Klarinet Archive - Posting 000906.txt from 2000/03

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] questions for everybody
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 20:54:57 -0500

----- Original Message -----
From: <Jubison@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] questions for everybody

> Hi everybody!!
>
> I've just signed-on to Klarinet and have enjoyed reading your responses to
> questions....I have a few questions of my own...
>
> I'm a junior in high school and have played the clarinet for about four
> years. I'm playing on a wooden Buffet clarinet ( i think it's an
intermediate
> model) and a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece. I've been getting a really
irritating
> glassy, shrieking sound when I play the middle C and D.

I think you mean the C that is in the middle of the treble clef? By
standard music theory this is the C that is one octave above middle C since
middle C is the note that is one ledger line below the treble clef. This
puts it in the "middle" between the treble clef and bass clef, hence its
name.

I don't have any idea what the cause might be but would suggest that you get
together with a private teacher to review this so they can evaluate exactly
what you are doing and try to find the source of the problem.

> I'm not sure whether it's my clarinet or my embrochure. Slight adjustments
in my embrochure does
> help the sound. And I don't get the glassy sound every time I play the
note,
> only when my embrochure is in a certain position. But it never used to do
> that before...what do you think it could be?? it's driving me crazy...
>

It could be anything from embouchure to breath support to reeds to leaking
pads to a slightly damaged mouthpiece. Again the help of a qualified
teacher is your best chance to find the cause of the problem.

> Another question...how often should pads be replaced? I'm playing on a
used
> clarinet that I purchased two years ago. Is it time to get them replaced?
>

If a clarinet is properly cared for, pads will last a lot longer than two
years. The best thing is to inspect them on a periodic basis and replace as
needed. If you don't think you can judge this, simply take it in to a
repair tech you trust and ask him if any need replaced.

> And another question...sometimes I have some difficulty getting making
some
> notes respond on the Vandoren mouthpiece but when I switch to another
> mouthpiece (Premiere by Hite) it's easier. However the Premiere doesn't
give
> the rich sound that the Vandoren mouthpiece can produce (once in awhile.)
> Should I look for another mouthpiece? Is there any that you would
recommend ??
>

The most likely issues to address are embouchure, breath support, correct
reed strength for your stage of development, and correct matching of the
reed to the mouthpiece. Once again, a good private teacher can help you
with these issues.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

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