Klarinet Archive - Posting 000788.txt from 1996/03

From: ncrocker@-----.EDU
Subj: Nate's innocence and Dan's... (fwd)
Date: Thu, 28 Mar 1996 12:34:33 -0500

A few comments about vibrato. First, Nate's comment that "it only seems to
come out when it feels like it should". We're not talking about feeling.
We're talking about a physical technique that requires practice and
coordination and the development of muscles. Leave nothing to chance. Think
about everything that comes out of your clarinet. I believe in intuition, but
I also believe in my ears and my eyes and the muscles in my fingers, and most
of all my brain. Sure intuition is good, but that doesn't mean it is in tune
with A440.

I am convinced that the reason many clarinetists don't play well with vibrato
is that they leave it to chance, they don't pracitce it, and it's not taught.
My guess is that it's not taught because the teachers don't know how either,
it just comes out of them when it feels right.

Developing any technique requires thought and practice. I'm not quite ready
to deal with Dan Leesex's comments. Excuse me. Dan Lustson... Pardon. Ahem.

Seriously, good clarinet playing comes from the brain, not the heart, and not
the crotch. Now I'm off to go play Corigliano naked. Excuse me.