Klarinet Archive - Posting 000025.txt from 2002/05

From: "Jay Webler" <webler1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] New to the list
Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 12:59:58 -0400

Hello Barb,

Welcome to the list.

Without looking at the instrument I would first look at your embouchure, air
support, and
voicing. I just recently sold my Evette & Schaeffer and I never had those
kind of problems
with it. I actually liked the tonal quality very much, it just didn't
project as well as the R-13.
I would suggest finding a good teacher and have your embouchure analyzed. I
don't know
much about the B-44 Mouthpiece but I suspect that it has a very open tip.
If this is the case
you probably have a habit of biting when you go into the upper Clarion and
Altissimo ranges.
If it is your embouchure I would fix that before I tried any new mouthpieces
or Clarinets.

Other than that have the instrument checked by a competent repariman in your
area.

Jay Webler
Jay's Clarinet and Percussion
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sabal" <jomalu@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] New to the list

> Hello all.
>
> I had played clarinet (not professionally, but through college and beyond)
> daily for about about 16 years until I had children. I've been playing on
&
> off, (but not in an ensemble) for the past 6 years. I am now back to
daily
> practice and am going to be joining the church choir as a soloist. I play
> an Evette & Schaeffer by Buffet that I estimate to be from about
1970-1975.
> The best I can guess is that it's roughly equivalent to an E13 today. I
use
> a Vandoren B44 mouthpiece .
>
> Here is my question:
>
> I'm having trouble with upper register consistency (surprise surprise).
> Often the tone takes on a sharp, nasal quality (in the A -F above the
staff
> range) and I desire to toss my horn right out the window. I have always
> seemed to have had this problem with this clarinet...even in the years
when
> I was in much better shape. At any rate, I'm wondering if the problem
might
> have an instrument-related component at all that could be helped by an
> equipment change. This clarinet was a huge step up from the plastic
student
> Yamaha I owned initially eons ago, but it seems this has always been a
> problem area regardless of where I was on the learning curve.
>
> SO, aside from the obvious (practice practice, practice and get those lips
> into shape), can anybody give me any suggestions about improving the tone
> quality in the upper range and/or whether a different clarinet might make
a
> difference for me.
>
> Thank you so much for your time!!
>
> Barb Sabal
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

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