Page 14 - Embou-Sure Book Series

b. Finger placement be carefully observed.
c. Poor tone quality due to incorrect finger placement be properly
diagnosed.
It is important to mention that the fingers remain in their natural position... not flattened, not arched. The hand should remain completely relaxed as the fingers of the left hand are placed in position. A visual demonstration with your own clarinet or assistance to ensure that the correct finger is placed over the correct hole is often helpful. Be sure to indicate that the thumb covers the hole in the back and that it does not at this point open the register key. Check this visually as it is a primary cause of problems. Also observe the angle of the fingers relative to the clarinet If the student attempts to place them at
a 90 degree angle to the clarinet, mention that the fingers and hand should angle comfortably upward (so that the index finger lays close to the A and G# throat keys). Demonstrate with your clarinet.
Now demonstrate the tone and the pitch which you wish the student to produce: the clarinet “low C” and instruct him to produce sound exactly as before. If the correct result is not obtained, it is that one of the original five problems has cropped up. But, by now you should have those sounds well in- grained and you should know the remedies. It is, however, unlikely that these problems will repeat if you have carefully instructed tone production with mouthpiece/barrel and then with the complete clarinet. While the correct result sounds like this:
SOUND EXAMPLE #13
There are three basic new sounds which might occur:
• MUFFLED F or G
Either of these pitches (clarinet first space F or open G) is a dead give away...the thumb is not covering the hole in the back (produces F) and is opening the register key (produces G).
SOUND EXAMPLE #14a (Muffled F)
SOUND EXAMPLE #14b (Muffled G)
• NON-DESCRIPT PITCH
One or more of the left hand fingers is not covering properly: pitch resembles C#, D, or D#. Partial thumb cover can also produce this sound. If, on the other hand, the non-descript pitch resembles one of the notes between first space clarinet F and G#, the problem is that the index finger is opening either the G# or the A throat register keys.
SOUND EXAMPLE #15a (Lower pitches)
SOUND EXAMPLE #15b (Higher pitches)
• HIGH REGISTER PITCH
IF the student produces an actual pitch in one of the higher registers (probably clarinet G above the staff or possibly three ledger line high E), it means that the thumb or the index finger is partially opening one of the keys at the upper end of the clarinet (register key, A key, or G# key). Of these keys, it is the register key which most often pro- duces the upper partials; the clarinet G is the most likely overtone in the beginning stages.
SOUND EXAMPLE #16
When any of these problems occur, ask to see the pads of the student’s fingers; if properly placed on the instrument, you should see complete ring imprints on the center of each pad. Many times that imprint will be partially centered over the first joint of the finger, thereby creating a leak. When the student makes another attempt to play low C, observe the position of thumb and fingers, watching carefully for one which appears to be out of position. If, after three tries you are still unsuccessful, I recommend that you return to the open G and check to be sure that the air flow, tone, and embouchure are still functioning properly. This will reinforce for the student that all is OK except fingers. It is less likely that he will then make serious alterations in an attempt to overcome finger-cover problems.
If on return to low C the finger problem still persists, have the student play first line E followed by D, then C. As each finger is placed in position, ob- serve carefully and listen for the exact moment a finger placement error
Embou-Sure – 16