 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-09-02 18:20
My daughter is currently in marching band, but there is ONE problem. It sometimes rains, and of course, they are outside, and have no means of protecting the clarinet pads.. I was wondering if anyone had a Raincover or coat for their clarinet, so the pads wouldn't swell, or whatever. If you have one, where did you get it? or HOW did you make it? Thanks!!
~Eb~
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Author: Roger
Date: 2001-09-02 18:59
Never heard of such a thing. Most clarinet players have 2 clarinets---a plastic clarinet for outdoor use and a better (generally wood) clarinet for indoor use
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-09-02 19:02
Yes, my daugher does have 2 clarinets, but when it rains, EVEN the plastic one gets messed up. The WHOLE section's clarinets got messed up b/c of the rain..
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-09-02 19:35
Most band directors have enough sense not to march woodwinds in rainy weather. Upon rainy Friday nights I would march brass and percussion only allowing the woodwinds to march their drill without instruments. Usually when it was raining quite a bit we either stayed on the bus or cancelled the performance at the game.
John
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-09-02 19:47
The director has no choice. They were outside at pep band the other day, A LONG way from any buliding, and it started to rain. The director decided to wait it out.
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-09-02 19:56
We had to march in a parade and it started to rain. The only thing we could do was cover up the key side of the instrument by resting the clarinet along the backbone, thumbrest facing out. (It was raining directly into our faces because of the wind.) The brass and percussion carried the band until it stopped. I can't think of a product that provides extra protection to the pads. Wax or something to that extent would be pretty risky to put near tone holes.
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Author: Ken
Date: 2001-09-02 20:03
Not to mention the fact that most HS clarinet bands are on a shoestring budget, students are assigned one school horn, if that, and forced to use the same axe for everything. My ceremonial band one year marched a 5-mile NYC ticker tape parade in the driving rain and all we had were R-13s. The decision was made on the spot not to play and to protect/carry our horns up our overcoat sleeves. Tinkerbell waved her magic wand and magically within two weeks after the gig six new plastic Buffets graced our supply section.
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Author: Won Kim
Date: 2001-09-02 20:25
Even though it's not raining you should use a plastic one for marching.. I have used my new wooden clarinet for the first year of marching and I got so much scratches on the silver keys. I'm using a really bad plastic cla with a plastic reed. I also have broken 15 reeds in that marching season. It will sound not very pleasantly but is a great way to protect your clarinet and reeds. And I think the quality of sound especially for the clarinet (you can hardly hear the clarinet's sound) is not that important wehn you march.
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Author: A.J.
Date: 2001-09-02 20:30
Well, there's nothing you can really do if it rains. You can try to cover it but the pads still get wet. After a performance in the rain take the clarinet home and put in front of a fan, blow dryer, or whatever to dry the pads. This keeps them from swelling. This may save you from having to repad the clarinet.
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Author: Roger
Date: 2001-09-02 20:39
Many clarinet & sax players get a repad after each marching season---even in college
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-09-02 23:05
I have two ideas for rigging, and I've seen it done with flutes with a few modifications.
Rig idea #1:
Wrap the mechanism loosely in clear Curran wrap.
Tape it near the top with Scotch tape.
ONLY attempt this on a plastic horn.
Try to ignore the plastic feeling beneath your fingers.
Keep secure fingering.
This is a pain.
Rig idea #2:
Buy a spare clarinet lyre, the type that fits b/w the joints.
Saw off the clip and add a straight lyre to the rest, making it longer.
Get an umbrella hat. Fasten it to the lyre.
Try to ignore the colorful thing b/w you and your keywork.
It'll only work if everyone does it so there isn't just one umbrella in an entire band.
This is also a pain.
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Author: ~jerry
Date: 2001-09-02 23:20
SIMPLE -- just carry a poncho a pull it out, slip it on, and keep the clarinet beneath it. This also protects the player. Of course this works only if play has been suspended -- if not, there's probably no realistic way to protect the pads while actually playing in the rain.
~ jerry
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2001-09-02 23:35
Well, this is indeed interesting! Since I will never go backpacking because I could not possibly carry enough stuff that I think that I might need - I pack a plastic bag, not your ordinary plastic bag, but a free plastic bag that my grocery store puts out in quantity when it rains, for slipping your umbrella into so that you do not get your groceries wet. This bag is actually a tube about 3 inches in diameter and about 4 feet long - big enough for those golf umberllas. I keep one of those neatly folded in my assessory pocket on my case. I have played some outdoor gigs - mostly weddings that go on rain or shine (I do not play in the rain) but around the SouthEast U.S. a thunder storm can roll on in a matter of minutes, not enough time to grab music, disassemble the horn, run for cover, etc.. I just slip the plastic umbrella bag over the horn, grab everything in sight and run for cover. I take the horn out of the bag as soon as I can and go through the cleaning ritual. Have not thought of cutting hand holes in the bag to play in the rain but - it might work!
The Doctor
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-09-02 23:57
Another option would be to buy a plastic clarinet and repad it with Valentino Green Back pads. End of problem except for drying and oiling the key mechanisms.
John
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-09-03 01:01
When I was in High School we did a lot of marching in the rain. It is very easy to protect the clarinet. Go to the local dry cleaners and get some bags from them. Put the top part of the bag in with the cork where the barral and mouthpiece meet. Tape the outside of the bag tight, not the the clarinet, just the bag around it. Cut two small holes for the hands. Once you put your hands in it pull the bag up your arm and have some one either tape it or rubber band it to your arm inside your sleeves, not tight, just enough to hold it. You we also found lightly tieing the bottom of the bag works good when you have rain and wind.
This is what we did for flutes, clarinets, and saxes everytime it even looked like it was going to rain and in my four years we NEVER had any problems with the woodwinds.
Good Ludk!
Sara
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-09-03 02:22
I iwhs our band director would learn from some of the others mentioned. She has no problem with marching the full band in the rain. We just do it without jackets. (Our red tux jackets like to run A LOT when wet)
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-09-03 06:48
At some stores, like Wal-Mart, sporting goods, even some auto parts stores, you can get an emergency rain coat or pancho with sleeves for about a dollar or less. They are usually thin clear plastic and are folded in package smaller than a cigarette pack (don't even try to put on back in the package). Cut the sleeves off and slip them over the clarinet and rubber band the top. A small slit on each side makes access for the hands. It rains a lot in S.E. Texas and this is what we do for the woodwinds. Sometimes you can't help getting caught in the rain here.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-09-03 13:52
we don't have marching bands. It sounds so American. Did De Sousa start it all? And why the fixation for taking the pads into the rain and wrecking them. That is about as silly as operating a computer in the rain! I can hardly believe I am reading this thread. Why did it ever become part of the culture.
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-09-03 14:52
Gordon,
Yes, I guess you could say the early bands of Sousa, et al started the tradition. I think that bands that march woodwinds in the rain are a very small percent. I don't know any of my band director friends who would march in the rain, but I guess common sense doesn't always prevail. On days that rain might threaten it would be good to have something to put your instrument in as an emergency measure if your band is prone to march literally "through hell and high water" in such circumstances.
John
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-09-03 20:39
I agree with Gordon on this one. I'm one of those who cannot see what marching bands have to do with music.
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Author: Marcia Nottle
Date: 2001-09-03 21:54
You are correct Mark. Sousa wrote marches, his band played them, but did NOT march.
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-09-03 22:45
When a school puts out the money for buses and other fees saying you are not going to march just because it is raining is not always an option. I think marching band was a lot of fun, rain and all!
Sara
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-09-03 23:34
> I'm one of those who cannot see what marching bands have to do with music.
It was kind of an evolutionary thing, I guess:
First, with parades. Parades just got to have music, and they're really nice to watch and listen to. How is a band going to be part of a parade if they don't march? Ride on the back of chariots? That's kind of tacky.
Then, here comes sports broadcast and publicity. Especially high school football. Who gets stuck playing pep tunes? Band. Whose job is it to entertain during halftime? Band. Since they can't have a parade on a football feild, some genius designed the concept of a "Band Show."
Then, some genius decided that this "Band Show" would look cool with different random formations and rotations and marching, like it was military. So they designed the visual aspect of the show, the "General Effect"
Then, they wanted to set score on which marching band could be better. "My band can beat up YOUR band" sort of thing. And since everyone loves a competition, they designed a contest.
I'm sure that this isn't perfectly accurate, but if it wasn't for small things like this, the concept wouldn't have survived and flourished for this long.
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-09-04 01:44
Sara,
It WAS always an option with me. Administators quickly back down when parents are in front of a school board demanding restitution for instruments in need of repair after they've gotten wet. A group (mob) of angry parents is NOT what the school board or administration want at their monthly meeting and I wasn't afraid to set them to it!
John
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Author: Josh
Date: 2001-09-04 03:05
Wouldn't it be nice if marching bands actually cared about music as much as they cared about forming a perfect line? It's maddeningly disturbing how much emphasis school music programs put on their marching band...I attended two high schools (my family moved), quite a distance from one another, and both schools were VERY mb centric. In the latter school, it was THE ultimate focus of the director. Concert band? Oh, that's just what the marching band did when it was too snowy to force them to play watered-down kindergarten arrangements and make pretty shapes while wearing wool...orchestra? "Um, a viola's like, a big violin-y thing, right?"...and that was the director. (I was the concertmaster, and eventually just took over the orchestra because he cared way too much about plumes and new mellophones and way too little about Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky and providing a real musical experience.) Why are the arts dying in America? Just a theory, but maybe it's because music doesn't matter as much anymore as putting on bright plumage and strutting like peacocks in a perfect line...who cares if you can play as long as your flags coordinate with your jackets?
wow...bitter, party of one, your table's ready... :(
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Author: jenna
Date: 2001-09-04 05:44
I don't know about the other bands taking backseats to marching band. At my high school, I feel it's a fairly equal thing. Sure, during mb season you may get a little special attention, but not really. The marching band directors teach middle school bands and ms/hs chorus. The concert band and jazz/rock ensemble are directed by another teacher, orchestra is another director as well. I don't think there has ever been an issue of the marching band receiving preferential treatment by anyone. Even back during the Eitel Era (if you're from jersey, you probably know that name), I'm pretty sure steps were taken to keep all of the organizations as separate as possible. Everyone supports each other, but different expectations of each group are expected. Concert Band still performs regularly - and challenging music at that, orchestra is still held, jazz band still performs and practices.. Sure, that leaves some people playing in 3 different bands on 2 different instruments, while singing in chorus one period of the day, but we wouldn't do it if we didn't love it. How else could I play for 45 minutes in an applied musicianship lesson (on anything i feel like owrking on), another 45 minutes on bass clarinet in concert band, 3 hours on soprano for maching band, then another 2 hours on the alto for my military band? I do it because it's what I love.. I'm sure many others would agree. You just make the best out of what you have.
sorry I was so long.. I got rather off topic.. but I hate to delete after i spent the time typing. =)
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-09-04 09:44
Sara "the money for buses and other fees " is nothing compared to the money for replacing all the soggy pads in the band.
It seems to me the options are:
- The band plays recorders in the rain.
- The band is just for brass instruments and percussion made from waterproof materials.
- The school forks out for waterproof pads, say Norbek.
- Compete in halls.
- Give the tradition a kick.
- Cancel rainy performances.
jbutler I like your pressured stand. It seems silly that the practice of rain-marching clarinets and saxes was EVER established.
I hope we never copy Big Brother.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2001-09-04 14:23
This thread got me to thinking that I didn't recall <i>ever</i> having this problem during high school or college. Then I realized that I was lucky enough to have lived in New Mexico where rain is infrequent. If it ever did rain, I'm sure the clarinets put their instruments in their cases. And if it was raining at half time, which I'm not sure if it ever did, the band probably didn't march, which helped keep the football field from becoming a worse mud pit.
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Author: KayR
Date: 2001-09-04 16:45
I played 4 years in marching band in central Pa where there's lots of rain or slushy snow and marching band is a very big deal. I used an old plastic Conn with leather pads for marching. The leather pads occasionally required reglueing, but never fell apart unlike my friend's instruments with standard pads. The other important thing to do is wipe the instrument down after playing in the rain, and learn how to do emergency repairs in the dark on a bouncing school bus. And, never play your wooden clarinet outside.
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-09-05 00:06
Gordon,
If Big Brother=USA you probably have a lot of opinions. Perhaps I should say a way of looking at an issue "in a different light". I think a good look in the mirror is always enlightening, especially in the light of whatever propoganda is being tossed about. Just because "it's the way that its always been done" doesn't necessarily make it correct.
John
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Author: Erica
Date: 2001-09-05 00:32
Josh,
Not all marching bands are like that, I'm sorry both the ones you experienced were. In my band, we make sure the music is great, then the lines become straight. And marching band is not worried about too greatly past the end of November, when we got full throttle into concert band. The music we're playing for field show this year is amazing! It's really hard, but waaay cool! Now if we could only get enough parents for a pit crew and not have to look all ghetto, with our winds and guard carrying back drops and pushing marimbas...
Erica
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-09-05 01:11
Erica, you took the words right out of my mouth. I got on this topic and now I'm hearing how America's lost a way of the arts?? When did this come in??
I think the visual and auditory aspects are equally important. Beautiful formations with bad sound is not good, but neither is 100 people just running around in random spots trying to design a formation. They'll SOUND great, sure, but no one will want to watch them.
Plus - and typing this on a clarinet forum is slitting my throat and sending the blood, but I have to say it - marching band is a great activity, even to watch. Has anybody took the time to watch a drum corps perform? When they set their minds to it, they make designs and formations that you couldn't even dream of making!! And they sound awesome!! Would we like them as much if they couldn't make a straight line? Would we like them as much if they were badly out of tune? Everything's a factor in greatness, and I go as far as considering marching band a "modern art form."
Don't worry, I still enjoy concert band and orchestra MUCH more.
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Author: Erica
Date: 2001-09-05 02:07
David Pegal,
I too would consider marching band a modern art form, when done right. Like you said, visual and audio must be equally together, otherwise the show is rather hard to watch/listen to. Drum corps do it right most of the time; the big name corps are amazing. I went to a show in Southern California this summer, and was blown away. The Blue Devils (Concord, CA) and Van Guard (Santa Clara, CA) are amazing!! I encourage anyone who is interested in understanding the fascination, and love for marching bands to check out drum corps (www.dci.com). The only downside, or upside depending on how you look at it, to drum corps is that there are only valved brass instruments and percussion involved. And as far as pep band goes, for some strange reason it is really fun to sit in the stands at a football/basketball game and play short arrangements of songs like "Play That Funky Music" and "Mars" (yeah, as in Holst). <|:o)
Erica
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-09-05 05:01
You can play Rachmoninoff (I never spell that right) on a football field. I've seen it done, and the music isn't watered down. Just my two cents.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-09-05 13:47
Were the piano player and string section marching too?  (Just a mischievous image)
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Author: Danette
Date: 2001-09-05 19:44
It is possible to play musically and march. It's not done very often, but it is possible. Some of us were lucky to have band directors who cared very much for not only the lines and visual aspect, but how we sounded musically. We were one of the cleanest sounding bands in our state, in fact we were known for it. But then, I'm biased!
As for the cover for the clarinet. I was lucky. I had a plastic to march with and an understanding band director who didn't have a fit if we tucked the clarinet under our uniform if it started to rain (performance) and wouldn't make us stay out in it (practice). I have memories of running for the building during our practices.
I would suggest speaking to the band director about the solutions being offered here. Some directors are very rigid about marching. When you are at attention, they don't want you to move or do anything. I hope this isn't the case for you. If it is, well, maybe a little pressure on the principal and/or school board is in order. I know my parents would not have been able to any extensive repairs on my clarinet while I was in high school.
D
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Author: sneakers
Date: 2001-09-05 19:45
I didn't like marching band because I don't like my mouthpiece bobbing up and down in my mouth. However, I do like watching and listening to marching bands and enjoy playing marching band music(even though I know I can't be heard).
I moved to a new high school my senior year. The school I attended in 10th and 11th grades had a good band program. The new school left a lot to be desired. We had more of a walking band than a marching band. We walked out onto the field, played, and walked off. Very embarassing.
I too prefer concert band and orchestra. But none of what I have said has anything to do with the original question and I have nothing to add that hasn't already been said.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-09-08 01:49
Anything by Gustav Holst can be put on the feild if its done right, IMHO.
Marching orchestras? Novel idea in good weather. String basses and harps have it out in the cold though. No way I'd march that!!
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-09-08 04:38
Last fall our family went over to the next town and watched the 5-A marching competition held there. We saw several bands work to clasical music with nice, smooth formations. All well done and very impessive. Much better than the crud we used to do.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-09-12 20:57
In Los Angeles, it has been customary to have a small marching band(about a dozen or so) play at Chinese funerals. These are paying gigs run by the same contractor. The band wears black suits and wears white safari hats. After playing hymns at the bier, the band marches down Broadway playing more or less continuously for up to about 1/2 hour with the funeral procession. They march down the center of the street with traffic going by. It has to be seen to be believed.
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Author: copycat12
Date: 2014-06-25 06:58
I'm a high schooler, and I think I have what you are looking for but is a prototype, I marched in in before and my clarinet did not get damaged from the rain. Everyone thought it was cool. I made in myself, I thought I could make it reality for all players. It still needs adjustments.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2014-06-25 07:48
copycat12 wrote:
> I'm a high schooler, and I think I have what you are looking
> for but is a prototype, I marched in in before and my clarinet
> did not get damaged from the rain. Everyone thought it was
> cool. I made in myself, I thought I could make it reality for
> all players. It still needs adjustments.
The original thread is from 2001. It's safe to assume she's since graduated 
...GBK
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2014-06-25 10:41
(amazing thread. Here every marching musician has a raincoat for flute, sax or clarinet. These are readily available at every music store)
--
Ben
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2014-06-25 17:41
Remember that clarinet are designed to get wet. A plastic clarinet will not be even slightly harmed if it get rained on.
In the West Point Band, everyone was issued a Bundy, and we played in sub-zero weather and in downpours with no trouble. When we got back to the Band building, the repair guys would take all the instruments, blow them dry and perhaps put a bit of key oil on the moving parts.
Ken Shaw
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2014-06-25 17:51
On the other hand, also wood clarinets can get very wet without being damaged. Sure, usually they get wet only from the inside, but I've been marching with my wooden VSP without the slightest problem.
The "difficult" part is not the body but the keywork which indeed should be properly dried and carefully oiled (preferrably before a performance in the rain).
--
Ben
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Author: William
Date: 2014-06-25 18:29
If it has not already been suggested, I always carry a plastic garbage bag folded up in either my pocket or clarinet case when there is a threat of rainy weather. If the rains come, open it up, insert clarinet and [zounds]...instant protection. Works equally well for my pro level wood clarinets as well as my indestructible plastics.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-06-25 23:28
" In Paris, the Sousa Band marched through the streets to the Arc de Triomphe – one of only eight parades the band marched in over its forty years.[9]"
Bob Draznik
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Author: copycat12
Date: 2014-06-26 07:55
Ok:( did not expect that but I tried to help without people steeling my product. It is all stitched by hand better than some garbage bags or get a whole new clarinet that is plastic. And by the way those plastic clarinets Will still get damaged because the pads will soak up water and it will accumulate time after time, it does not matter how little you get it wet And dry it right after.
Post Edited (2014-06-26 08:02)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2014-06-26 16:50
I don't mean to rain (sic) on your parade, but image-google against "regenschutz klarinette" and see what's available here.
It's indeed interesting that this invention apparently didn't make it over the Atlantic.
(Btw there are sax rain covers as well - always reminds me of a kangoroo, with their bells sticking out of the grey or black coats) :-)
--
Ben
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Author: alto gether
Date: 2014-06-29 01:13
Just to derail the thread: I took my plastic Buffet to a stringband camp up in the Colorado mountains. I was really really careful to keep the humidifier in my mandolin case full, but I didn't think about the clarinet. After a couple of days, it just stopped working, leaking from every hole. Had to dunk it in a bucket of water to swell the pads up again.
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