WOODWINDS

[mycrabface]

For those people who play clarinet(B-Flat), Im having a problem here.. when I go from E to A, I'll squeak. It isn't my breath support because I've got ample air, neither is it my instrument cause its in good working condition. Does anyone know what the problem may be? Any suggestions are welcome..

[arensky]

Which E to A, the lowest the middle or the high? There is another above the high one, but I have a feeling that's not the issue here; I'll bet it's middle one, make sure that your index finger and thumb are leaving their holes together before you depress that A key, which never sounds good anyway, unless you're Harold Wright David Schiffrin or that Marcellus cat who was with Cleavland and Szell. I'll bet it's that, but hard to tell from over the internet. Maybe you're reseting your embouchoure (sp) as you go to the A, it is a transitional area register wise on the clarinet. Best to ask a clarinetist who can watch you actually play, s/he will be better able to diagnose the problem...

[mycrabface]

Which E to A, the lowest the middle or the high? There is another above the high one, but I have a feeling that's not the issue here; I'll bet it's middle one, make sure that your index finger and thumb are leaving their holes together before you depress that A key, which never sounds good anyway, unless you're Harold Wright David Schiffrin or that Marcellus cat who was with Cleavland and Szell. I'll bet it's that, but hard to tell from over the internet. Maybe you're reseting your embouchoure (sp) as you go to the A, it is a transitional area register wise on the clarinet. Best to ask a clarinetist who can watch you actually play, s/he will be better able to diagnose the problem...

Haha.. As soon as my band instructor finds out that I keep squeaking over those notes, I'll get kicked out of the room.. lolz.. Its the one with the octave key; the octave below the highest G's octave. What were you saying? Can you elaborate a lil more?

[arensky]

I don't know..make sure that your fingers are covering the holes COMPLETELY, and that no air is escaping around them.. maybe a pad needs adjusting....

[lau]

You might want to make sure that your instrument is in tune. Make sure to cover the 3 main holes completely, that is what happened to me when i couldn't stop squeaking.