 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marie from New York
Date: 2021-01-28 05:38
I have a student who has struggled for some time with a pervasive 'grunt' in high register tonguing. We have worked together on better support, changing air direction, airspeed, tongue placement, etc. But the problem continues. I have been wondering lately if her mouthpiece, which was made for her, is the source of the problem. Anybody have opinions about whether a change in mouthpiece would correct the problem?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2021-01-28 07:35
Typical grunt issues involve the register key pad. Many repair guys bevel a cork pad to help with this. There is also a gizm that looks like a spike that comes up from the center of the register pad and protrudes into the hole in open position. Maybe just making the space more open might do the trick.
I personally have a double tonguing issues with notes above the second ledger high C when executing the "kah" of the "tah-kah." In those cases it is a matter of there not being enough air pressure in the oral cavity when the back of the tongue closes off the space (very sensitive in the upper registers). So in the case of your student, perhaps being cognizant of using more air, and/or trying to use the VERY TIP of the tongue on the very tip of the reed. This posture represents the least interference of the air stream.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: kdk
Date: 2021-01-28 07:45
Marie from New York wrote:
> I have a student who has struggled for some time with a
> pervasive 'grunt' in high register tonguing. We have worked
> together on better support, changing air direction, airspeed,
> tongue placement, etc. ... Anybody have opinions about whether
> a change in mouthpiece would correct the problem?
What do you mean by "high register?"
Some students press really hard against the reed to start ("attack") each note. Yours may just need to lighten up the tongue's action.
Sometimes students, who start out playing in the chalumeau where almost no embouchure control is needed to produce a sound, don't learn to firm up their lips as they go up through the compass. If none of those changes you've already tried has helped, your student may just be too slack to get a clean response.
Firmness doesn't equate to biting or pinching with the jaw against the reed. Biting tends to close a reed and interfere with response (not to mention that it can injure the lip tissue). But control can suffer if the lips aren't pulled firmly around the entire mouthpiece and reed. It may be a lack of control of the reed as the student goes higher in the clarinet range that causes the "grunt."
That isn't to say a mouthpiece change couldn't help, or that a different reed-mouthpiece combination won't improve things. The only way to know is to try different equipment.
Karl
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-01-28 15:14
Is she starting the air with her throat when tonguing the note instead of just with the tongue?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Matt74
Date: 2021-01-29 23:02
They may be moving something in their throat when they tongue (moving more than just the tip of the tongue). This affects the upper register above G more than the rest of the horn.
- Matthew Simington
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Author: TomS
Date: 2021-02-06 23:42
If MP is good, the facing not warped or crooked, the reed balanced and correct strength, and all the embouchure and oral mechanics good, air pressure adequate and constant (?) ... then look at the register vent clearance.
Or, look at register vent clearance first ... if too much, can compromise the high notes ... if too little can make the long pipe clarion notes stuffy.
There are tweaks for the vent, such as beveling the cork pad or adding a short piece of the pointy end of a toothpick to the pad that protrudes into the vent tube. The vent placement on the horn is very important, as is the diameter of the tube and taper.
Bass clarinets often have dual vents, which helps out this compromised design using just one vent.
I try and use a light tongue for most articulation using the syllable "thee" ... you may have a too hard reed and/or open MP and beating it too death with a heavy tongue. If you feel your throat while tonging, you should feel little or no movement. The tongue should move as little and as efficiently as possible.
The VD M15 seems to be good in regard to easy articulation in the high notes.
Relax and enjoy playing!
Tom
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