Klarinet Archive - Posting 000019.txt from 2001/02

From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: subtones and Bob Macdonald, Repair Wizard
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2001 21:20:14 -0500

Don, I was the one originally asking about subtones. First, I'd like to thank
all those who have taken the time to make suggestions. I appreciate all the
help I can get! I've received several different directions to pursue, all of
which I will follow up. My own teacher has suggested that my tongue is
touching the reed too strongly and has suggested tongueing with "the", just
the slightest brush of the tongue against the reed. I've realized it happens
only on the initial release of air, not throughout the note. Greg Smith
kindly wrote me saying "Somehow your pressure point on the reed is coming up
short or is too high towards the tip. OR that you are not keeping constant
pressure on the reed with the jaw and allowing it to either back away from the
reed or to "creep up" so to speak towards the tip." Greg is a great
clarinetist and his help is most appreciated. Others, like you, Don, and
Morrie Backun, a good friend and repairman here in Vancouver have suggested I
look at the actual mechanics of my instrument, which I intend to do, asap.

This brings me to my next point, which is that master instrument wizard and
simply amazing/creative repairman, Bob Macdonald (here in Vancouver) has
suffered a stroke and has been off work for a month or more. Bob is a
thoroughly nice guy as well as a superior instrument diagnostician and
repairman. We're all hoping and praying that he makes a complete and speedy
recovery. If anyone would care to send him a get well card or good wishes,
Bob's email address is bob@-----. or his shop's address is
Macdonald Music, 4741 Hastings Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 2K8, Canada.

Thanks to all!
Audrey

Don Yungkurth wrote:

> I've lost track of who asked the original question about subtones on the
> notes directly above the staff. In previous discussions of this problem,
> the suggestion was made that one possible cause could be that the register
> key opens too far. I've heard the suggestion that the register key
> should open to about the thickness of a nickel coin, roughly 1/16 inch or
> 1.5 mm.
>
> I had the subtone problem on my Eb soprano and greatly reduced the severity
> by minimizing the opening of the register key.
>
> Don Yungkurth (clarinet@-----.net)
>
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