Tip, if only the note above throat Bb is not working (i.e. middle B), take the clarinet swab out of the bell ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) )
Post Edited (2014-04-17 21:07)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Amster87
Date: 2014-04-17 21:50
Thank you everyone for your suggestions! I have personally played her clarinet and found that it works well. We did change mouthpieces so I may go back and try the mouthpiece she had originally. I will also check the other things everyone suggested starting with the left hand.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Amster87
Date: 2014-04-17 21:52
Yes, acquiring a new clarinet is a big change. The clarinet had also not been played in quite awhile but seems to be in good working order. Corks, pads, and springs all look good. I will do as you suggested and turn the clarinet around and I will finger while she blows. Thank you for that suggestion!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Amster87
Date: 2014-04-17 21:58
I had not had her try my clarinet. I may do that. Technically they are the same maker, just different models.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-04-17 22:58
Whether the problem follows the student or remains with her instrument will help a good deal to narrow the search for the cause.
Karl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-04-17 23:02
ThatPerfectReed wrote:
> or conversely I was going to say, have you tried
> her clarinet and ruled this out being an equipment
> problem?...
Amster87 wrote:
> I tested it and it works well for me.
Sometimes, we can overcome a problem that stops a less experienced player. So being able to play the student's clarinet may indicate that the instrument is fine or that the OP is better at compensating for a response issue than she is.
Karl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Amster87
Date: 2014-04-18 00:55
Yes, I had thought of that. I did wonder if I automatically played though a possible problem the clarinet could have while she could not adjust for whatever the issue could be. How would I test this out though? Would the best thing be to have her try a different clarinet?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-04-18 01:41
Amster87 wrote:
> Yes, I had thought of that. I did wonder if I automatically
> played though a possible problem the clarinet could have while
> she could not adjust for whatever the issue could be. How would
> I test this out though? Would the best thing be to have her try
> a different clarinet?
Yes. Yours.
It's presumably in good condition and free of any mechanical problems. If she can play on yours easily (using her mouthpiece and reed, so you're only testing one thing at a time), that suggests something about her instrument - either a mechanical issue or an awkward tone hole or key placement - is causing the problem. If she has the same difficulty playing your clarinet, then you need to look at her hand position, the mouthpiece and reed, etc.
Karl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Amster87
Date: 2014-04-18 02:35
Karl, thank you for all your help. I will certainly have her try it on our next day of school which is Monday for us or perhaps sooner if I can arrange it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Amster87
Date: 2014-04-18 04:55
I just thought I would update quickly. My clarinet was not at school at the time for her to try but I did have the girl in question try a student clarinet I had that is in good working order. She had no problems reaching those notes and could easily play all the ones she could not on her clarinet. She did use the same mouthpiece and reed. During her next lesson we will look at her finger positions on hers. Perhaps there is a difference?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2014-04-18 05:10
Sometimes the tone holes are in slightly different alignment or a chromatic key could be shaped a little differently or is larger and gets in her way, so she bumps it open.
Make sure the register vent is clear - if there's something in it, notes beginning with B4 (middle staff line) can be really resistant.
I don't know what clarinets are in question (hers and the one she could play successfully) but if the touch pieces for the "pinky" levers are aimed in a different direction on the two instruments, hers could be forcing her to reach farther. Anything that makes her 5th fingers stretch and pulls other fingers off their holes can cause a problem, although that would probably show up in the low chalumeau notes as well.
You said it's only the clarion register and none of the chalumeau that's involved. Is it the whole clarion - B4 up to C6?
It will take some detective work, but if she can lay one clarinet with no problem and can't play hers, something about the student's instrument must be the cause.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Amster87
Date: 2014-04-18 05:53
That is true. I will have to check that. She has tiny fingers as she is small for her age so I know that can be an issue for her. It is the clarion register only. Granted, the lower notes can sometimes cause her trouble but she can usually play them. It's only when she adds the register key that she is unable to play.
Her previous instrument (and the one I had her try again today) is a Boosey and Hawks regent? clarinet from the 1960s. Her clarinet she recently started using was a Buffet e11.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2014-04-18 15:19
The very best way to clean a register tube is to first use a pipe cleaner, and then use the plastic piece that comes with canned air - take the long tube off of the air container (the air that you would use for say blowing dust off of a computer) and that plastic (4-5 inch thin tube) is the PERFECT thickness to place inside the register tube hole, and will push any stuck debris that the pipe cleaner missed.
A very famous Phila repairman used a pipe cleaner on a Selmer Signature to clean the register tube out (as a matter of course), but it didn't get everything out. There was a rather large piece of debris (swab material, dirt???) that I got with my air can tube.
Was rather impressive the size that debris was!
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2014-04-18 15:20
Question - why did she switch instruments? Was the old one holding her back, or was it out of tune/regulation/fashion?
There's nothing wrong with switching or upgrading - I'm just curious.
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-04-18 18:19
Stand in front of her and watch very carefully as she plays. My guess is that she's accidentally touching the G sharp touchpiece, which will kill anything below it.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: saxlite
Date: 2014-04-18 18:53
The inability to play the upper register may be due to a misadjusted bridge lever- this can hold the right hand index finger pad ( Bb/F) slightly open and make the right hand second register notes hard or impossible to play. A player with stronger fingers may be able to overcome this and not show the problem. A loose center tenon can sometimes allow this misadjustment to occur. It's worth checking.
Jerry
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Amster87
Date: 2014-04-18 19:23
Ben wrote, Question - why did she switch instruments? Was the old one holding her back, or was it out of tune/regulation/fashion?
The reason she switched is actually none of those. When she began taking lessons last fall, her mother wanted her to play her clarinet she played years ago, but they could not find it. I had the student use one of my student clarinets that had recently been worked on and was in excellent playing condition. It actually played very well in tune. She then switched because her mother found the clarinet.
I asked for them to take in in to be serviced because I believe it had been years since it was seen. They have not so far so I may just take it in myself with their permission. The corks, springs, and pads looked good surprisingly. And as I said before, I can play it fine but I must be automatically overcoming whatever is causing her not to be able to play. Or it is indeed her finger/finger positions.
David, I will check and clean the register vent. Thank you for that suggestion!
And thank you to everyone for their suggestions. I will certainly update after my next lesson with her.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
