Often biting is caused by a mismatch of reed strength to tip opening of the mouthpiece. Another cause may be taking too little mouthpiece into the mouth, again closing the reed to the tip. When I was an undergraduate studying with Joe Allard , who taught at Julliard, he solved my biting problem through the introduction of overtone exercises which I still use on clarinet, saxophone and flute. If the player bites excessively the partials will not speak. Of course, proper breath support and posture are absolutely necessary in producing a free tone in all registers. Thank you for your equipment suggestions and always interesting topics.
I'd love to see some of Joe's overtone exercises. They sound like they would be very helpful. I've heard great things about his teaching before. I appreciate your input.
Hi! When I am tonguing notes, particularly high notes(high A and up), I hear my tongue hitting the reed. So much so that it takes away from the actual note bc I hear that tongue sound more than the note. Why does that happen? What can I do to change that sound? Please advise. Thank you.
This is probably because you have to much spit in your clarinet swab your clarinet or suck your spit out (just get your clarinet and instead of blowing out your mouth blow in like your breathing in)
This video may help: ua-cam.com/video/EyKrRs_Q8yU/v-deo.html. You can also get free preview videos to my Mastering Clarinet High Notes course here: www.MasteringClarinetHighNotes.com which includes some other helpful tips for you.
This would be super good for tuning the altissimo and getting the perfect octaves because you are basically playing the next partial in the harmonic series that is easy to imagine on the lower clarion note (though I guess that partial isn't actually sounding because it is a clarinet, but I still think it is useful for hearing the octaves!)
Wonderful indeed, thank you very much. Best wishes from Prague. I play few musical instruments and so when seeing shortly, how to play the entire scale, I could practise by using my ears ... Can I see somewhere the entire scale one can play on clarinet ??? Thank you very very much, I'd appreciate it very very much 👍👍👍👍👍 Your lessons are wonderful ...
thank you so much, I am an adult returning clarinetist. Boy I wish I had not stopped playing when I had kids. Now I struggle to get back to some sort of decent sound and remembering theory
This was uploaded on my 21st birthday last year 😀 And I was looking for a video on playing high notes smoothly since my clarinet always squeaks or the notes don't come out smoothly and pop.
Hi Fernando - I am using the Vocalise H, which works really well with the Legere European cut reeds. Of course, mouthpieces are very personal, and are worth play testing. Many of my colleagues and students have really like the Vocalise in usually G or H.
Clarinet Mentors (Michelle Anderson) oh okay. I own a Vocalise R but use Bernardo’s 1940 Circero as my main mouthpiece, which also works great with Legere’s Euro. I stayed away from the H because I worry about the feeling of a very open mouthpiece.
I heard one music educator describe the tendency to bite down as a primal urge that comes to us almost instinctually. We learn it as an infant trying to latch onto the mother during breastfeeding. I'll leave it at that; you get the idea. Thanks for the good clarinet advice, Michelle!
I find it interesting that you don't mention voicing at all. Is there a reason for that? You do say that it's about using your air differently on different notes, but voicing is the main mechanics of that, yes?
Yes, voicing is important. This is just a short excerpt out of a 30 minute presentation. This particular exercise has been helpful for people. Usually in playing the octave, we have the pitch in mind before we jump to the altissimo, and it tends to help us find the correct voicing simply by aiming to play in tune. There are many other things related specifically to voicing that should go along with this type of exercise.
Why not use the TR XXX|OOX Eb altissimo Eb rather than the standard fingering? Otherwise when you try to eliminate the gap you will still have it due to the travel of the 3rd finger - or at least an unnecessary complication.
Not really sure where to look for info concerning this, so I’ll just put it out there for you fellow clarinetists. I am looking to double on flute. I play an intermediate level wooden clarinet. Do I need to start with a beginner flute or should I go for an intermediate? Is it all about building up lung power? I don’t want to play a beautiful sounding instrument and double on one that sounds like it’s made of tin foil 😂 Thanks.
My high notes came out instantly without so much squeaking or struggle, thanks so much God Bless you, repent of your sins and turn to him because he is the Father of all things pure and Good and he Loves you, also Jesus is coming back Soon, judgement day, All Love to everyone!❤❤❤
The fact that I started on bass clarinet and I’m shifting to soprano for marching band, and I have more trouble with high notes on soprano than bass 😂 and I have easier time with low notes on soprano than bass 😂
You be doing virtual music classes way before quarantine, thank you!!
I was struggling a bit earlier and this helped so much!
Often biting is caused by a mismatch of reed strength to tip opening of the mouthpiece. Another cause may be taking too little mouthpiece into the mouth, again closing the reed to the tip. When I was an undergraduate studying with Joe Allard , who taught at Julliard, he solved my biting problem through the introduction of overtone exercises which I still use on clarinet, saxophone and flute. If the player bites excessively the partials will not speak. Of course, proper breath support and posture are absolutely necessary in producing a free tone in all registers.
Thank you for your equipment suggestions and always interesting topics.
I'd love to see some of Joe's overtone exercises. They sound like they would be very helpful. I've heard great things about his teaching before. I appreciate your input.
Amazing Michelle! Thank you for sharing!
Hi! When I am tonguing notes, particularly high notes(high A and up), I hear my tongue hitting the reed. So much so that it takes away from the actual note bc I hear that tongue sound more than the note. Why does that happen? What can I do to change that sound? Please advise. Thank you.
This is probably because you have to much spit in your clarinet swab your clarinet or suck your spit out (just get your clarinet and instead of blowing out your mouth blow in like your breathing in)
You might be tonguing to hard try tonguing a little lighter when playing high notes
Hi this is very helpful could you do a video on the 3rd octave please I’m having trouble play that high and getting a clear tone 😊💕
This video may help: ua-cam.com/video/EyKrRs_Q8yU/v-deo.html. You can also get free preview videos to my Mastering Clarinet High Notes course here: www.MasteringClarinetHighNotes.com which includes some other helpful tips for you.
This would be super good for tuning the altissimo and getting the perfect octaves because you are basically playing the next partial in the harmonic series that is easy to imagine on the lower clarion note (though I guess that partial isn't actually sounding because it is a clarinet, but I still think it is useful for hearing the octaves!)
This video is so informative thank you for posting this
Wonderful indeed, thank you very much. Best wishes from Prague. I play few musical instruments and so when seeing shortly, how to play the entire scale, I could practise by using my ears ... Can I see somewhere the entire scale one can play on clarinet ??? Thank you very very much, I'd appreciate it very very much 👍👍👍👍👍 Your lessons are wonderful ...
Hello. Great to hear from you. This page may assist you: www.clarinetmentors.com/resources/ClarinetMentorsScalePatterns.pdf
thank you so much, I am an adult returning clarinetist. Boy I wish I had not stopped playing when I had kids. Now I struggle to get back to some sort of decent sound and remembering theory
This was uploaded on my 21st birthday last year 😀 And I was looking for a video on playing high notes smoothly since my clarinet always squeaks or the notes don't come out smoothly and pop.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom! :)
So interesting how you consistently look upwards before playing the altissimo notes! ;-)
So insightful.
What mouthpiece model are you using? Sounds great.
Hi Fernando - I am using the Vocalise H, which works really well with the Legere European cut reeds. Of course, mouthpieces are very personal, and are worth play testing. Many of my colleagues and students have really like the Vocalise in usually G or H.
Clarinet Mentors (Michelle Anderson) oh okay. I own a Vocalise R but use Bernardo’s 1940 Circero as my main mouthpiece, which also works great with Legere’s Euro. I stayed away from the H because I worry about the feeling of a very open mouthpiece.
I heard one music educator describe the tendency to bite down as a primal urge that comes to us almost instinctually. We learn it as an infant trying to latch onto the mother during breastfeeding. I'll leave it at that; you get the idea.
Thanks for the good clarinet advice, Michelle!
Thank you so much!
This really helpful
I find it interesting that you don't mention voicing at all. Is there a reason for that? You do say that it's about using your air differently on different notes, but voicing is the main mechanics of that, yes?
Yes, voicing is important. This is just a short excerpt out of a 30 minute presentation. This particular exercise has been helpful for people. Usually in playing the octave, we have the pitch in mind before we jump to the altissimo, and it tends to help us find the correct voicing simply by aiming to play in tune. There are many other things related specifically to voicing that should go along with this type of exercise.
Why not use the TR XXX|OOX Eb altissimo Eb rather than the standard fingering? Otherwise when you try to eliminate the gap you will still have it due to the travel of the 3rd finger - or at least an unnecessary complication.
Not really sure where to look for info concerning this, so I’ll just put it out there for you fellow clarinetists. I am looking to double on flute. I play an intermediate level wooden clarinet. Do I need to start with a beginner flute or should I go for an intermediate? Is it all about building up lung power? I don’t want to play a beautiful sounding instrument and double on one that sounds like it’s made of tin foil 😂
Thanks.
Love that embouchure tester!
My high notes came out instantly without so much squeaking or struggle, thanks so much God Bless you, repent of your sins and turn to him because he is the Father of all things pure and Good and he Loves you, also Jesus is coming back Soon, judgement day, All Love to everyone!❤❤❤
I get this kind of airy or kind of quick squeak noise before a play certain notes, is there any way I could fix this?
Yay thanks
Hi , Very good 💖💖👏👏👏😘
The fact that I started on bass clarinet and I’m shifting to soprano for marching band, and I have more trouble with high notes on soprano than bass 😂 and I have easier time with low notes on soprano than bass 😂
I am having trouble going from A sharp to B at a fast speed
You are so beautiful 😆