Klarinet Archive - Posting 001100.txt from 1998/11

From: "Karl Krelove" <kkrelove@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] squeaking
Date: Sat, 28 Nov 1998 15:23:03 -0500

Kristen,

Several points:

1) Have you had the instrument checked by a good repairman, or are you
guessing that the instrument doesn't leak? Very small leaks in specific
places can make the instrument unstable (cause a tendency to squeak).

2) Have you tried experimenting with reed _strengths_ rather than brands?
The reed needs to be responsive to avoid the kinds of tension that cause
squeaks.

3) Have you tried to notice if you are doing something specific technically
when it squeaks, like playing fast over the break or tonguing a low
chalumeau note? If it always happens when you do some particular thing,
maybe the sqeak has to do with a fingering problem.

4) Occasional squeaks (if we mean the same thing by "occasional") happen
even to excellent players. Go to hear even a major orchestra often enough
and, sooner or later, you'll hear nearly every mistake you can imagine,
including clarinet squeaks. If the squeaks are really only occasional and
not consistent in any way, you may do your playing more harm by worrying too
much about them than by just accepting them as one of the risks of putting
the mouthpiece in your mouth in the first place. ;-)

5) An experienced clarinet player (preferably also experienced in teaching)
could tell a great deal about your squeaks (including whether or not you're
doing anything wrong to cause them) by listening to your playing for a few
minutes. If you don't take lessons, and the problem genuinely bothers you,
find a teacher, if only for a quick help session. If you have one, ask
him/her about these squeaks. Good luck. :-)

Karl Krelove

----- Original Message -----
From: <GrnShirt@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] squeaking

>Occasionally, my clarinet squeaks. It does not have any leaks that I know
of.
>I have tried three diffeent brands of reeds more than one of each reed.
I've
>tried adjusting my ligature. Nothing works! I play and armstrong
intermediate
>model, with the Vandoren B-46 mouthpiece and the Vandoreon optimum ligature
(I
>think)
>Am I just a bad player or is it possible that my clarient just sucks?
>
>thanks,
>Kristen
>
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