Klarinet Archive - Posting 000611.txt from 1998/02

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: pleeeeease help me!!
Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 09:47:52 -0500

Wendy,
Most people have a preference about which size instrument they
like most. Frankly, bass clarinet is not my strongest instrument but I
**LOVE** eefer. I suspect that you are more drawn to the bass clarinet.
However, here are some tips that should help you.
1) DON'T BITE on an eefer. Believe it or not, it doesn't need more
embouchure.
2) Instead, use a reed which feels no stronger than your as
b-flat reed.
3) The key to eefer-ing is NOT to overblow. It can't be played
with as much air as b-flat or bass. You simply have to support more and
trust that it will project (and it will, trust me!). Don't bother trying
to play more than forte on it. That will be plenty.
4) As for the tuning, I suspect that you have a normal,
lousy-tuning eefer. If it is a Selmer, it will be (I have never once yet
met a Selmer eefer that played in tune). Most eefers tune badly. For some
reason, instrument makers haven't figured out how to make one tune well.
Sounds like a shorter barrel is in order to bring the low notes up to the
higher ones.
On the high notes, I suspect that you're pinching. Remember
item #1 above. We are all taught to tighten up on high notes. This is a
pernicious bad habit among clarinetists and is especially
counterproductive on eefer.
5) In the future, when anyone writes a letter like yours, PLEASE,
PLEASE, PLEASE include information on your instrument, mouthpiece and
reeds. I can't really help you if I can't tell what you're playing on. If
you're using a plastic piece of trash instrument then accurate tuning is
not going to be possible and all the above simply won't help.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax Instructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Sun, 15 Feb 1998, Wendy .................. wrote:

>
>
> My director needed an Eb clarinet player and is having me play it. Ive
> been playing it for about 2 or 3 weeks and he expects it to be perfect,
> because *sarcastically* if somebody's good at Bb, then they'll naturally
> be good at Eb, right?? Well the lower register is very flat at the
> upper register is kinda sharp and all the notes I play sound pinched and
> Im biting down really hard. Can anybody help me?
>
> Wendy
>
> Pluuuuuuus, I have to play bass clarinet for a wind symphony and now I
> feel like Im losing my endurance when I play Bb. I lose my embouchure a
> lot more quickly. Does this sound normal?? Please help meeeee......
>
>
>
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