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Re: High notes too harsh

Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2014-09-10 13:47

The higher you go on the clarinet, the less length of the reed that vibrates. So, when you are in the altissimo it is only the very tip of the reed that is vibrating. The problem with less experienced players is usually the opposite of your description where they 'clamp' or 'bite' to achieve those notes and get a buzzy, shrill, squeezed off sound, if any at all.

The altissimo does require faster air because of the nature of the what's happening with the reed. I describe it to students as requiring more "energy." Another way to look at it is the analogy of what goes on in the lower octave. Play the written "C" below the staff, then try to achieve the "G" that sits on the staff with only using more air and NOT opening up the octave key. Once you can skip from the chalumeau to the clarion this way, you can take that same 'feeling' and apply it to the skip from the clarion to the altissimo........ same idea.

The way you describe what is happening sounds to me as if the mouthpiece is too open, or the reeds you use too strong, or both. But work on the 'non-octave' key first to see if that helps.

............Paul Aviles

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