Exercises That Cross the Break

Remember to keep your tongue high in your mouth when playing the clarinet. This will help the upper register speak.

Make sure your left thumb is always in contact with the register key so that the movement to open it is very small. You should always play with fast air through the clarinet.

You can keep your right hand down on all throat tones to make these slurs easier.

Keeping your right hand down for throat tones becomes even more useful as the speed at which you have to change between throat tones and upper register notes increases.

Play this exercise tongued first to get your fingers moving together. When the fingers are coordinated, add the slur and check for accuracy and cleanliness.

Play this exercise slurred as well.

This piece could be slurred as well. Try to make your tone quality the same between your throat tones and above the break. Focusing on air speed, firm corners, and tongue position will help this.

Always be thinking musically. Try adding some dynamics to this piece to make it more interesting.

Plan out your alternating pinkies ahead of time by finding the Ebs and working outward from there. Measure 3 is a good place to start.

Although you technically wouldn't be sliding in measure 2 by playing the C with your right pinky, it would make this piece easier to play all the C's with your left pinky.

Try using more air on the As to make them match the full sound of the other notes above the break.

Plan out your alternating pinkies before you try to play this piece.

If the rhythm is confusing you, try listening and fingering along to the piece before you play it. You can slow the audio example down by clicking the gear icon.

This piece uses nearly all of your pinky keys. Plan our your fingering in advance. Try isolating and breaking down the more difficult measures before attempting the whole thing.