I was browsing through the ABRSM forum and cannot seem to place an intermediate thread for clarinets even though there are several advanced and beginner threads... it was like WHOAAH! So I created this thread for players about G4/3 to about G5/6 and possibly G7? Use this thread to talk about pieces, tips, clarinet models... and pretty much everything

thankx

I'm attempting grade 5 and grade 6 sax.

wow O_o two instruments... thats pretty good... i'm on grade 4 clarinet and grade two violin ( )

They let me in the advanced thread after grade 5....

They might let me join you after I do grade 5 then!

what are you playing for grade 4? I teach violin, what are you playing for grade 2?

Hello Fellow Clarinetists!!

mizcutiepielivzi: Thanks for starting this thread!

I think I am about grade 4 level (can play most pieces in grade 4 syllabus) and currently working on Schumann Fantasy Piece and Finzi's Bagatelles Romance and Forlana.

Does anyone here have a problem using left pinkie to play C above the break... especially after Bb in the middle of the staff? I have been using my right pinkie but the new pieces all have C and D# right next to each other

hello balu114.
I did Fantasy piece last term. Didn't like it much but it was good for practising the alternative fingerings! My left pinkie on C above the break is usually fine, but right pinkie doesn't aways play at exactly the same time as the finger beside it!

dotted quaver: i am playing Evening. Study in C and Ground force
violin grade 2: kemps jig, frohlicher landmann carribean sunshine

Ahh, I accompanied all of those pieces last session! The Caribbean sunshine one was done by all 3 children

I get scared by the advanced clarinet thread so I think I'll stay here for a while! (I just did G6)

i think most people chose caribbean sushine, i think its because its pretty easy
the advanced thread does SO advanced stuff!
and i thought we lacked a intermiediate clari thread

thanks to mizcutielivzi for creating this thread!

I'm not working towards any more exams but have been told I'm playing at about grade 6 standard. Currently working mostly on VKG Prelude plus some other pieces that we start in the lesson. My main problem at the moment is with higher notes - I find I'm, not biting, but very close to. Have found that playing my cornet before doing clari has helped though

That's an interesting one...I wonder why?...

1st guess is better air support and less fear of loud noises. Playing sax and bass clarinet really opened up my upper altissimo on clari

ah, thanks CJB, you could be right. I am usually too cautious when playing the higher clari notes, maybe the 'attack' when playing cornet is drifting into my clari playing.

Yep! Urm... only after the Bb though, my teacher said you could leave the pinkie on the c key when you play Bb so their isnt any transfer. that solved my problem

@barri-clari
i think playing a cornet also helps you increase your lung capacity and you learnt how to read your music.
i find it funny that clarinet has also helped me with my volin! (WEIRD...)

@violinqueen: i think your right, but not sure? can anyone confirm whether you could do that? i thought it was just the right hand e key that you could do that with?

Anyone have problems on g4 scales? its the d that i'm worried about as i find it difficult to play the notes evenly and smoothly, espeacially in slur. i need help with altissimo register!!! anyone else have that problem?

Just seen this thread and passed grade 6 in July. I played the Edward German 'Romance' and the Hindemith 'Sonata' first movement - marvellous piece! The best marks I got were for aural though, 18, about which I was quite pleased.

congrats!!

Yep, that sounds plausible

Yep most of the pieces I've been working on recently have purposely had lots of altissimo notes. Also now working more on scales than I have done for a while.

Take it slowly. One note at a time.
Lots of harmonics practice.
Don't force it.
Don't just finger the note and hope, go to it from the 'related' clarion note first.

Though all of that is probably what your teacher is already saying.

Can't argue with the above. Would add that biting in any way is a bad thing, and make sure the reed you're using is in good shape : a dirty/chipped/worn reed is no good for altissimo notes.

yep... they come out but they sound shrill! EWWW is like a dying cat!

It's something you may need to take your time with.
Get one secure before moving upwards. It can be a slowish job.
Remember they need plenty of support. If you get into the habit of supporting all notes properly it helps. I know it's something I can be careless about.

New reed for practice today, what a difference. Should really remember that reeds need changing by now

Sounds like you're trying to get more than one note perfect at the same time. Do them one at a time (ie get C# secure before moving on to D).

I've just gone onto a La Voz medium reed after finding one in a multi pack I bought a while ago.

I love it, get a really warm sound and it's very easy blowing

I'm interested in your post Sbhoa, as it's not what my teacher is telling me - other than the one note at a time bit.

I'm not having particular problems with the altissmo notes - well not up to G anyway (after that its largely uncharted terotoritry at the moment) So maybe thats why my teacher hasn't offered any advice, but what do you mean by harmonics practice? and by related clarion note do you mean going from d to d and e to e etc?

Personally I know I need to practice reading the higher notes as after about d, it takes me too long to work out what the note is at the moment.

Thanks

I'd start harmonics around the time of the move to clarion notes by (for example) playing middle C, add the register key to get the G then release the register key but keep the G going.

Another exercise is to play up chromatically from bottom line F up to A but alternate each note with the upper register note (the next harmonic) without using the register key. Finding the upper harmonic straight off is good too.

A useful more recent one is to play Eb (bottom line) then find the next two harmonics (Bb and F#) without the register key. Then see if you can find them in a random order without splitting notes. This sort of thing not only helps with production and quality of higher notes but it helps to build flexibility between registers.

By related clarion notes I mean approach altissimo notes in a similar fashion to the way I described the C to G exercise. Play F (top line) then slide off the to LH finger to get the D and so on. You need to make sure that the lower notes is good quality.

[quote][quote name='sbhoa' date='Sep 11 2011, 05:42 PM' post='1089460']
[quote name='mizcutiepielivzi' post='1089456' date='Sep 11 2011, 05:29 PM']
[quote name='sbhoa' post='1089325' date='Sep 10 2011, 06:04 PM']
[quote name='mizcutiepielivzi' post='1089162' date='Sep 9 2011, 06:01 PM']
i need help with altissimo register!!! anyone else have that problem?
[/quote]
Take it slowly. One note at a time.
Lots of harmonics practice.
Don't force it.
Don't just finger the note and hope, go to it from the 'related' clarion note first.

Though all of that is probably what your teacher is already saying.
[/quote]

yep... they come out but they sound shrill! EWWW is like a dying cat!
[/quote]
It's something you may need to take your time with.
Get one secure before moving upwards. It can be a slowish job.
Remember they need plenty of support. If you get into the habit of supporting all notes properly it helps. I know it's something I can be careless about.
[/quote][/quote]
trying to support... it worked! ohhhhh yesss! thanks sooo much!!!!!


[quote][quote name='louise1712' date='Sep 11 2011, 07:20 PM' post='1089484']
[quote name='barry-clari' post='1089398' date='Sep 11 2011, 09:54 AM']
Can't argue with the above. Would add that biting in any way is a bad thing, and make sure the reed you're using is in good shape : a dirty/chipped/worn reed is no good for altissimo notes.
[/quote]


New reed for practice today, what a difference. Should really remember that reeds need changing by now
[/quote][/quote] new reeds sound so nice!

[quote][quote name='barry-clari' date='Sep 12 2011, 08:31 AM' post='1089560']
[quote name='mizcutiepielivzi' post='1089456' date='Sep 11 2011, 05:29 PM']
[quote name='sbhoa' post='1089325' date='Sep 10 2011, 06:04 PM']
[quote name='mizcutiepielivzi' post='1089162' date='Sep 9 2011, 06:01 PM']
i need help with altissimo register!!! anyone else have that problem?
[/quote]
Take it slowly. One note at a time.
Lots of harmonics practice.
Don't force it.
Don't just finger the note and hope, go to it from the 'related' clarion note first.

Though all of that is probably what your teacher is already saying.
[/quote]

yep... they come out but they sound shrill! EWWW is like a dying cat!
[/quote]
Sounds like you're trying to get more than one note perfect at the same time. Do them one at a time (ie get C# secure before moving on to D).
[/quote][/quote]
yep, that helped a lot too

[quote][quote name='lois' date='Sep 12 2011, 09:24 AM' post='1089569']
[quote name='louise1712' post='1089484' date='Sep 11 2011, 07:20 PM']
New reed for practice today, what a difference. Should really remember that reeds need changing by now
[/quote]
I've just gone onto a La Voz medium reed after finding one in a multi pack I bought a while ago.

I love it, get a really warm sound and it's very easy blowing
[/quote][/quote]yes, got some rico royal and vandorens and it really made a difference!

arghhaaa! quote IS NOT WORKING!

Thanks Shoba

came across a good book for grade 5 a few weeks ago - the best of grade 5 clarinet. It is a compilation of ten pieces, with piano accomp and CD, plus 5 studies, taken from the ABRSM and Trinity syllabuses. Has anyone used this?

No but I've seen it and it looks good! My ABRSM Grade 5 book is pieces only, so I would find it really useful to have the CD backing! If I decide to buy, I will let you know but I have plenty to play at the moment, so it may not be for a while.

Thanks clarijo, but it is already in my library! Was interested in other peoples opinions of it. I've played through a couple of the pieces and really liked them, particularly Sunday Jaunt.

I too have plenty to be playing, invested in Thurston's Passage Studies book 1 recently. Looking forward to working through those.

At last I went to a group at the Elgar School of Music.Its a Chamber Group requiring Grade 4 min.

Well I have grade 4 and going for 5 soon so I thought this would be right for me. But clearly this was not the first term for the other players who have clearly benefited so far.

There are 2 cellos, 2 flutes, violin and piano - long time since they had a clari and the tutor - who also plays cello had to ferret for scores that would include me and another new joiner clarinet also at grade 5.

That's all very well but I was suddenly back to sight reading panic with some fast 6/8 pieces. I think that most of the other players are grade 5+ and play fairly confidently.

But, on the positive side:
- it's another challenge to take me forward on the musical journey
- it's so wonderful to play in a small group that is 50% strings

I have arranged an private extra lesson before the next group lesson to get some advice from my teacher.

And all this whilst I strive to grasp the scales I need for my exam; exciting ....... but madness?

Sounds like you're having a great time Chris long may it continue. Hope all goes well with the exam and do keep going with the group, the panic sight-reading does fade (into mild panic!)

I've been looking at alternatives to doing grade exams, AB's performance assessment and Trinity's certificates.

I've been to a school orchestra and... woah! the scrambling of the keys, the joys of not know where we are! sadly i cannot sight read that well!

And does anyone know repetoire sheet music on 8notes for G4 clarinet standard?
thank

Hello, does anyone know any piece for a clarinet-flute duet? with the flute being about G5/6 standard and Clarinet G4/5?

Try book 1 of the Himie Voxman series for clarinet/flute duet.

Picked up my clarinet yesterday and had a proper practise session for the first time in around 6 months

Apart from my lip not lasting for as long as I would have liked it went really well. Scales still sitting there under the surface which surprised me!!

I will now be learning the Bernstein clarinet sonata

Glad you're back playing your clari again lois

Enjoy the Bernstein, not one I'll be trying for a long time having heard b-c play it

....the All or Nothing school of clarinetting.....
hello Lois, keep on keeping on.

Nothing like a challenge to start with...(eek diploma...)

Glad you're clarinetting again, Lois

It will be a long long time before I get it even a tenth as good as barry can play it

I shall play it to you sometime soon, Lois. Then you can make your mind up

Most definately Barry.

It's a shame I haven't been able to make your last few recitals

Aw : no worries, lois. Perhaps I should've done one in the Midlands as well as a northern and a southern one...

oooh, i like the sound of the name! Himie Voxman, you say? Will most definitely have a look



Thats nice to hear... Keep going! And enjoy you journey

I have a programme for my attempt at the Intermediate Certificate

which is?...