Over The Break

    
Over The Break    09:04 on Sunday, December 23, 2007          

MusicRawks
(426 points)
Posted by MusicRawks

I absolutly love playing the clarinet.
I started taking lessons last March and I took until the beggining of June.
My clarinet teacher was a really nice teacher and she seemed really impressed with my work.
The only problem was her style of teaching didn't match my style of learning.
Knowing this, my mom wanted to find a different teacher but failed.
I still love playing even though I haven't took lessons for about a half of a year.
I am having difficuties going over the break on my clarinet, and because I don't have a teacher, I was wondering if you guys could help and give me advice when I comes to crossing over the break.

Here is what I can do-
Slured "C" Scale: no problem
Touged "C" Scale: Sounds "choppy"... expesically when going over the break

I have trouble with notes like these-


Re: Over The Break    09:06 on Sunday, December 23, 2007          
Re: Over The Break    09:09 on Sunday, December 23, 2007          

MusicRawks
(426 points)
Posted by MusicRawks

OKay... I have been trying to add a melody so that I can show you the notes that I have a problem with, but the melody tool just isn't working for me today.
Here are the notes.

triplets with [C above middle c; on the staff B; A under b]

triplets going up [on the staff A; B above a; C above middle c]


Re: Over The Break    07:01 on Monday, December 24, 2007          

Ocaretophonist
(7 points)
Posted by Ocaretophonist

The best advice I can give you is to keep your fingers close to the keys and holes. Also, make sure when you play that A that you don't move your whole index finger to its key. Just "roll" your finger to that key. I'm sure your teacher taught you that but those are the two things that can greatly help going over the break. Make sure you use enough air when going from the A to B also. However, that doesn't mean play louder, just put more air through the horn.

I hope that helped.


Re: Over The Break    02:46 on Saturday, January 19, 2008          

alxx
(60 points)
Posted by alxx

What helped me was to practice really slowly and get the timing right.
Then build up to playing at normal speed.

Try playing plenty of songs that cross the break
(sorry all the ones below are mostly jazz(few movies/tv show themes) as thats what I play)
Sway( Quien Sera )
God Bless the child (my favourite version is from Eric Dolphy on bass clarinet)
Baby Elephant Walk
Fever (mostly above the break - the version I have)

Mission Impossible theme
Family Guy theme


Re: Over The Break    17:43 on Sunday, April 27, 2008          

tmheimer
(76 points)
Posted by tmheimer

Try this. Going from throat A (or Bb) to over the break B or C: While playing the A or Bb, first do it with all 3 RH holes closed and the LH 2nd and 3rd holes closed. Now, play the A (Bb) a whole note while cresciendoing to loud when you switch to the "over the break" note, on which you then get softer for a whole note. Next, do this with the RH fingers as close as possible to the holes, but not covering them, but the LH 2nd and 3rd holes still covered (most of the time you want these 2 covered on long throat tones anyway for better intonation). Also, try it with all fingers close on the throat tone but not covering anything ahead of time.


   




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