Klarinet Archive - Posting 000502.txt from 2004/11

From: Daniel Fairhead <madprof@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Embrouchure/reed-strength/clarinet question.
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 2004 13:06:48 -0500

Hi all,

I have been playing clarinet now for about 8 years, although I have not started taking it very seriously until about 6 months/1 year ago. I took Grade 5 RSM last year, and will be attempting 6 this year. My tone is very "fluffy" (say "thhhhhhhh") and I am trying to improve it. I am using normally Vandoren No. 3, Grand Concert 3 1/2, and GC Evolution 3 reeds. With all of them the sound is fluffy. The sound is better with No. 2s, and with some strange "hot 'n jazzy" 2 1/2 reeds I found in a shop somewhere. But my intonation then goes out of the window up in the altissimo. I bought a new Selmer C85 mouthpiece last year on the advice of my teacher, but it doesn't seem to help hugely. My teacher says I need to buy a new clarinet, that my old plastic Boosey & Hawkes Regent is the problem. But as a new good clarinet is expensive, and if my problem is more from my technique/embrouchure, then the sound will still be bad (IMHO?).

My question is, am I not ever going to get rid of this hissy fluffy sound on this clarinet, or might learning double-lip, or re-learning my embrouchure help? Or is it likely the mouthpiece? Or must I stick to No.2 reeds? And, if I do buy a new clarinet, will it 'magically' sound good, or how much time should I expect to spend until I get it sounding good?

Thanks,

Dan

PS - I am finding the kl archives very interesting reading

:-]<=%ooo8ooo88=<

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