by Eric Salazar, Kristy Nichols and Spencer Prewitt When you are in music school, you have a very full schedule between classes, studying, and (most importantly) practicing. Many music students... read more →
by Eric Salazar, Kristy Nichols and Spencer Prewitt When you are in music school, you have a very full schedule between classes, studying, and (most importantly) practicing. Many music students... read more →
Why do I sometimes get a “grunt” sound when I articulate the notes around a high C? Sometimes just fingering high notes is not enough to get them to respond... read more →
What can I do to make my throat tones more in tune and sound less airy? Throat tones on the clarinet (middle of the staff G, G-sharp, A, and B-flat)... read more →
How can I smoothly slur to the altissimo register without my high note popping out too loud? This problem comes from the fact that the second register vent (the first left‐hand finger hole) is way too big to ideally serve as a register vent – just compare its size to the hole of your register key. Thus, most clarinetists use a technique called “half‐holing” to connect up to the altissimo register, especially when the tempo is moderate to slow. While playing the lower note, simply slide your left‐hand first finger down and off in a smooth motion while using lots of air. It should result in a much better connection without the “pop” that typically comes with not half‐holing – as conductor Richard Clary always says, “Pet the kitty, don’t kick the kitty!” If you practice this technique every day for a few minutes, the slurs you have in music going up to the altissimo register will eventually become easier to do and consistently sound more connected.
How do I learn how to articulate as fast as my band music is requiring? It seems like every clarinet player at some point or another has wished that they could articulate faster – especially when playing unison passages with flutes or brass instruments that regularly use double‐tonguing. But not to worry, a slow tongue can be remedied! Like any other muscle in the body, it just needs regular workouts; that, along with a good reed and lots of air will have you eventually nicknamed “super tongue!” 1. You must have a good reed in order to articulate quickly! If your reed is too soft and/or too old, it makes tonguing fast passages impossible so check this first. 2. You must use lots of air! Keith Stein says this in his book, “Imagine the breath as the river and the tongue as the waterwheel. Should the water level fall below the reach of the paddles, regardless of any adjustment in the mechanism of the wheel, there can be no action.” (Stein 24). 3. Don’t try to play the notes too short! The faster the note values, the longer you should psychologically think of playing the articulation – playing too staccato will slow you down. The notes will end up sounding light and short anyway because of the fast... read more →
Getting the most benefit from limited practice time is a goal every musician shares, as our lives grow busier and more hectic. We all have to juggle practice goals with... read more →