Klarinet Archive - Posting 000159.txt from 2005/04

From: "Kevin Fay" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Something we all Should Do
Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 21:40:16 -0400

I don't know about either saxophones or the rest of the band being too loud.
There is one thing I'm pretty certain that we all agree on, though, as
always being annoying . . .

Page turns. (Hearing them, that is).

If you can hear 'em at all, it's just wrong. Bad enough if the bassoon
player snaps the page next to you - much worse when the entire violin
section makes that awful leaf-rustling noise, invariably at the tender bits
right before the Big Clarinet Solo.

Grrr.

So here's a tip I discovered a few weeks ago that helps a bit - you should
do it. (Or at least think about doing it - sorry Tony, but I thought it
made a good headline.)

I played at a hall where the stage manager had thoughtfully placed a strip
of wide mailing tape to cover where the paper hits the tray of every music
stand (the interior corner of the "L" when looked at sideways). Made the
page turns much quieter, even if you weren't trying, since the tape is much
smoother than the usual rough surface. It works!

This won't make the sounds coming out of your clarinet any better, of
course, but might just help the performance a bit.

kjf

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