 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: greenmtndoll
Date: 2009-12-08 13:46
I have a clarinet student who is completely unable to play on the Vito clarinet. As soon as I hand her an Artley or Armstrong, she has no difficulty with producing a sound. Her rental company has been over her first rental and finally replaced it with a completely new Vito and she still couldn't play on it. I've never come across this problem in 35 years of teaching. Any thoughts on this problem would be greatly appreciated.
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Author: Neal Raskin
Date: 2009-12-08 13:54
My guess would be that the keywork is different on the Vito. I'm thinking that maybe her hands are just ever so slightly touching a key that they shouldn't be. Maybe a right hand side key. Or maybe there is the opposite problem, her hands might not be covering all of the holes properly.
See if this makes a difference. If not, switch her to another horn quickly before she becomes frustrated and quits.
Good luck,
Neal Raskin
<www.youtube.com/nmraskin>
<www.musicedforall.com>
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-12-08 13:56
She inadvertedly touches the C#/G# key when she tries to close the ring finger hole.
Or a zillion other reasons.
Define "produce a sound".
Do you twist the mouthpiece 180°, you stand before her, she blows, you hold the instrument and finger it?
Does she hold the instrument herself and cannot emit a tone, not even on open G?
Does she have a problem with certain notes only?
--
Ben
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-12-08 14:13
I totally agree with Neal. Something is not covering or she's opening a key. Get her a different make now. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-12-09 15:35
Does she have small hands? I've got small hands and need to be careful about finger placement. I've noticed that the keywork on my Vito (bought used as a backup, after I'd read a lot of favorable comments) and on other Leblanc clarinets requires a somewhat wider hand-spread than I'm used to. It's just different enough from the Buffets that I tend to absent-mindedy fail to cover holes completely, or I slide crookedly on a key instead of pressing it squarely and firmly.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-12-09 15:41
All or some of the above are probably the causes. Or...don't overlook the possibility of peer pressure.....
Bob Draznik
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2009-12-10 01:18
The problem Neal suggests is most likely. But just to cover another obvious base, since you didn't bring it up:
Is she playing all of these various brands with the mouthpieces that come with them, or have you tried swapping in a mouthpiece/reed combo with known playing characteristics when she tries any of these instrumetns, including the Vito? Have you felt any difference among the insruments when you've tried them yourself?
Karl
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2009-12-12 20:34
Pay some particular close attention to her hands, wrists and elbows to see if it is a flexibility problem. Does she has thin or larger fingers ? Check her hand/finger layout. Ask her to check with her parents to see if they have some genetic issues with their hands.
Personally, I am very sensitive to different keywork. I have small hands and fused bones in my wrist and arm which limits my finger spread.
For instance. Playing my Buffets is actually kind of a chore as any time I reach for the RH B spatula I would tend to move my 3rd ring finger. A Correction is to lower my thumb 1/2 inch, which rotates the hand and allows the pinky to get the low spatulas.
I think Artleys are more spread keywork where as Vitos are closer. So it seems an opposite problem than me.
That may sound like a "training" thing to some people but, for instance, I cannot even play an open hole inline flute. I need an offset C/G. (or a plug in the CG)
Other instruments I have problems or can't play:
violin/viola, guitar - left hand cannot rotate enough for the 2 lower fingers to get anywhere near the board. I tried with a teacher to play guitar but it was useless - only my 1st finger and thumb were useful. I used to play cello though for years but that is upright.
To give you guys a better idea of the potential problem. For instance I cannot hold a waiters tray on my palm without rotating my elbow in front of my body in order to keep it flat. Though my problem isn't as bad as two of my sons which are even worse.
Good luck in finding the problem. If she plays fine on an Artley or Armstrong then it may be best just to put her on one.
==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information
Post Edited (2009-12-12 20:36)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2009-12-14 12:02
Have a good look at the actual instrument your student is playing. Some Vito clarinets have been known to have partially obstructed tone holes (flashing left over from the manufacturing process). Other than that, the chances are that she is inadvertantly touching a key. Have you tried playing it yourself? Is the mouthpiece a good match for the instrument?
Tony F.
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