Klarinet Archive - Posting 000371.txt from 1997/03

From: Roger Shilcock
Subj: Re: E flat clarinet (fwd)
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 1997 03:46:28 -0500

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 09:13:57 -0600
From: Janis A. Brown <jbrown%SFASU.EDU@-----.UK>
Subject: Re: E flat clarinet

My advice to you regarding playing Eb clarinet is to build your reeds from
Bb reeds and don't use Eb reeds. The sound of the Eb will be more like
that of a Bb clarinet, it improves the natural pitch tendencies, and your
embouchure feels more at home and less like you are playing an other
instrument. All you have you do is try a Bb reed on the Eb clarinet, yes
it will be too long for the Eb mouthpieces but you can cut it off after you
find out how it sounds on the Eb. If the reed is too wide for the
mouthpiece I use a model airplane planer and make the reed narrower.
Voila, you have a good Eb reed and you don't sound like a Eb clarinet
unless you want to.
If you need more advice don't hesitate to e-mail me and we will talk more.
Good luck-JAB

:-------------------------------------------------------------------------:
| Janis A. Brown | Voice: (409) 468-1360 |
| Clarinet Instructor | Music Office: (409) 468-4602 |
| Stephen F Austin State University | Fax: (409) 468-5810 |
| Nacogdoches, Texas | E-mail: jbrown@-----.edu |
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| Web Page: http://www.finearts.sfasu.edu/music/faculty/JBrown.html |
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I heard *bad* things about someone I know slightly who did this... It
seems a desperate measure. Are E flat reeds
simply made too thin normally, then, like a lot of bass reeds?
What happens if you try this with a V12 or a thick Grand Concert?
Curious,
Roger Shilcock