 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-11 14:11
Please let me to write a little longer post.
I am 17 years old and I am playing clarinet since I was 9.
While I was in primary music school I had good professor and I had a lot of concerts, I was decent, but in the 5th grade he died, so new one came and I am not doing a thing with him, so I completetly stopped practising at home, I play 2 times a week for 20 minutes on his classes.
That's why, according to me, I suck now.
But I want to change those things, I want to get better again.
So I need some of your advices how to get back in the old "glory". I am out of any material since my professor isn't giving me much, I have few concerts, weber's grand duo, stamitz 3rd concert...
Any advice you could give is very much appreciated.
I want to keep my motivation, but I just don't know how since I don't have any challenge in the school, I lost my passion.
I am trying to upload small video on youtube, so if it works, you will hear how I play.
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2012-03-11 15:00
Musicians can learn and be motivated because of and/or in spite of a particular teacher. It is up to you.
The Clarinet Institute web site has many clarinet pieces you can download for free at http://www.clarinetinstitute.com/pdf%20archive.htm There is a lot of music there you can try and perhaps find something you like and are challenged by.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-03-11 16:22
Could it be that you are "not doing a thing with him" because he sees that you aren't practicing and is reacting negatively to that? Regardless of which came first, you may be in a kind of loop in which neither of you sees any real effort from the other. So a first step might be to get yourself back to practicing on a more regular schedule. The music you mention - Weber Grand Duo, Stamitz concerto - are advanced level pieces for a high school student, so you should be able to manage other standard concert literature. Start working on something new on your own - Mozart Concerto if you haven't already learned it, or one of the two Weber Concerti, for example. Then ask if you can play what you've practiced for your teacher. Or, if he's already working with you on a major piece, take the time to really learn the part you're working on. If he hears the results of your effort and sees promise in your approach, his enthusiasm for working with you may improve.
If this doesn't have a positive result, you aren't any worse off, although it may be you'll need to look for a different teacher in a private lesson arrangement outside of the school program. And the extra practice will have been a good thing, regardless of the teacher's reaction.
Karl
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Author: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-11 20:10
Thank you for your posts.
My professor is not seeing that I am not practising, he's retired, he came in the school because there's noone else to do the job, so he's a bit senile (if that's the word? ), he often gets confused and doesn't understand some everyday situations, everyone sees that but noone can do anything because there is no other person to replace him.
He even believes that I am great student, I mean I am not that bad if tose concerts are advanced level and I have no problems playing them, but I still should be much better in those 8-9 years of playing. In his time, when he was younger he was remarkable clarinet player, but those times are over.
And I will for sure, start practising more on my own and try to get some material to work with, maybe even make my dad to buy me few books online.
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Author: JHowell
Date: 2012-03-12 03:54
Sounds like you need a chamber group. If there are other players, form a woodwind quintet, or a clarinet quartet, or anything else. There is a lot of chamber music available for free at www.imslp.org. If you have like-minded friends you will push each other and have a reason to practice. Maybe even get some gigs and make a bit of money.
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Author: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-14 15:17
Thank you all.
But I have one more question.
I noticed that g1 tone and the F one lower than f1 are little.. noisy, you can hear "air" when playing them, I am not sure if you can get it, so what could be the cause?
In my first grade book it said that I should keep my teeth on upper part of clarinet but I am keeping my upper lip over the teeth there because if I have teeth there it hurts when it's vibrating.
Anyway, my general worry atm is my tone, and my embochure, any tips on this?
I now can't be sure about anything my professor tells me, it's so frustrating.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2012-03-14 16:07
"but I am keeping my upper lip over the teeth"
This is called "double lip" embouchure. Some very good, very well-known clarinetists use it. If you can do it comfortably, it should not be a problem.
"I noticed that g1 tone and the F one lower than f1 are little.. noisy, you can hear "air" when playing them..."
I'm not sure which notes you are talking about here but, if you are talking about the lowest F and G on the clarinet, a common reason for an airy tone there (and actually elsewhere) is using reeds that are too stiff for your mouthpiece or possibly that are out-of-adjustment. It could also be caused by a leak but, if you're not having any problems with the clarion C and D, I'd look first at the reeds you're using. What mouthpiece do you play and what reeds do you use?
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-14 18:01
I was talking about lowest F tone and the G one which you play with no fingers on clarinet.
I am using Vandoren reeds number 3.
About mouthpiece... I feel embarassed but I have no idea, it's one of the buffet clarinets, it has 6 digits serial number but it can't be found on their site using serial number. It looks like Student clarinet b12, but dunno.
My professor bought it for me 5 or 6 years ago, it was 1050 euros so I believe it's probably one of those student models.
I have no problems playing tones up to A3, but I feel like my tone should sound much better than it's now. :s
I feel like such a newb after all those years of playing... damn.
Post Edited (2012-03-14 18:02)
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-03-14 20:07
Uteko wrote:
> I feel like such a newb after all those years of playing...
> damn.
>
Me, too, sometimes - after 52 years of playing.
Karl
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Author: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-14 21:32
Well I found the document which I got with my clarinet, it says that it's model E11 and A 442 tuning, on buffet crampon site there's one E11 that doesn't come in Bb what my clarinet is, and other one that says it's made in france.
My case says france but on clarinet it's "made in germany", also picture doesnt completely match, on my bell I have white metal ring on the bottom, and there's no one on the picture.
So... I really have no idea what I am playing on..
If you guys have no other ideas, I guess I'll just keep practising and hopefully it will get better.
I guess using reed number 3 isn't supposed to be too stiff for any clarinet.
Probably just needs more time, when I played few days ago, first time in long time, I was practising Flight of the Bumble Bee and my mouth were killing me after an hour or so.
Post Edited (2012-03-14 21:33)
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Author: clairmusic
Date: 2012-03-15 03:44
The # 1 thing to do to get back in the swing of things is to practice the fundamentals. Scales, tecnique, and practice verry slowly! The slower you practice the more accurate you will be and speed will come, also when you practice try breaking up the pieces into sm sections as you get to kn the piece. Have you Tryed playing the 32 etudes by C. Rose? This book is the (standered) for tecnique and style and helps improve you musicality. You should maybe try checking out the Fantasy-pieces by Schumann. It's a good piece to practice while trying to get back into it. Gd luck!
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2012-03-15 04:12
You have a Buffet E11 Bb clarinet. It was made in Germany in the Schreiber factory. For many years, (early-mid 1980s until a couple of years ago), Buffet student clarinets (including the E11) were manufactured there. Now that Buffet has moved the manufacture of these clarinets back to France, they apparently no longer show the older model on their website. Buffet supplied a short barrel (64.5 mm?) so that these clarinets would play at A=442. If that's what you tune to where you are, you are fine. If you notice you are constantly sharp, you may want to buy a longer (probably 66 mm) barrel.
The clarinet doesn't determine the reed strength you need as much as the mouthpiece does. A Vandoren #3 should not be too stiff for most mouthpieces you will likely encounter. However, many clarinetists regard the stock mouthpieces that come with Buffet clarinets as being rather poor in quality. A common complaint is that they are stuffy. I don't know what brands of mouthpiece are common where you are but you might want to consider trying some out. Perhaps your teacher or local players can give you some suggestions. The mouthpiece is one piece of equipment that can make a great deal of difference in your comfort level while playing.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-15 13:56
I really can't appreciate enough the help you guys are giving me.
Few last questions, at what level of playing is that C. Rose book used? I might go with that for beginning.
Also, what is some trustful site you guys use to buy books? I don't want to get scammed.
And my professor told me B45 mouthpiece is good enough, any opinions on that?
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Author: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-15 21:49
I just ordered book with 32 etudes and 40 studies by C. Rose, can't wait to get it!
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2012-03-16 14:44
I'll bet you do succeed in improving your playing and regaining your former enthusiasm, because it looks to me as if you are doing excellent things to help yourself, including asking questions. I'm an amateur, but for what it's worth, I like the B45 mouthpiece on my Buffet clarinets in A and Bb, because there's nothing extreme about that mouthpiece. It's just a good basic mouthpiece that doesn't force me to do anything awkward or strange. A lot of professionals use the B45, but some people hate it -- and that's often the way clarinet players are about equipment. What works for one person may be horrible for somebody else.
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: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-17 12:03
One more issue I found.. this things are killing me.
I found out when tonguing, tip of my tongue is actually pressed on the lower teeth and I am tonguing a bit back, maybe on half of the inch of my tongue.
How big problem is this and how to fix it?
Seems like my professor made more damage than use.
So much things I have to fix now.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-03-17 14:36
Uteko -
Your current way of tonguing is called "anchor tonguing." Some great players have used it (Karl Leister and Mitchell Lurie), but almost everyone uses the "tip-to-tip" style. This uses smaller muscles and is, for most people, quicker and lighter.
Note that "tip-to-tip" doesn't mean that the extreme tip of the tongue is on the extreme tip of the reed (as if you were trying to jam your tongue between the reed and the mouthpiece). Rather, the area just back of the tip touches the bottom of the reed tip, as if you were softly pronouncing the letter "D".
See:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=347998&t=347943
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=232370&t=232340
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=6899&t=6887 http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=10250&t=10216
You also should check whether you're making an extra puff of air from your belly for each tongued note. Play low C and rest the bell on a knee, take your right hand off the clarinet and rest it lightly on your belly. If you feel anything with your hand, it's important to eliminate it. See http://web.missouri.edu/~cceric/mclass/index.html, http://www.hartline.net/Baumholder/wind1.html, http://www.tpin.org/pedagogy/jacobs.html and http://www.windsongpress.com/.
I also think it's important to let go of resentment against your former teacher. He can't hurt you any more, and in particular you shouldn't stop practicing because of him. Work on the basics, particularly Baermann III, and keep at it.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-17 15:22
So, while pronouncing that "d" back of my tongue musn't touch roof fn my mouth?
I need to avoid that contact or it's okay?
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2012-03-17 16:21
Please note that some languages pronounce "D" slightly differently. In Bulgarian and many Slavic languages it uses a larger part of the front of the tongue to touch the roof of the mouth!
The way I teach it to Americans, it does work thinking "T" or "D" but I think you want to be sure to think of using a small part of the tongue to touch a small part of the reed. Another non-clarinet action is to try to spit out a small poppy seed or small rice grain with your tongue and that is roughly the amount that should touch the reed.
The back of your tongue should be high in your mouth like a cat hissing. In America we teach this as the sound we write as "E" but again most European languages (including western Eur. languages) this doesn't work because they spell that sound as "I" (looooonngggg "I").
I'll be in Serbia this summer so please ask if there's somewhere we can meet up and maybe I can help?
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Author: Uteko
Date: 2012-03-17 16:50
Katrina I am touched by the offer but there's no way for me to come to Serbia.
There's another professor in my school who is much better so maybe I can try to get few private hours.
I tryed this method and it doesn't seem that hard, I can get used to it fairly soon, the only problem is speed which will need some excerises.
I have some problems tonguing fast tones E3 and F3 but I guess that's because of my bad emboshure, it gets harder to tongue faster as the tones go higher, I hope that's normal.
At the moment I have straw in my mouth as I read that it can help my emboshure. :D
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