Klarinet Archive - Posting 000533.txt from 1998/09

From: Ben Stutzman <benstutzman@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] real subject: breaking in my R-13
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 20:06:18 -0400

I wasn't very clear in my original post. I'm not really concerned about
my clarinet cracking. I do swab it thoroughly and clean out the tone
holes. I was never planning to oil it. My REAL question was breaking
it in. My teacher seems to think playing so it doesn't crack is not an
issue. Who cares if you can play the crap out of a horn and it doesn't
crack. It has to be broken in correctly - tuning in mind. The wood has
to get use to vibrating and making sound. Playing altissimo from the
beginning is NOT how to do this. I asked her about playing altissimo
and she said, "No, no, don't ruin it." Start in the low register and
add time/notes as you progress. This is what I think she means. Maybe
she's crazy. Maybe I'm crazy. I don't care, I just want an awesome
clarinet.

***I was curious if anyone else does this or if there is a better
explanation for why you do this.***

Thanks again,
__________
Ben Stutzman
benstutzman@-----.net

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