Klarinet Archive - Posting 000643.txt from 1997/03

From: Kathi A <kathi@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: projection
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 00:30:03 -0500

Scott,
Thanks for the advice. I think that everything is going to be ok.
The last two days in band class I have able to project *really* well without
distorting my tone.
I'm in the pep band at my school for football and basketball. I take
the cheering songs up 1 or 2 octaves but when we play the arrangments I'm
supposed to leave it. It is pretty fun! Thanks again,
Kathi A

>Kathi,
> Go to a craft store and buy styrofoam balls of varying sizes.
>Just before your solo section, have some friends who sit next to these
>people stuff them into the bells...
>
>Seriously, though...
> When I was in college, I played in the pep band at basketball
>games. I was the only clarinet in a group of trumpets, trombones, saxes,
>tubas, and percussion. One thing I found was that if I transposed
>everything up an octave, no one had any trouble hearing me!
> I understand that in your situation (i.e., "real music that's
>written to sound a certain way"), this is probably not an option...
>So now the REAL advice....
>1) Be confident
>2) Have fun
>3) Don't worry about it
>
> I think that soloists tend to pull back when they're nervous.
>Enjoy yourself, get into the music. Don't be afraid to move (I believe
>that playing an instrument is 60% technique and 40% style!) - since it's
>jazz, perhaps, at points, tip your head back so the bell goes up towards
>the audience (they like that!). This might not increase the projection
>much, but it says,"Look at me and listen to what I'm playing!"
> The point is to have fun, play well, and entertain the audience.
>Don't worry about the trumpet player: if he doesn't pull back, he will
>come across as an egotist who played too loudly and made it difficult to
>hear that great clarinet!
>
>Good luck!
>-Scott
>