The Clarinet BBoard

Re: Squeaking student!

Author: kdk  Date:   2026-03-23 21:04 Nomenclature wrote: > Can I ask for some help/opinions please regarding one of my > clarinet students? I have a man who has been playing for around > 18 months from complete beginner, but 99% of the time when he > tries to play the B, C, C sharp and D over the break he squeaks > or they don't sound at all. It seems to be getting worse as I > think he's anticipating them not sounding and is getting > frustrated. I have tested his clarinet twice and it's fine with > me. I've taught privately for around 30 years and have never > had this issue as bad. Finger placement seems fine, his reed is > ok and attached properly (Vandoren 2) and has tried others, > upgraded his ligature recently, playing on a Vandoren B45 > mouthpiece. I just don't know what else to suggest that I > haven't already. Any advice please? I don't want him to quit as > his tone is nice on the notes that don't squeak and screech. > Thanks. The two causes that first come to my mind are pinching the reed and opening something up higher on the clarinet when he tries to play the long fingerings. Does this happen on direct starts with those notes, or is it actually a problem only when moving up from the throat register? How old is the student? Senior adults trying something new may have stiffness in their fingers that can cause many problems. Pinching happens mostly when the player feels instability in the clarinet when he has no fingers holding on to it for throat F through A. Turning the mouthpiece and having him play at the mouthpiece end while you finger the notes should eliminate any pinching (he won't know exactly when you'll move into long B or C). Once he feels the easier production of not biting, he can learn to control it and lose the anxiety. Hitting keys with the side of one of his fingers or leaving an open hole slightly uncovered can take some detective work to find. One obvious possibility is that his left index finger can just touch the tip of the throat A key and open it slightly. His RH index finger can be contacting the Eb/Bb key on the side when he reaches down for B4 or C5. Try holding those pads down while the student fingers the notes. Less likely (on a soprano clarinet, though it's a standard trouble spot on a piccolo clarinet) is leaning slightly on one of the sliver keys. Bending the key away from the finger that's hitting it or filing the key thinner can help. RH index finger may be leaving a thin opening at the top of its tone hole when reaching down for B or C, or the RH ring finger may not be closing its tone hole completely. Going downward one note at a time from may isolate the culprit finger. Your may need to help seat the suspect finger to make sure it's covering. The student is going to have to aware if any of these turns out to be the case, because the finger adjustments are very small and would be hard for someone else to spot visually. He'll need to feel the rim of the hole under each finger. Karl

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Re: Squeaking student!

Author: Klar1netteF  Date:   2026-03-23 22:42 I am probably not as experienced a clarinetist as any of you, but I have two suggestions. Maybe the reed is too light for him. I have a hard time too with that light a reed. (although I don't use a mouthpiece of that type) What you can't see is the tongue. Is that the problem? Good luck to your student!

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