 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tom
Date: 2000-03-17 00:47
I am a band director in need of help. My best clarinet player is having tone problems with the lowest notes on the horn. This has only started recently and I don't think it's her horn. Notes under low "A" sound stuffy and have a slight "gurgle" sound. I have had other students play her horn and it sounds fine. I've had her try different reed strengths and nothing seems to work. Could it be the mouth piece? She is playing on a plastic student line horn with the original mouth piece. Like I said before, this just started a short time ago. What's happening?
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Author: John
Date: 2000-03-17 04:13
Question: does she have any trouble with notes using the register key: D - B? If not it could be a chipped or warped mouthpiece, but that would effect other notes. {When I was band directing I had a helpful mom boil her child's mouthpiece!) It can happen that the other players are using more key pressure than she is and covering up a leak problem.
Tom wrote:
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I am a band director in need of help. My best clarinet player is having tone problems with the lowest notes on the horn. This has only started recently and I don't think it's her horn. Notes under low "A" sound stuffy and have a slight "gurgle" sound. I have had other students play her horn and it sounds fine. I've had her try different reed strengths and nothing seems to work. Could it be the mouth piece? She is playing on a plastic student line horn with the original mouth piece. Like I said before, this just started a short time ago. What's happening?
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Author: sylvan selig
Date: 2000-03-17 07:09
Yes, I agree. This is especially true of the fifth (pinky) finger keys. Check the pads and the alignment of the horn as well as for bent keys. My guess is that the pads are fine and there is a minor adjustment problem that is hidden by a stronger handed player. Also check the first pad in the lower stack. This sometimes leaks due to misadjustment or a bad pad as well.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-03-17 11:46
My guess is that there is a definite leak in the instrument that others are able to control by using too much pressure. My guess is that she uses a very light touch when playing which is an asset. Have it checked over by a qualified repair tech.
J.Butler
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-03-17 13:35
J. Butler wrote:
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My guess is that there is a definite leak in the instrument that others are able to control by using too much pressure. My guess is that she uses a very light touch when playing which is an asset. Have it checked over by a qualified repair tech.
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I think this is a very definite possibility. There are a lot of people with strong hands that can "force" a key shut when they play even though it is out of adjustment. It's not a good way to play though as this leads to tension in the hands which in turn slows down the technique and can even lead to physical problems.
So do have a technician check it out but be sure to explain what you want checked. Some techs have strong hands too and what works for them may still be too much for your student. I always double check this myself whenever I get my instrument back from any work on it.
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