Klarinet Archive - Posting 000362.txt from 1999/05

From: Leanne Heriot <heriot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Intonation Problems
Date: Mon, 10 May 1999 13:10:54 -0400

"Gary L. Smith" wrote:

> These ads for
> the "click" barrels really aggrevate me - I've never tried one, so don't
> know if they're mechanically or acoustically any good, but this picture
> they encourage of band directors walking down their row with a tuner and
> saying "you're flat, click it in one" or v/v disturbs me greatly...
>
> -------------------------------------------

I use a Click barrel qute often for jazz gigs - unfortunately, the clarinet
spends most of its time on the stand in those situations, and then I'll have to
switch and play something on the order of "Sing Sing Sing" or "Begin the Beguine"
without benefit of a warmup. I used a short barrel for a while, but as the tune
progresses and the horn warms up.... well, you know what happens. Now, we jazz
saxophonists aren't always noted for having fabulous tone, but I've found the
Click barrel to be somewhat of a surprise in that it hasn't adversely affected
mine much at all. Worth trying if you need it for a similar situation. That
said, I'll usually use my standard barrel for situations where I'm only playing
clarinet - I don't have the same pitch problems to address then.

I can see both sides to the issue where a band director is concerned - on the one
hand, you want the students to develop embrochure control and not have to be
dependent on tools like adjustable barrels. On the other hand, band directors,
particularly those who have marching bands, or students who refuse to practice
long tones, have to contend with those problems or have an ensemble that
consistently plays out of tune. Can't say I'd crucify that person for wanting
the ideal every once in a while - during a clinic once, I tuned up the woodwind
section in a junior high band and had them play some chords. They were shocked -
they'd never heard what proper intonation was like, and thus didn't understand
WHAT they were supposed to be striving for. Food for thought...

-Leanne

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