Klarinet Archive - Posting 000532.txt from 1998/01

From: avrahm galper <agalper@-----.com>
Subj: CARE OF THE CARINET
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 00:11:33 -0500

Care of the Clarinet by Hans Moennig

One of the main concerns of the clarinetist in caring for his or her
instruments are to prevent it's cracking.
Cracking of the wood almost invariably happens during cold weather.
The best time to buy or break in a new instrument is during the summer,
giving the instrument a few favorable months to get used to varying
climates under playing conditions.
Air-conditioned studios and theatres are somewhat of hazard to be
reckoned with also, even in the summer.
Here are a few precautions that should be taken during the cold weather.
The most important is never pick up a cold clarinet and blow into it
right away
Cracks almost always occur in the upper joint and being on the outside
of the instrument-not in the bore.
The reason is that this section of the clarinet is nearest the
mouthpiece and the warm breath rapidly expands the bore, causing the
outer wall-still cold, hard and contracted, to crack under pressure.
To prevent this from happening, connect the barrel to the upper joint
and place the joints under your jacket so that barrel is in the armpit.
Five minutes of warming will expand and soften the outer surface
sufficiently to accommodate the rapid expansion of the bore in the first
moments of playing, thus greatly reducing the chance of the wood's
cracking.
Another precautionary measure, both to prevent cracks and to keep your
clarinet in good working order, is to play it everyday, or at least,
every other day.
Many good clarinetists take their instrument on their vacations, more to
keep their clarinets in good condition than to keep themselves in shape.
It takes only five to ten minutes of playing to to do so

This brings up a very important point. particularly so during cold
weather.
When the instrument has not been played for some time because of
sickness,injury,vacation etc.make sure that the rings or ferrules are
tight before assembling the clarinet
If loose, they can be tightened by using paper strips for shims.

Use thinner paper first; then if the ring still comes off, try the next
heavier thickness.
Never use a hammer or mallet to drive the rings on, as this will squeeze
the wood together. Just press the ring on the palm of your hand, finally
pressing it against the edge of a chair or table
However, before the ring is pressed all the way on, the extruding edges
of the paper should trimmed off with a scalpel or half a razor blade
that has been snapped in two.
After this has been done, the clarinet should then be slowly broken in
again- played for a few minutes at first, then let to rest for a
half-hour, and thereafter gradually lengthening the playing periods.

It is also advisable to keep a small moistened sponge or other
humidifier in the case during the winter.
A good place to store the clarinet for any length of time during the
winter or summer is a wooden bureau drawer, leaving the instrument in
its own case.
Careful swabbing of the instrument is a necessity. Have a good swab- one
longer than the longest joint, so it can be pulled out if stuck. It is
not enough to dry out only the bore; the middle and upper sockets
particularly should be cleaned out as well.
Oiling of the wood to prevent cracks is not necessary as some people
claim.
Though it may necessary at times to oil the bore to keep the water from
getting into tone holes, most players, though not all good ones, say
that oiling deadens the tone of the instrument.

This article appeared in the Spring of 1954 in the Clarinet Quarterly.

Avrahm Galper