I couldn't possibly agree with you more about practicing with intent. I've been fortunate to have taken a long break from music and come back at least equal to my skills, and in some ways better, then before. Keep in mind I am not a professional, I am an enthusiastic hobbyist. I have said to others that practicing without intent is just putting in time. Intent gives us meaning, focus and progress. I've spent the last year focused on clarinet. Like many, I play the big 3 (clarinet/flute/saxophone). I had a goal of being a clarinet player instead of someone who doubles on clarinet. While my skills aren't quite up to my primary instrument, I no longer say I "double" on clarinet; I play clarinet. This works. I am not a part of the dojo (yet).
My challenge at the moment is a certain fast passage in the altissimo register: Eb Eb D Eb F Eb D where 2,3,5,6 are 16th, the rest 1,4,7 are 8th notes. I have to play the 16th notes by double tongueing and I need to play the F using the open/short fingering (left 2,3 and 4th finger, rather than the normal, long fingering). Here's the problem: the F mostly doesn't respond, at least not when playing fast, but sometimes it does. I tried this for a long time, the response isn't reliable enough for a performance. Changing my (Vandoren) reed to strength 4 does seem to help, but I cannot perform the whole concert with this reed. Would you suggest to train myself to always be able to play the 4 reed? Or would you rather switch reeds after the movement where this passage occurs? I play a Buffet Festival A clarinet for this piece. Sorry for the long-winded question.
If the reed is properly balanced, the high notes will respond more easily, and will most likely feel lighter as in order to balance it, you will need to remove material. Check out Tom Ridenour's ATG Reed resurfacing system. Also, sometimes we move the tongue too much when we articulate, this disrupts the air speed and then high notes don't speak as consistently. One thing that has helped me with this is learning to articulate without the register key, keeping the tongue position high, the air very fast and up front, and the articulation very light
Sure thing! Of course, practicing without the register key is only an exercise to develop better tongue position and air support, when you perform you of course use the register key normally. It's also good to learn how to do this slurred first before you try articulating without the register key. Make sure to keep the embouchure relaxed and rely on strong air support and high voicing to get the high notes to speak. I think Jessica Phillips has a nice video on practicing without the register key.
Without hearing this I can only speculate:) I think that the voicing/tongue position that you are using to produce the altissimo is being disrupted by the tongue position you are using to tongue those notes. I suspect the harder reed is forcing you (by the nature of more resistance) to close that gap and be more favorable to that register. As another commenter said Jessica Phillips has a good video on that. I agree. Any video on this channel that deals with tone also has a “no register key” component to it. That is a foundational technique that, if practiced correctly can clear existing roadblocks and prevent ones you don’t even see coming.
Great takeaways. Be always mindful of your purpose. Thank you.
Thanks for the great advice and the Practice organization sheet
I couldn't possibly agree with you more about practicing with intent. I've been fortunate to have taken a long break from music and come back at least equal to my skills, and in some ways better, then before. Keep in mind I am not a professional, I am an enthusiastic hobbyist.
I have said to others that practicing without intent is just putting in time. Intent gives us meaning, focus and progress.
I've spent the last year focused on clarinet. Like many, I play the big 3 (clarinet/flute/saxophone). I had a goal of being a clarinet player instead of someone who doubles on clarinet. While my skills aren't quite up to my primary instrument, I no longer say I "double" on clarinet; I play clarinet.
This works. I am not a part of the dojo (yet).
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. It sounds like, when you feel like it (hopefully), would enjoy the things that happen in the Dojo!
Great video as always!!
Thank you!
Nice
My challenge at the moment is a certain fast passage in the altissimo register: Eb Eb D Eb F Eb D where 2,3,5,6 are 16th, the rest 1,4,7 are 8th notes. I have to play the 16th notes by double tongueing and I need to play the F using the open/short fingering (left 2,3 and 4th finger, rather than the normal, long fingering). Here's the problem: the F mostly doesn't respond, at least not when playing fast, but sometimes it does. I tried this for a long time, the response isn't reliable enough for a performance. Changing my (Vandoren) reed to strength 4 does seem to help, but I cannot perform the whole concert with this reed. Would you suggest to train myself to always be able to play the 4 reed? Or would you rather switch reeds after the movement where this passage occurs? I play a Buffet Festival A clarinet for this piece. Sorry for the long-winded question.
If the reed is properly balanced, the high notes will respond more easily, and will most likely feel lighter as in order to balance it, you will need to remove material. Check out Tom Ridenour's ATG Reed resurfacing system. Also, sometimes we move the tongue too much when we articulate, this disrupts the air speed and then high notes don't speak as consistently. One thing that has helped me with this is learning to articulate without the register key, keeping the tongue position high, the air very fast and up front, and the articulation very light
@@josephdvorak9241 Thank you very much for your advice! I will try what you suggest.
Sure thing! Of course, practicing without the register key is only an exercise to develop better tongue position and air support, when you perform you of course use the register key normally. It's also good to learn how to do this slurred first before you try articulating without the register key. Make sure to keep the embouchure relaxed and rely on strong air support and high voicing to get the high notes to speak. I think Jessica Phillips has a nice video on practicing without the register key.
Without hearing this I can only speculate:) I think that the voicing/tongue position that you are using to produce the altissimo is being disrupted by the tongue position you are using to tongue those notes. I suspect the harder reed is forcing you (by the nature of more resistance) to close that gap and be more favorable to that register. As another commenter said Jessica Phillips has a good video on that. I agree. Any video on this channel that deals with tone also has a “no register key” component to it. That is a foundational technique that, if practiced correctly can clear existing roadblocks and prevent ones you don’t even see coming.