I've got my grade 6 clarinet exam next week and I'm playing Prelude from The Victorian Kitchen Garden. When I get to the top F just over half way through I freeze up and either nothing comes out or I get the most awful screeching noise. What am I doing wrong??? About 3 times out of 5 I probably manage to get it but I'm really worried its all going to go horribly wrong on the day.

Any tips?

I'm doing mine this session too!

What other pieces are you doing

I'm doing Tartini, Silent Movie and the Waltz

My other pieces are Lefevre, Sonata no.5 and C. Baermann Study no. 53

My exam is on Friday in the afternoon and I'm dreading it. Haven't done a clarinet exam for 10 years!!!!! That makes me feel really old and I'm only 25!

Not Mozart?

Ensemble, my main problem with high notes is usually wrong fingering. I do high F as finger 2,3, small left finger G#, and Eb right hand. You can make it even more secure by puting the whole right hand down. I'll check that one for you.

No not Mozart unfortunately!

No tips I'm afraid, but I just wanted to wish you 'good luck' with your exam... hope it goes well for you.

You're probably worrying too much that it won't come out or will sound squeaky. Think "Oh I played that really well" when you next get it and try and consciously relax, ignoring the little voice in your head saying "here it comes, the big one, it'll sound awful if it's wrong!"

Try not to bite aswell, that;s what sometimes happens with highnotes.

Good luck, you'll be great!

I think the main thing is not to worry about it while you're playing, and just to concentrate on making the whole piece sound as beautiful as you can. Then if one note squeaks, well it's a shame, but it's hardly going to affect your mark at all.

I did a similar thing in my Grade 8 - I got to the high point in my cadenza in the first piece, and this horrid strangling noise came out It was really annoying because I'd never done that while practising! But I still ended up with a really good mark for the piece.

Good luck for your exam!

Make sure you're giving the note loads of support from deep down inside you.

As neil.clarinet suggested, try experimenting with a few alternative fingerings as well. My preferred fingering for top F isn't always in tune, so my favouring alternative is to play the D an octave above middle C, then add the left-hand C#/G# key.

Be confident! And don't let one pesky quaver put you off what is a beautiful piece.

Good luck with the exam, let us know how you do.

Thanks Deborah, that's the fingering I was trying to remember. And yes, high notes must be supported from the diaphram, NOT the upper body. It's like squeezing a toothpaste tube (properly!).

Thank you so much for all your replies. I will have a go with the different fingerings and see how I get on. If I do fluff it on the day do you think I will get marked very badly for it?

Hard to say for definite, but I wouldn't have thought one small slip would lose you many marks if you play everything else well. Even if it goes wrong, CARRY ON! Act like you meant the top F to sound *%!*£.

Then if I did that I would feel like a fool! Best get practising my high notes...got my date now! aaah

Don't worry about the high notes - or if u r anything like me it tightens the mouth around the reed and makes a puny squeak instead of a note. Dont worry at all - i'm sure the examiners dont even expect the high notes to come out - with nerves and all...
I had some top a's for my grade 8 clarinet (many years ago) - none of which came out and still got a distinction - so really theres nothing to worry about at all. Just enjoy playing - enjoy the exam and all should go well.