Control

Pablopiccasso · Veteran Member Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 204

OKay, so now I get easy high notes to double C and beyond, but my control sucks.

How do I improve control, accuracy between highnotes? Is it just playing arban, schlossberg, carusoetc but up the octave??

Dayton · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:05 am Post subject:

First, something true in any register is that you need to know/hear the pitch you are aiming for. The higher up you go the more important that gets as the partials sit closer and closer together.

Second, you develop control through repetition using good form.

Putting the two together, exercises like Clarke Technical Studies up an octave are useful because they offer the repetition and you know what they are supposed to sound like. Clint "Pops" McLaughlin has written extended range versions of Clarke's Technical Studies and a number of exercises from Arban's Method. You can find them on his website, along with other useful material.

Pablopiccasso · Veteran Member Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 204

Sounds exactly whay I need. Anyone got a link to pop's website?

JayKosta · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:13 am Post subject:

There can be a big difference between 'getting' (hitting) a note, and being able to 'play it' with acceptable sound and control.

If you work on 'good playing' of those notes, the control can be developed.
Playing slow and purposefully will teach what is necessary to have control.
_________________
Most Important Note ? - the next one !
KNOW (see) what the next note is BEFORE you have to play it.
PLAY the next note 'on time' and 'in rhythm'.
Oh ya, watch the conductor - they set what is 'on time'.

Dayton · Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:54 am Post subject:

Pablopiccasso · Veteran Member Joined: 25 Jan 2014 Posts: 204

Thanks. I'll have a good look at that.

Craig Swartz · Posted: Sun Mar 24, 2024 5:42 am Post subject:

I have my doubts that any book will really help your accuracy. If you really have the "easy range" you claim, it should be a simple task of slowing things down for a bit and demand the accuracy out of yourself that you are looking for at the reduced tempi first. Like everything else, it should progress as you practice. (Of course, if you don't insist on the accuracy as you work, you will likely end up playing exactly in the same manner as you are practicing...)