CLARINET FUNDAMENTALS
I. Tone: A Good Embouchure is Essential
A. Use enough mouthpiece in mouth
B. Try to keep from "changing or moving jaw"
C. Upper teeth on mouthpiece
D. Recommend a rubber or plastic patch
E. Avoid movement in jaw
II. Tonal Problems
A. Small sound--too tight embouchure and/ or not enough air
B. Saliva on reed--clear frequently
C. Bad reed, warped reed, too hard, too soft
D. Angle of clarinet (recommend ca. 30 degrees)
E. Reed placement faulty
F. Clarinet leaking at tenon joints, or pads
III. Coordinating Air and Embouchure
A. Louder = more air, less embouchure pressure
B. Softer = less air, more embouchure pressure
C. Adjust for intonation discrepancies
IV. Articulation
A. Tongue "releases" the air (air first, set, release tongue)
B. Stopping the tone with tongue; with the air
C. Avoid jaw movement
D. Tongue noise usually due to blow as tongue touches reed
V. Hand Position
A. Slant and curvature
B. Holding position/angle of instrument
VI. Tuning
A. Barrel
B. Middle
C. Bell
D. Mouthpiece
VII. Technique Development
A. Slow practice
B. Using the metronome
C. Practice techniques
D. Warm up and daily routine
E. Scales and arpeggios
F. Tongue development
VIII. Pedagogical References
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