ClarinetMike’s Clarinet Teacher Tips: "Line up exactly the upper and lower bridge keys."

From: 
https://clarinetmike.wordpress.com/2016/08/17/clarinetmikes-clarinet-teacher-tips-line-up-exactly-the-upper-and-lower-bridge-keys

ClarinetMike’s Clarinet Teacher Tips: “Line up exactly the upper and lower bridge keys.”

A couple of years ago, I had a student announce in a lesson that her clarinet wasn’t working properly. After I did an inspection, I noticed that she had not lined up the bridge keys correctly. I lined it up for her and, Presto!, things were fixed! I’ve taken to inspecting this every time there is a similar issue. I’ve been surprised to find that a number of my students are careless in this small, but important issue.

Therefore, let us make sure our students follow the instruction of Dr. Westphal, “Pressing down the rings on the upper joint to raise the upper bridge key, add it to the lower joint with a slight twisting motion. Line up exactly the upper and lower bridge keys.” (Westphal,Guide to Teaching Woodwinds, 5th ed., p. 53)

ClarinetMike says, “Remember John Wooden’s words: ‘Little things make big things happen.’”

[The above is a slightly revised version of a previous blog post.]