Klarinet Archive - Posting 000604.txt from 1997/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Am I sharp?
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 22:52:02 -0400

On Tue, 14 Oct 1997, Kenneth M Caputo wrote:

> One thing that I have noticed on this list is that when there is a
> problem with someones playing, the blame goes to the equipment.
[snip]
> When you say "my mouthpeice is sharp" ect.
> that is one of the worst excuses.

I must respectfully disagree with Mr. Caputo. I have found many, many
mouthpieces to be the problem. It was not until I switched to a Pyne
mouthpiece that my intonation dropped (finally......in the undergraduate
years!), and, at times, it was actually low. I still play at
440....always have since the switch. Many students have had pleasing
results with mouthpiece switches. Please try not to make a general
statement such as the one above......it reduces the credibility of the
first statement....which, I believe, is quite noteworthy!

Furthermore, I feel that the biggest
> problem in young clarinetists today is tone production. A monkey can be
> taught tecnique but try to teach him/ her tone. Do you think that people
> like: L Combs, A Gigliotti, G Silfies (sp)?, R. Morales, L. Kitt, B.
> Crowley, E. Daniels, R.DeKant. E. Eban and many others who have become
> accomplished clarinetists would ever say to a conductor "Sorry, my
> mouthpeice is sharp, my barrel is not cut to the bore I like and my horn
> has not been fit with the correct pads yet."

Actually, they have, and they did change equipment. Larry Combs plays on
a specially handcrafted mouthpiece....not a stock Blayman, (Even
Combs!!!), etc.

NO these individuals could
> make a horn sound good because they all spent time in the practice rooms
> to make the horn sound good. Give Gigliotti a Buffet instead of a Selmer,
> and a stock mouthpeice and I will bet you that he and the others that I
> have listed will be able to produce a sound that will be pleasant and in
> tune.

The issue is often one of how hard you wish to work to get it to play in
tune. Gigliotti's brand mouthpiece is a good example of one that is
pitched lower than any of the following: Combs, Marcellus, Blayman. I
can get them to play in tune by pulling and by reducing pressure, but why
should we have to work so hard??

A new "toy" for the horn is not the answer. Practice, time and most
> of all PATIENCE is a huge chunk of the answer.

Good advice, if not a bit too general. The person who posted however may
have a very big problem with all that you have said. However, many people
play quite well and with little biting, and solving the "sharp" playing is
often as easy as finding another mouthpiece.

Respectfully submitted,

Roger Garrett
Prof. Clarinet
IWU

   
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