How To Fix Common Clarinet Tone Mistakes with Michelle Anderson

Summary

In this video, a clarinet teacher demonstrates three instant techniques to improve students' tone. First, the angle at which students hold the clarinet and their head affects tone quality—keeping the head aligned ensures a better sound. Second, the amount of mouthpiece in the mouth plays a crucial role in resonance and ease of producing high notes. Lastly, using the correct reed strength, particularly for high notes, is essential for clear, controlled tone. These simple adjustments can dramatically enhance a student's performance in a short amount of time.

Takeaways

• 😀 Correcting the angle of the clarinet can significantly improve tone quality, especially by preventing students from looking down at their fingers while playing.
• 😀 A tilted head can disrupt airflow, affecting both tone and pitch. A neutral head position will help the air flow properly and produce a more focused sound.
• 😀 Students should be encouraged to keep their chin in a neutral position, similar to how they would greet someone by saying 'hello'. This prevents bad posture habits.
• 😀 Taking a side photo of students while playing can help them visualize their posture and make necessary adjustments.
• 😀 There is no perfect angle for holding the clarinet, but finding the right position for each student will enhance the sound, particularly in the high register.
• 😀 A mouthpiece that's too far out or in can negatively affect sound. Adjusting the mouthpiece inside the mouth can improve resonance and tone.
• 😀 Increasing the amount of mouthpiece in the mouth can free the reed to vibrate more, creating a fuller, more resonant sound.
• 😀 Teachers should guide students to find the balance where the mouthpiece is not too little (which produces a weak sound) or too much (which leads to squeaks).
• 😀 Reed strength is critical for good tone, particularly in higher registers. A reed that’s too soft can result in a weak or squawky sound.
• 😀 As students progress, they should move to stronger reeds. For most players, a reed strength of at least 2.5 is recommended for higher notes, with 3 or higher for advanced players.

Q & A

Why is it important for clarinet students to keep their head up while playing?

Keeping the head up while playing helps maintain proper airflow through the instrument, improving the tone quality. Looking down can disrupt the air flow, leading to a fuzzy sound and making it harder to play high notes clearly.

What is the impact of lowering the head while playing the clarinet?

Lowering the head interferes with the air flow, which affects the tone by making it more muffled or fuzzy. This is especially noticeable in the high register, where pitch stability is compromised.

How can teachers help students correct the habit of lowering their chin while playing?

Teachers can ask students to pair up and take side photos of themselves while playing. This allows them to see their posture and make adjustments. Teachers can also encourage students to maintain a neutral chin position, similar to when they say 'hello'.

What is the best way to find the optimal angle for holding the clarinet?

Teachers can help students discover their best angle by experimenting with slight adjustments while playing, especially with high notes. A good guideline is that most students will find the optimal angle when the clarinet is around the level of their knees or slightly inside that range.

Why does having more mouthpiece in the mouth improve the clarinet tone?

The more mouthpiece in the mouth, the more the reed can vibrate, which produces a fuller, richer tone. When too little mouthpiece is used, only the tip of the reed vibrates, limiting sound quality.

How can a teacher help a student experiment with mouthpiece placement to improve tone?

Teachers can guide students through an exercise where they play a note with progressively more mouthpiece in their mouth, observing how the tone improves until they reach a point where the sound becomes unstable or squeaky, indicating they've gone too far.

What is the 'squeak point' in clarinet mouthpiece placement?

The 'squeak point' is the point at which the student has inserted too much of the mouthpiece into their mouth, causing the reed to overreact and produce a harsh squeak. The goal is to play with the mouthpiece as close to this point as possible without crossing it.

What reed strength is generally recommended for beginners, and when should they upgrade?

For beginners, a reed strength of 2 is recommended. As students improve and start playing higher notes, they should move to at least a 2.5 reed, and for high G and above, a 3 reed or stronger may be more appropriate.

How can a teacher identify if a student is using a reed that is too soft?

If a student’s high notes are unclear or they produce a loud, squawky sound, their reed may be too soft. A simple test involves having the student tongue a C major scale in the high register; if the higher notes are difficult to produce or lack clarity, the reed is likely too soft.

What should a teacher do if they suspect a student is using the wrong reed strength?

Teachers can have students move their reed slightly higher on the mouthpiece, which can make the tone a bit airy and fuzzy, but will help confirm if the reed is too soft. If this improves their high register, the student should switch to a stronger reed.