 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-26 16:59
Is this possible? Due to my new job, I now have the hours between 11 PM and 3:30 AM free with nothing to do but wait till I have to leave for work. However those are the hours that my household sleeps. And there is NO quiet/far enough place to practice. I have a light sleeper on the second floor, where my room is, and a light sleeper in the basement. And I know the sound travels far enough through the house since sometimes the basement dweller will come up to my room, through three closed doors to tell me to knock it off because he's trying to sleep.
Is there anything I can do to not WASTE this time? My college closes and kicks everyone out (commuter school) around 11PM so the practice rooms there are a nogo.
Alexi
PS - I tried playing piano (the dynamic, NOT the instrument) in my room, however it STILL was too loud for the person next room over. Not to mention, one slip in dynamic or squeak and I'm done for.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2004-03-26 17:58
Would your place of employment let you show up early and practice in a free room somewhere?
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Author: Tom Piercy
Date: 2004-03-26 19:37
sfalexi,
There is much you can do to not waste time.
Finger practice.
"Play" the clarinet using just your fingers, not using air to make a sound; you can practice your scales, technical pieces, repertoire, everything.
You can practice this way with either the mouthpiece in your mouth or just holding the horn -- (I prefer the mouthpiece in the mouth method for good hand position, but this is not always possible or safe, such as in a moving car or plane.)
Best of luck,
shhhhhhh
Tom Piercy
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-03-26 20:10
I occasionally have a day when for some reason the only time I can practise is really early in the morning, and we live in a small terraced house (neighbours in close proximity on both sides), so a 'proper' practice at that time is absolutely out of the question!
I do what Tom does, but with the addition that I do set the reed up and blow, but JUST under the level needed to activate the reed - I find that it seems too unnatural if I don't blow at all!
I don't really enjoy practising like this, but it's better than nothing on those occasions when nothing is the only other option..... 
Joanna Brown
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-26 20:21
I'll try out those practicing methods. And I've been trying to call my job but the HR office is closed. I'll see what they say when they re-open though (if they will let me in some office or something to practice). I recently discovered an indoor locker room so I don't have to worry about the clarinet being out and unprotected.
Thanks for the advice. I guess finger movements are better than nothing. Especially considering that my scales are what I need to work on and get under my fingers anyway. It'll get a little boring not being able to HEAR them, but once again, some 'boring' toil at night is better than just watching trashy latenight TV shows. I hope it'll work . . .
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: clarinerd
Date: 2004-03-26 20:50
Alexi, This may be an ideal situation for you to experience "imagining" practice. Numerous studies show that many people fall into a problem of trying too hard, through concious will power in order fix problems, myself included. Play the clarinet in your head while you are blowing with the air stream you want finger relaxation, body relaxation...etc. But don't make a sound. Obviously the air stream won't be exactly the same, but it can feel pretty close. You can accomplish just as much through this kind of practice as actually playing the clarinet. When you do get a chance to play when it's not the wee hours of the morning, imagine the sound and feeling you were producing in your head before. Imagine how easy it was to do, because you were not exerting any effort while practicing in your head. This helps a lot for me, I hope it will for you too. Yehuda Gilad supposedly used to work at a gas station all day when he was younger and had about an hour to play all day. So he had a similar problem that you have. The people he was staying with didn't want to hear the clarinet at 12:00 at night. So he would do it in his head with the instrument and imagine how he would accomplish his goals. Remember, this kind of practice is just as effective if not more effective if you fall under the "Trying too hard through will power" category. Believe me, I do expect some rebuttals against this argument, but before anyone disagrees, please try it first.
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Author: jo.clarinet
Date: 2004-03-27 05:42
Hi again Alexi - just remembered one good thing I discovered about silent practice of scales: the more obscure ones, especially the minors, seem MUCH more difficult when played silently, because there is no proper sound to guide you through them - so when you then play them out loud again they seem far easier, which is great!
Joanna Brown
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Author: Contra
Date: 2004-03-27 19:34
There's a brass system that plugs into the bell and sends all the sounds to headphones you wear. I don't know if they'd work or not.
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Author: Meri
Date: 2004-03-27 20:03
I used to frequently do slient practice on those tricky little passages in the music. And then there are all those things you can practice without the instrument--figuring out rhythm, finding breathing spots, etc.
Meri
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-03-27 20:09
Contra,
The Yamaha silent brass system would not work for a woodwind instrument because the sound comes out of the last open tone hole rather than the bell.
Katrina
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Author: cujo
Date: 2004-03-28 03:44
You can buy sound proofing material. Or layer your walls with heavy quilts.
I heard people have done this in a closet. Your clothes automatically dull the sound, a few pillows on the door and in empty spaces will make the closet most likely the best idea.
I dont suggest but it can work is to use a different mouthpiece with a very small opening and a very light reed. Makes playing softlyeasy but it will mess up the breathing and pressure.
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Author: ksclarinetgirl
Date: 2004-03-29 06:17
Do you necessarily have to play to practice? I find that I learn quite a bit by listening to and comparing recordings of pieces that I'm working on. I would think that would be an ideal time to do that, as long as you had a CD player w/ headphones.
Stephanie :o)
"Vita Brevis, Ars Longa"
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-29 14:16
Hey thanks for all the advice everyone. I threw on a super hard reed (4.5 FOF) with my cloth ligature to practice at home the other night. That is the most sound-dampening combination I could find and I played all my scales at pianississississimo. Just barely loud enough to hear whether I was doing them correctly or not.
Also talked to my supervisor who told me that he'll talk to his boss, and if allowed, he'll give me the code to the training room where I can practice and not worry about bothering anybody (except if there happens to be a training class of course). He also said he'll point out the 'open' areas of the warehouse. Yes there are people around and it's still noisy, but these areas are far enough away from the hustly and bustle that my playing shouldn't bother anyone.
Thanks for all the help everyone.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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