Keep Calm, Don’t Panic! Tips and Tricks for Those New Altissimo Notes!

So you’ve been handed a piece in band or orchestra with a note that looks like this…

Don’t panic!

Learning new altissimo notes doesn’t have to be all that hard, but when you’re learning new notes in the altissimo register of the clarinet even the most educated player gets a bit nervous.

Here are some tried and true techniques I’ve used when learning a new altissimo note.

#1 What is the note?

This probably seems obvious but figure out what the note is! Don’t just guess. Count those ledger lines and write the note in with pencil if you need to. #2 Find a fingering chart

In this internet age there are multiple fingering charts online that will help you out or you can go to your local music store and buy one to keep in your music folder. Clarinet Fingering Chart Website The link above is my favorite fingering chart website. I love it because it breaks the altissimo register down into ranges, gives you multiple fingerings for each fingering, and gives you trill fingerings and “best use when” fingerings. I use this site a lot when I get crazy high notes in orchestral pieces. #3 Try the note

Ok. Please please please, don’t just try the note outright. Work your way up to it. Play the notes below it and then try the new note fingering.

Why?

It will become extremely clear if you pick a fingering that is out of tune on your instrument if you’re coming from a note that you can already play. Then you can make a more informed decision about which fingering to choose. I do this especially since the altissimo register has multiple fingerings for each note and each fingering has different intonation properties and reacts differently to each clarinet and clarinet player.

#3.5 – Another tip is to make sure you’re giving the note enough air. Altissimo notes are notorious for needed lots of fast and cold air in order to speak. Keep your embouchure strong and keep your air fast when you’re trying to get up to the note.

#4 Trying the note in the passage Now that you’ve got the note fingerings down try the passage slowly. If you’re still having trouble with the note speaking, then go back to step 3 and work on the note again. If the note speaks but the notes before and after are problematic then work on everything at a VVVEEERRRYYY SLLLLOOOOOOOOWWWWWW tempo.

I’m not joking! At like 60 beats per minute or slower – think the pace of this cute sloth.

My students don’t want to do this all the time but I can tell you from personal experience the slower you go the better. Once you get it at the slower tempo you can start to go a little faster until you feel comfortable with the passage up to tempo. I hope these tips and tricks help you out when you receive a piece with a new and unfamiliar note.

I hope some of these tips help you get those unfamiliar altissimo notes!

Aim high and keep practicing!

Coming Soon! Tips and Tricks for Learning New Rhythms!

#EugeneOR #clarinet #SpringfieldOR #musiclesson #clarinetlessons #altissimonotes