Klarinet Archive - Posting 001034.txt from 1997/09

From: Jim Lytthans <lytthans@-----.net>
Subj: Clarinet assembly
Date: Tue, 23 Sep 1997 00:40:56 -0400

Michael Connoly asked:
> What I'd like to know is the safest way to hold the upper and lower
> sections when attatching them to the barrel and bell and each other.

Good question. As a school music teacher, I really stress assembly from
the beginning (it's the first test I give). Hold the upper joint in the
left hand, making sure the 2nd ring key is depressed. That will raise
the bridge mechanism. Connect the lower joint slowly and carefully,
with gentle left-right motions, so as to not bend the side jump keys,
and align the bridge mechanism. When attaching the bell, hold the
instrument with the left hand by the BOTTOM joint, close to the bottom
tendon, being careful not to bend the rods. Use beaucoup cork grease
(maybe mezzo-beaucoup), and keep the hands always close together. This
is true also when attaching the barrel. No sight in the world more
depressing than a bunch of bent keys. Makes me want to take up
percussion (almost!)

--

Jim Lytthans "Primo Arundo Donax!"
Principal Clarinet
La Mirada (CA) Symphony Orchestra
Claremont Symphonic Winds
(http://www.galcit.caltech.edu/~dooley/csw.html)
My home page:
http://home.pacbell.net/lytthans/index.html