 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rockymountainbo
Date: 2005-07-26 13:44
Did y'all notice when you started that progress happened in spurts...kind of like in the gym when you are weightlifting? I just hit a spurt. It turns out I am better than I thought...I was using worn out reeds. Got some new Vandoren 2 1/2's and i am ripping up the upper register and can go back and forth without squeaks. Sorry, I still stink compared to most of you, but I am excited.
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Author: archer1960
Date: 2005-07-26 14:06
Back when I was in high school, I constantly tried to squeeze the last possible hour of use out of a reed, and was always amazed when I finally broke down and got a new reed at how well it played compared to the one I had just gotten rid of...
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2005-07-26 14:08
Isn't it nice to know that sometimes it's the equipment and not always you? Congratulations! Keep up the practice, keep reading and learning, and you'll reach ever higher plateaus.
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Author: William
Date: 2005-07-26 15:46
One of the hardest decisions I have to make as a clarinetist is to part with a reed that has been my first choice for performance(s). Often, I put it aside for one of those times when I might need a reed that I know will play immediantly and without too much warm-up. But then, that "old friend" may linger for weeks or months before I have to make that final decision to relocate it to the waste basket.
There is a real danger in continuing to play reeds that just keep on playing seemingly forever in that our embouchures may increasingly weakening to accomodate the reeds slow failure. And then, when we try to return to a supply of new reeds "cold turkey", we discover that what once was that perfect strength of reed has become too stiff. Also, we may not have realized that our sound has deterorated although all notes throughout the range of our clarinet may continue speak well.
To gaurd against the "too old reed" syndrome, I maintain a constant rotation of reeds in my reed case that I periodically choose from for performances. Also, I do my scale practice on a rotation of Legere reeds that tend to remain stable for longer periods of use. That may work well for you as well.
What do the rest of you do to guard against using a reed(s) too long and how do you make that final decision to say, "goodbye, old friend"??
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-07-26 15:57
Progress does come in spurts.
Also, it seems, stability comes in spurts. Until stability comes (with lots of work), you can't be sure that tomorrow's performance will go as well as today's practice.
I doubt, by the way, that you are the stinkiest player on this site!
BTW: I'm in love with my current favorite reed. She's so much better than the other 22 in my case that I want to be with her all the time. I hate messing around with her sisters. I want her to live forever. I don't know how I'd (I'll) ever replace her. I want to save her. I'm, by gosh, going to use her at rehearsal this morning. I'm going into the altissimo subtly and come back into the clarion smoothly and float away --just like I want things to happen.
I'll cry over the death of this fragile relationship later. Meanwhile, I'm lookin' good for this mornings practice.
sorry
Bob Phillips
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-07-26 19:58
Congratulations, I know how you feel. It's the feel of accomplishment! I was really happy yesterday because I just played this really fast passage perfectly =D.
I was using a crappy unknown name plastic clarinet when I first started and to get the high notes I just kept trying and trying until I final got them, and now I can play them effortlessly.
Keep it up!
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2005-07-27 04:32
Yeah I get that too - it's like there are hurdles, or brick walls, which can be hard to get over, but once you do you can run free for a while... Until you hit the next one! I like to enjoy new progress while it's still fresh.
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-08-01 02:15
Yeah, I just jumped over a hurdle and now am at a brick wall again. Well, I feel like I'm about to hit the wall.... just gotta keep on trucking and find something good about your playing. I just got back from a mission trip in urban Chicago (which was an awesome experience), and I didn't get to play for 1 week so that messed me up a little bit. I've only been home for 2 days, so that's why I feel close to the brick wall.
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