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Re: How do YOU teach this

Author: donald
Date: 2023-06-14 18:53

I saw Steve Williamson take a masterclass at Clarinetfest 22 and was seriously disappointed - I have always liked his playing from afar (never actually heard him live) but found his "teaching" awful, and have no tolerance for this "play as hard a reed as you can possibly manage" stuff (exact quote btw).
In relation to the OP....
- I would never use the wording "grip the mouthpiece", but as noted above if the clarinet is not secure then the fingers tend to develop extra tension and unnecessary habits.
- I will get students to slur from (bottom line) E to open G. On the G, the clarinet should be held steady by upward pressure from the right thumb (not by tension in the embouchure). The clarinet is essentially wedged between the right thumb and the top teeth, and if the student develops the habit of holding it steadily THIS WAY for the throat tones, their fingers should be able to "float" above the toneholes when not in use.
- for notes that utilise the LEFT thumb, the left thumb can also steady the clarinet by pushing away from the body.
- so there are 3 points of contact with the clarinet that are serving the purpose of "stabilising". 1) right thumb 2) top teeth 3) left thumb.

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How do YOU teach this new

SecondTry

2023-06-14 03:47