Play clarinet more smoothly: Bonade Finger Warmups

[@matiasgalarza7386]

michelle... when I was 24 a clarinet got into muy life, but it wasn't the moment.. now some time has passed by and I found my self a music teacher! and now, without any money to pay clarinet lessons I just found your super clear and loving way to teach in these vídeos! I dont have enough words to say just THANKS!!!!!! regards from argentina!!!

[@ClarinetMentors]

Thanks for the very kind words. I hope you are really enjoying your clarinet.

[@gracegorman642]

Never heard of Bonade before. Instead of gripping my clarinet with the force I would apply to an electric drill, I am now caressing it. Much more loving. So it has to make a difference to the sound, too, doesn't it? Thank you. Sending some love back to you, Michelle.

[@christineprowse6328]

Thank you Michelle. I always enjoy your videos and find them SO helpful. Christine

[@brianlittleton4714]

Thanks for this simple technique. Wonderful practice technique. again bless you for all you do. Brian

[@ClarinetMentors]

Brian Littleton Thanks Brian!

[@isaiahcollins6643]

Michelle, I would like to inform you that your videos have greatly contributed to the influence of my good habits when playing clarinet. Which have contributed to me being the top clarinetist at my school, 6th in my district, 2nd in my area, and 1st in my county. I greatly appreciate your videos and the many good tips, advise, and exercises.

[@nr3rful]

Great tip. With arthritis slowly invading the fingers this exercise may help. Thank you !

[@ClarinetMentors]

nr3rful I think this is almost a finger meditation, and helps to really be conscious of how we use the fingers. It may help you to use them more efficiently.

[@daxhopkins7312]

Another thing that helps playing with joint/connective tissue problems; compression gloves and a neck strap (or even a modified strap going across the back to take the pressure off neck and hands).

[@fernandoscavazzaguirado3355]

Thank you so much Michelle. Your classes are very usefull.

[@rosanerio2]

THANK YOU Michelle for the video!

[@georgef1801]

Great concept on training the brain on a slow motion finger action . Thanks

[@Yuppie.Mike.]

Thank you so much for this video I saw wonderful documentary on KZbin yesterday on Daniel bonade. This was a great follow up. I'm going to add it to my warm up today

[@kyotosal]

Thanks for this warmup Michelle and I will try the Steuer reeds. I am still on Lesson 9 and taking a break due to reed frustration. I am on a plateau right now and see an improvement coming soon. Yeah! God bless you........Sal

[@jenspetersen1844]

Hi Michelle: just discovered your site. You're a great teacher! So helpful.

[@ClarinetMentors]

Thanks for the kind comments. I hope you are enjoying your clarinet.

[@robertturizziani1517]

Bonade studied at the Paris Conservatory but taught at Curtis, Cleveland Institute, and Juilliard.

[@inplsartist]

Thank you for this. A friend of mine that is a clarinetist (don't know if that is a word) suggested your channel. My main instrument is the oboe however I have been wanting to improve my clarinet playing.

[@ClarinetMentors]

+inplsartist Welcome to this clarinet channel! I hope you find it helpful. I am sure that there are many similarities between our instruments, and hopefully the videos here will help you to figure out the differences.

[@craigparrott828]

Hello, Another great video, you don't happen to have an exaggerated exercise for lifting fingers do you?

[@ClarinetMentors]

Craig Parrott Not exactly, but the rubber band technic can really help with this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4ixgnxpqNqcrLM

[@jamesgibney8893]

Hi Michelle your tips ate Siper Jim

[@CatherineBurge]

Thanks for the concern in developing a good legato--I am afraid this exercise is very dangerous if done with deliberate tension caused by overextending small finger muscles. The conflict between the extensor and flexor muscles occurs when fingers are extended or otherwise used without support of the hand and arm --I just returned from the Golandksy institute where we were seeing a lot of musicians injured from overextension seeking recovery. Clarinet Richard Stolzman performs for and endorses this institute and its healing practices of movement. Please see the detailed study of this on www.golandskyinstitute.org/ or in any of the videos/youtube produced by Golandsky or Taubman or those practicing this technique. BTW--I have done the Opperman Etudes without any problems in my hands!

[@AlexLoranger]

I'll start this exercise today, thanks Michelle! I have a question: How to prevent a stuffy, or "locked" throat while playing? I've had this problem since I started, and it's carrying over to tenor sax as well. It's basically this nasally "hunh" sound(if that makes any sense!) and produces a lot of pleghm. Also... how to prevent spit from getting everywhere! lol

[@maurifons]

Thank you.

[@adriennecannon785]

Tell us how the "click track" works. I saw John Williams and Leonard Slatkin score "Indiana Jones" with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Wash. DC. It was fascinating but I don't quite understand how it works for the musician.

[@ClarinetMentors]

Adrienne Cannon With the score I was doing, someone had already figured out how fast the music needed to be to coordinate with the video. Sometimes this means speeding up just a bit for a measure or two, and then slowing back down again. Although metronome markings are in the score, the click acts like a metronome to help us speed up and slow down accordingly. The tempo changes are a bit strange, but the music still sounds good. The conductor is very skilled at keeping us with the pulse as well. We wear headphones sort of half on, and half off. That way we can hear the acoustic sounds in the room, but also hear the click. In some live performances, perhaps like the one you saw, only the conductor hears the click. In recording sessions, it is more accurate if everyone can hear it.

[@riccoooljy]

Would it be different if you use this exercise on a B flat Bass Clarinet?

[@brianlittleton4714]

Ha ha on me , the printer wouldn't work so I had to copy it by hand, but Iv'e got it now. Thanks again Michele

[@natlbosse]

I love these videos and would love to ask you some questions about some problems i've been having with my clarinet. Is there anyway I can contact you?

[@ClarinetMentors]

Nattiebee Try www.clarinetmentors.com and hit "Contact me".

[@seretse112]

Can you please teach me how to do a low g?i am a new player and I don't understand it

[@johnparrette8069]

First off you’re going to need 8 of your ten fingers, minus your pinkies. Every lesson has it’s beginning.

[@donames1438]

Riveting video except when I was distracted by those beautiful lilacs!

[@joncraven9434]

OMG !!!!!!!

[@rubengreenberg2253]

tai chi of the fingers!

[@rubengreenberg2253]

I wish somebody had taught me this when I was a youngster. Better late than ever! Thank you so much.