Faster Fingers on the Clarinet in Two Weeks - Week one!

Hi everyone! Here's the video for the first week of our December two-week intensive! I hope you enjoy this exercise - it might take a minute to get the hang of it, and you might come to hate me for this one but it will help with all sorts of areas of your technique. 

 

The PDF is here. Look forward to hearing about your goals for the week!

 

Assignment for this week:
1. Memorize the pattern using the examples above, and then choose a scale to
practice the pattern on
a. Level 1 would be to pick an easy major scale like F major, G major or C
major over one octave
b. Level 2 would be to pick a challenging major scale like E major, or to
practice the exercise over two octaves
c. Level 3 would be to do a chromatic scale using this pattern
2. Think about the areas on the clarinet that you find difficult, and try to come up
with two groups of three notes that you could apply this pattern to (like my last
example above). You can either show us your pattern in a video, describe the
pattern (for example, B, C# and D in the low register), or write it out and share the
image on the forum.

11 replies

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    • Donald_Lurye
    • 13 days ago
    • Reported - view

     Now that I've got the pattern in my fingers, I'm gradually accelerating F major through two octaves.  I'll see when I'm brave enough to make a video!  One immediate impression - this is a fantastic finger pattern exercise to master crossing chalumeau to clarion register break.  In addition to the fingers, reliable breath support is key.  The exercise also exposes when one has a tendency to slow down or rush during a supposedly steady tempo.  It's also good to add to my warm up routine.  This one's a keeper!

      • Head of Clarinet
      • Heather
      • 12 days ago
      • Reported - view

       Hi Donald, that's a really good point about the break! And yes, you're right, breath support is key - it's funny how we can forget about it when we're working on fingers but it's doubly important (if nothing else, having a good sound helps us work out if our finger movements are nice and even). 

      I'm not entirely surprised no one has posted a video this week though, maybe this exercise is actually enough to keep us going for two, it really does take time to get under the fingers! 

    • Luke
    • 12 days ago
    • Reported - view

    I've been super busy this week but I finally got around to this! Here's a video!

      • Donald_Lurye
      • 11 days ago
      • Reported - view

       you make a great point - these notes don't have to be consecutive.  Thanks for sharing that insight; nice job!

      • Gabrielle_Tymkow
      • 10 days ago
      • Reported - view

       I also find lifting/putting down my ring finger and pinkie together tricky. Good idea with the non-consecutive notes too :-)

    • Donald_Lurye
    • 11 days ago
    • Reported - view

    I thought I'd uploaded this, but apparently not!  Looking forward to the feedback.

      • Gabrielle_Tymkow
      • 10 days ago
      • Reported - view

       You've set the bar high with this, love it! I'm going to have to do some more work...

    • Gabrielle_Tymkow
    • 10 days ago
    • Reported - view

    Hey everyone. I have not done as much as I wanted to do on this as I've been ill :-( But I did manage to do a bit and I've come up with some that I need to work on.

    On number 3 I found it fun to alternate my little fingers with every note, even when it is twice in a row. I will aim to make a video next week.

    (I don't think I have ever written music down - it's really hard!)

      • Gabrielle_Tymkow
      • 10 days ago
      • Reported - view

      - maybe I should have written the C# as Db?

      • Head of Clarinet
      • Heather
      • 9 days ago
      • Reported - view

       These are GREAT suggestions for exercises - I'm not sure if Donald and Luke suggested some in their videos, I'll watch them today and see, and then I'll put these into my notation software for everyone to try - might wait a few more days to see if anyone suggests some other things! 

      • Donald_Lurye
      • 9 days ago
      • Reported - view

       #3 is a great one!  Yeah, might be a bit more transparent with Db in place of C#, but not easier.

Content aside

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