Klarinet Archive - Posting 000008.txt from 1993/12

From: Anne Vacca <AVACCA1@-----.BITNET>
Subj: Re: Clarinet sound
Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1993 11:59:51 -0500

HI! I'm back once again. I could not believe all of the stuff that
appears on this network in a week! I have finally finished reading
all of the new entries, and I think that I am not too frazzled to give
a semi-coherent response here....

I have noticed that there has been a lot of talk on clarinet
sound. I do think that your sound is influenced by the instrument
that you use and to some extent the mouthpiece that you use. I think
that the reed has less of an influence. I
'll explain.
I think that most of your sound is generated from your own
personal concept of what a clarinet should sound like. That concept
of sound is learned when you first start to play the instrument. YOu
listen to recordings, and decide what you like from them. Also from
hearing the prople playing around you, and how your teachers play
should act as models for you. When you have a particular sound in
mind, then you will find and use the best instrument/mouthpiece
combination that you can get to make that mental image a reality.
I think that is why clarinets by different makers all sound
different. They each have a sound concept in mind when they are made.
I have just returned from the NYSSMA conference. While I was there
I took the time to try out all kinds of clarinets. Some I likes
oops liked and others I did not like at all. I really like the Buffet,
and Yamaha clarinets. I tried the Leblanc new modles and did not like
them at all. The didn't sound right to me. I know that this is not
based in science at all, it is all wishy-washy clarinet conjecture
personal feelings and such. Maybe the clarinets that were at the conference
were not the best ones. I know that each instrument will be different
even if made by the same company. I fell that I am rambling here. I'll
try to reorganize here....

Anyway- clarinet sound. I really don't think that a great
clarinet player would sound wonderful on a bundy horn. The whole
feel of the keywork would be foreign. I know that my Bundy wonder may
sound better with a different mouthpiece and a better reed, but the fact
remains, it is still a plastic clarinet!

Basicially, I feel that the sound production on the clarinet
is based mostly on the players own personal concept of sound. As a
hard example.. I have just finished my student teaching.. The school
where I was at the clarinets sounded really bad. They had never
really had anyone play the clarinet in front of them. The band
director was a brass player and addmitted that his clarinet sound was
not one to madel for anyone. So at the first clarinet lessons, I had
the players play. Teh I played for them. They were amazed that I made
that clarinet sound like a clarinet. At each lesson I would play something
for them, even if it was just scales. By the end of the student teaching,
the clarinets sounded much better. I think that much of that change in
sound directly was influenced by hearing someone play the instrument
that had a better sound. It also gave then a sound to model, when they
had none. (not I'm not saying that my sound is inherently wonderful,
or anything, or that I had an incredible influence on these students
or anything, it was just am example of what listening to other
clarinets can do your concept of clarinet sound)

I hope that I didn't really confuse anyone here... If asked
I will try to explain more coherently..

Anne
IC

PS- I do feel that this was a rather frazzled message. Perhaps my brain
was fried after reading over 100 messages from the clarinet network in
one sitting..... :)