Klarinet Archive - Posting 001115.txt from 1997/09

From: Jim Lytthans <lytthans@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Eb Clarinets
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 1997 01:48:39 -0400

Antoine T Clark wrote:
>
> I PLAY Eb IN THE BAND AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY IN RICHMOND VA. .
> AT FIRST MY SOUND REALLY SUCKED BUT I HAVE GOTTEN USE TO IT AND I SOUND A
> LOT BETTER. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT TIPS CAN YOU GIVE ON SOUND PRODUCTION
> AND THE LIKE. MY INSTRUCTOR DR. CHARLES WEST WANTED ME TO PLAY IT TO HELP
> ME WITH ME TOUNGING. SO FAR ARTICULAION HAS GOTTEN BETTER.
>
>
>
> YOUR FRIEND
> ANTOINE
>
>

Antoine (and others),

Let me offer a couple of comments regarding playing the Eb. Anything you
can play on the Bb, you can do on the Eb, so I suggest practicing as
much a possible the same scales, etudes, Baermann 3rd Division, Rose,
Jean Jean, Stark, etc. on the Eb (The same is true for the bass
clarinet). Spend some time with a tuner, to learn the pitch tendencies
of your particular instrument, especially in the altissimo. Try to use
the hardest reed setup possible, to avoid playing flat in the upper
range (and sounding flabby elsewhere!). Work for a dark sound... even
more so that on the Bb. The Efer can always be heard, and this will put
you in good stead with your band director. My time on the Eb has really
improved my Bb/A playing, because of the need for finger co-ordination
and pitch accuracy.

By the way, do any of you have suggestions for solo repertoire for the
Eb? I've done the Cavallini "Clare de lune", the Ponchielli "Quartet",
plus a couple of novelties ("Efer's Holiday", etc.). Any ideas, and
sources? And does anybody own/play an Ab?
--

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