The ABCs of the Clarinet Ts: Tone, Technique and Tongue I. Tone A. Embouchure 1. Lower lip placement 2. Jaw pressure B. Tongue position 1. Register slurs 2. Pitch and the relationship to tone quality C. Air speed Exercises for improvement: long tones Band excerpt: First Suite in E-Flat, Intermezzo (Holst) Results: improved pitch and tone quality, better projection, tonal consistency across registers II. Technique A. Hand position 1. Left hand index finger and thumb 2. Right hand index finger and thumb 3. General shape B. Going over the break 1. Appropriate exercises 2. Right hand preparation Exercises for improvement: right hand preparation in scales C. Altissimo production 1. Half-hole 2. Rolling index finger Exercises for improvement: high register slurs Band excerpt: Festive Overture (Shostakovich/Hunsberger) Results: smoother and faster technique, quicker altissimo production III. Tongue A. Tongue position 1. Arch shape 2. Movement B. DA vs. TA C. Repeated note exercises D. Moving notes exercises Exercises for improvement: daily tonguing exercises Band excerpt: March from Symphonic Metamorphosis (Hindemith/Wilson) Results: less tongue “noise” or undertones, lighter articulation in all registers, pitch stability