Klarinet Archive - Posting 000748.txt from 1998/12

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Gas flow rate in clarinet
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1998 13:22:39 -0500

On Sat, 19 Dec 1998 16:46:09 -0500 (EST), gkidder@-----.net said:

> 1) Does anyone know the value(s) for "normal" flow rates, or where
> this information might be found in the literature, or how the
> measurements were made. (Sticking a cork in the bell with a tube to a
> flow meter seems unlikely; I would think it would seriously affect the
> intonation, resistance and everything else.)

Aren't we being a bit complicated about this?

I imagine you don't want the value to a very great accuracy: therefore,
my suggestion is simply to take as large a breath as you can, and play
the relevant note at the relevant dynamic (whatever that is) until your
breath is exhausted, and measure the time (t seconds) that takes.

Then do the same thing through a tube under water into a calibrated
vessel of some sort (I seem to remember collecting gases at school in
this way) and measure your lung capacity (V cc).

The flow rate is then V/t cc per second for that note at that dynamic.

I should say that for me, this figure differs according to the reed,
mouthpiece, and (to some extent) my embouchure and tongue position.

For example, I find that calling a student's attention to the fact that
we can play using a slower flow rate during certain parts of a phrase,
without compromising the musical result, often results in their being
able to realise their ability to play that phrase in one breath. This
can sometimes solve a musical problem for them.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
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tel/fax 01865 553339

"'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none
Go just alike, yet each believes his own."

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