Altissimo Techniques and Challenges

Altissimo Register Challenges:

• The top note requires advanced singing techniques.
• Use of diaphragm support, airflow, and the ability to pitch notes are crucial.
• Harmonics are picked from the register below, requiring skill in note selection.

Relaxation and Control:

• Despite the difficulty, remaining relaxed is key.
• Strive for fearless and effortless control of high notes. Well-played high notes can be exhilarating.

Jaw Placement:

• To reach very high notes, the jaw needs to drop, finding a different place on the reed.

Problem-solving Approach:

• If facing issues with the top note, examine the note before it; proper support of the preceding note is crucial.
• Just like in life, present problems might be caused by earlier actions.

Fingerings in Altissimo Register:

• Provides a list of basic fingerings for the altissimo register but emphasizes the need for flexibility.
• Not all fingerings work universally; experimentation and adaptation are essential.

Contextual Fingerings:

• Highlights the importance of selecting fingerings based on the musical context.
• Gives examples: a closed fingering for a dramatic high note in Weber’s concerto and a gentler, softer fingering for John Ireland’s Fantasy Sonata.

Inventiveness in Fingerings:

• Stress on being an inventor of fingerings in the altissimo register.
• What works on one clarinet may not work on another, and the context matters.