Klarinet Archive - Posting 000233.txt from 1999/12

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Orchestral deafness II
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 1999 09:30:56 -0500

on 12/9/99 9:15 AM, William Fogle wrote:

>I posed this question about six months ago, but want to ask for advice
>once again. I experience problems playing in the orchestra when I cannot
>hear myself. In other words, my playing skill (embouchure, intonation,
>dynamics) is lost when I lose my "feedback" (i.e., my ears). Does anyone
>else experience this? I really flounder (easy on the fish jokes!!!) when
>the brass takes an ff, and I produce a squeak or lose pitch. I can't
>believe my playing is so dependent on my *hearing* myself play.

You could get yourself a pair of custom ear plugs to reduce the outside
sound. Someone in our orchestra just recently did this for about $85.

Alternatively, you could use one of those foam ear plugs, plug *one* ear
(closest to the trumpets) and you will have an amazingly clear internal
picture of what you are playing. But I warn you - the sound quality
(conducted by bone from the upper teeth directly to the inner ear) won't
be very pleasant.

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org