It's so important to go "back" to the basics when having difficulties with advanced pieces. In many cases the problem lies there in some sloppy technique. Thank you for posting! ❤
Yes, absolutely! I saw a great quote on Facebook that I love which says, "there are no advanced fundamentals, just advanced situations that require strong fundamentals"
Thank you so much Josh for this absolutely excellent video. I've come back to the clarinet after a bit of a time away, and once again I'm trying to overcome my difficulties with crossing the break. You have really helped me here, and I will definitely be trying out what you have suggested. I've just bought a brand new Jupiter JCL 700SQ B flat student clarinet which is really lovely to play. It has much improved keywork, an adjustable thumb rest and a neck strap ring which is extremely helpful as I need to play with the neck strap on all the time at the moment while I get my fingers adjusted to the different keywork. I also play oboe, and I had to do the same thing with that, and now I'm able to play oboe without the neck strap as my fingers have adjusted to new keywork. I started learning on a rented oboe which was very old, and now I have a Buffet Crampon brand new oboe which we bought in January. My oboe playing is getting on fine, and I hope that I will be able to overcome my difficulties on the clarinet. I'm practising as hard as I can, just need to get crossing the break a bit smoother. I can play the notes in the upper register, but I have problems going from lower register to upper register. That's where it goes wrong!! Anyway I will keep on persevering, and I will let you know how I get on. 😀
Almost everyone coming to clarinet from another woodwind struggles with the big open holes, so I would definitely keep an eye on your fingers. Here is a fun exercise to help your fingers get used to landing on the holes well: th-cam.com/users/liveMRkA4gjo5fA?si=0_jflXITBiv8mK2k Coming from oboe you should have plenty of embouchure strength, just be sure you aren't squeezing too tight and keep a really good strong steadier air support across all of the notes. Good luck!
thanks for recommending this video to me Josh. It has really helped me with notes above an A. I have a long way to go but I think I am on the right track 👍
can you do a video about breaking in reeds at some point??? I don't really have a good method of doing that so my reeds don't last as long as they should😅
The saxophone has a similar break. The difference is that the saxophone has fingering for Bb, B, C, C# and D in the lower register, as well as fingering for those same notes in the upper register (with an octave key pressed). However, those same notes, but with different fingerings, don't sound the same and the transition between registers is equally challenging. They 'key' is try to the find best note in the lower register to use for jumping into a higher register; which one will be used will depend on the quality of the instrument at hand, how well in tune it plays, and the music piece itself.
That’s true! Although the “break” on the saxophone is a little less cumbersome also because the fingerings are easier crossing the “break” and it is a smoother transition acoustically as well because of the conical rather than cylindrical bore.
I get decent resonant sounds approaching and traversing from chalamois to clarion ranges except for one note, Bb. Note A is clear, full and round compared to Bb/A# when I depress the register key causing it to be relatively stuffy/muted. Looking at the register key I see nothing obviously amiss. Any thoughts about what could be causing this?
Unfortunately that is just the worst note on the instrument. There isn’t much you can do about it except keep experimenting with the air and embouchure to make it match as best as you can. The other thing you could try are some resonance fingerings but that is a little more advanced. Here is my video on that: th-cam.com/video/XFpWdSHqcsg/w-d-xo.html
It's so important to go "back" to the basics when having difficulties with advanced pieces.
In many cases the problem lies there in some sloppy technique.
Thank you for posting! ❤
Yes, absolutely! I saw a great quote on Facebook that I love which says, "there are no advanced fundamentals, just advanced situations that require strong fundamentals"
Thanks Josh, maybe a link directly to your page without the log in page showing up. Good info and ideas.
Thank you so much Josh for this absolutely excellent video. I've come back to the clarinet after a bit of a time away, and once again I'm trying to overcome my difficulties with crossing the break. You have really helped me here, and I will definitely be trying out what you have suggested. I've just bought a brand new Jupiter JCL 700SQ B flat student clarinet which is really lovely to play. It has much improved keywork, an adjustable thumb rest and a neck strap ring which is extremely helpful as I need to play with the neck strap on all the time at the moment while I get my fingers adjusted to the different keywork. I also play oboe, and I had to do the same thing with that, and now I'm able to play oboe without the neck strap as my fingers have adjusted to new keywork. I started learning on a rented oboe which was very old, and now I have a Buffet Crampon brand new oboe which we bought in January. My oboe playing is getting on fine, and I hope that I will be able to overcome my difficulties on the clarinet. I'm practising as hard as I can, just need to get crossing the break a bit smoother. I can play the notes in the upper register, but I have problems going from lower register to upper register. That's where it goes wrong!! Anyway I will keep on persevering, and I will let you know how I get on. 😀
Almost everyone coming to clarinet from another woodwind struggles with the big open holes, so I would definitely keep an eye on your fingers. Here is a fun exercise to help your fingers get used to landing on the holes well: th-cam.com/users/liveMRkA4gjo5fA?si=0_jflXITBiv8mK2k
Coming from oboe you should have plenty of embouchure strength, just be sure you aren't squeezing too tight and keep a really good strong steadier air support across all of the notes. Good luck!
THANK YOU
thanks for recommending this video to me Josh. It has really helped me with notes above an A. I have a long way to go but I think I am on the right track 👍
Awesome! I'm glad it was helpful.
Hi Josh, love your video’s! Could you make a video about playing softly with enough air support?
O, that is a great idea! I'm glad that you are enjoying my videos!
can you do a video about breaking in reeds at some point??? I don't really have a good method of doing that so my reeds don't last as long as they should😅
Certainly! Thanks for making a suggestion! My Top 10: Common Clarinet Mistakes video talks a little bit about breaking in reeds also.
I just scheduled a video about breaking in reeds for this Saturday morning! I hope you enjoy it!
I hope this helps!
th-cam.com/video/jxYFow518_Q/w-d-xo.html
The saxophone has a similar break. The difference is that the saxophone has fingering for Bb, B, C, C# and D in the lower register, as well as fingering for those same notes in the upper register (with an octave key pressed). However, those same notes, but with different fingerings, don't sound the same and the transition between registers is equally challenging. They 'key' is try to the find best note in the lower register to use for jumping into a higher register; which one will be used will depend on the quality of the instrument at hand, how well in tune it plays, and the music piece itself.
That’s true! Although the “break” on the saxophone is a little less cumbersome also because the fingerings are easier crossing the “break” and it is a smoother transition acoustically as well because of the conical rather than cylindrical bore.
I get decent resonant sounds approaching and traversing from chalamois to clarion ranges except for one note, Bb. Note A is clear, full and round compared to Bb/A# when I depress the register key causing it to be relatively stuffy/muted. Looking at the register key I see nothing obviously amiss. Any thoughts about what could be causing this?
Unfortunately that is just the worst note on the instrument. There isn’t much you can do about it except keep experimenting with the air and embouchure to make it match as best as you can. The other thing you could try are some resonance fingerings but that is a little more advanced. Here is my video on that: th-cam.com/video/XFpWdSHqcsg/w-d-xo.html