Klarinet Archive - Posting 000600.txt from 1998/09

From: "Cox, Graeme" <Graeme.Cox@-----.nz>
Subj: RE: [kl] real subject: breaking in my R-13
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 02:09:28 -0400

Maybe it's because I'm firstly an engineer and a secondly a parent whose
children own a number of expensive musical instruments, that I'm intensley
interested in understanding how instruments can become damaged and also how
to care for them in a way that will minimise the risk of damage.
Unfortunately most of the discussion on this list tells me that everyone has
a different view. The discussion has been fascinating, but I'm still no
closer to understanding the scientific basis of why and how one should
"break-in" a new instrument. My daughter's clarinet teacher thinks new
clarinets should be oiled regularly when new. And I've never before heared
anyone advising against playing the altissimo register when new. Why does Mr
Kloc advise against oiling?

Afterall, a clarinet is just a machine and there must surely be some
soundly-based research material in existence for us all to read. Or is it
locked away by the manufacturers for their commercial advantage? Where is
the ultimate clarinet workshop manual?

Graeme Cox
Graeme.Cox@-----.nz

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ben Stutzman [SMTP:benstutzman@-----.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 1998 12:06 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] real subject: breaking in my R-13
>
> 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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