Klarinet Archive - Posting 000274.txt from 2003/10

From: "Noel Taylor" <r.n.taylor@-----.uk>
Subj: RE: [kl] [clarinet] reeds for beginners?
Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 12:03:32 -0400

I can remember the first time I tried to make a note - I couldn't. If =
I'd
just put the thing in my mouth and blown it I'd have made some sort of
noise, but I was trying so hard to get my lips in the right places that
nothing would come out. My teacher gave me the mouthpiece and barrel and =
I
carried it round for a week, squawking away whenever I got a moments =
privacy
and gradually feeling more relaxed about how to do this immensely =
difficult
task of making a noise. I'm not a clarinet teacher, but since then I =
have
frequently been amazed, in the light of my own struggles, how often
children that I've let try out my clarinet have managed to make noises
straight away - even managing a crude tune, as Nancy described. I've =
always
believed, however, that my teacher did the right thing in giving me the
mouthpiece to play - I was just too overawed by the whole paraphernalia =
of
the clarinet - all those complicated keys and that absurd sense of
self-importance that I felt when I was holding it and imagining the =
sounds
it would make. If I was a teacher I guess I would want to judge each =
child
on a case by case basis - and as soon as I saw some kid grandiosely =
puffing
out their chest and going red in the face for minutes on end, I'd think =
back
to my own first lesson and whip off that mouthpiece.....

Noel Taylor

=20

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Buckman, Nancy [mailto:nebuckman@-----.edu]=20
> Sent: 09 October 2003 15:39
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: RE: [kl] [clarinet] reeds for beginners?
>=20
>=20
> Buzzing the lips is an accessory skilled required to make a=20
> "noise" on the trumpet mouthpiece. Not so on the clarinet. =20
> There is nothing extra to do with the reed, other than put it=20
> on the mouthpiece and play. Yes, there are muscles that have=20
> to be trained to improve the sound, but the reed, by itself=20
> can do nothing. It must be a part of something else in order=20
> to function. The trained muscles won't appear until one=20
> plays for a good, long while. Personally, I would rather=20
> that my students be able to play real notes, since that is=20
> what they must learn in the long run. To me, playing the=20
> mouthpiece/barrel is like teaching numbered fingers, instead=20
> of note recognition. One has to learn to read, so s/he might=20
> as well start off that way. Every kid I know wants to go=20
> home and show Mom and Dad what s/he can play after the first=20
> lesson. I remember very well my sense of accomplishment=20
> after my first lesson, at being able to honk out three notes.=20
> I could play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" after one lesson.
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> Nancy
>=20
> Nancy E. Buckman, CPO, AFO, Technical Assistant
> School of Health Professions, Wellness and Physical Education=20
> Anne Arundel Community College Arnold, MD 21012-1895 USA=20
> Phone 410-777-2316 Fax 410-777-2233 E-mail nebuckman@-----.edu
>=20
>=20
>=20
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>=20
>=20

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