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 Common Beginner Mistakes - And how to prevent / correct them?
Author: Ranstedt 
Date:   2019-06-01 23:21

Hello everyone.

I think a topic like this would be very useful to any beginner clarinetist, or more seasoned clarinetist's that might have somehow gone down a bad path and developed bad habits.

Please share what you think are common mistakes and how to prevent / correct them.

Thanks



Post Edited (2019-06-03 01:54)

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 Re: Common Beginner Mistakes - And how to prevent / correct them?
Author: Ken Lagace 
Date:   2019-06-01 23:43

If you have no-one to help, breaking things will be the 1st mistakes. Reeds will break easily, and when assembling the two center sections they have to be put together properly. There is a linkage between them and improper assembly will bent one of the linkages, although the student clarinets are made pretty strong. The proper way is to put your right knuckles over the long rod on the longer piece and the left hand fingers over the rings on the shorter piece. The right hand prevents raising the lower connection lever and the left hand raises the upper lever so they won't bind. Then line them up so they interact together.
Also be careful of the mouthpiece. Any dings on the rail, the curved flat part around the rectangular hole, will cause squeaks, or may not let the reed vibrate properly at all.

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 Re: Common Beginner Mistakes - And how to prevent / correct them?
Author: kdk 
Date:   2019-06-01 23:53

The absolutely most common mistake many adult clarinet beginners make, IMO, is to to make the very beginning steps a DIY project. You don't need to spend a fortune on lessons nor do you need to continue them once you're on a path you're comfortable with. But there is real value in having someone who plays the clarinet at some level of accomplishment get you started with playable reeds, with an embouchure, however basic, that will at least not interfere with tone production and an approach to articulation ("tonguing") that will not need to be undone later.

So, my advice on what *to* do - to prevent at least the most basic of the other possible mistakes you might make along the way - is to set up a couple of lessons with a competent teacher. A local school band teacher, if one is willing, or even a friend who plays clarinet in a community band (someone must have made you think of trying the clarinet to begin with).

After that, if you want to do it yourself, experiment away and ask someone for help when you need to, or make the lesson arrangement longer-term if you find it useful and within your budget and scheduling needs.

Karl

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 Re: Common Beginner Mistakes - And how to prevent / correct them?
Author: pewd 
Date:   2019-06-02 03:27

Yes, what Karl said.

Trying to do it yourself is the biggest mistake you can make.
Find a good private teacher to train and guide you.

- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas

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 Re: Common Beginner Mistakes - And how to prevent / correct them?
Author: crusius 
Date:   2019-06-02 07:16

As an adult student who took way too long to start taking lessons, let me add to the chorus: find a teacher. Not getting one from the start was by far my biggest clarinet mistake.

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 Re: Common Beginner Mistakes - And how to prevent / correct them?
Author: johng 2017
Date:   2019-06-03 00:43

For adult beginners, the biggest mistake is to become frustrated when learning doesn't come fast enough for them. It just takes time to establish all the details to sound good and play music you want to play.

John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com

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 Re: Common Beginner Mistakes - And how to prevent / correct them?
Author: Tom H 
Date:   2019-06-03 01:10

When not covering the left hand thumb hole, don't rest your thumb on the clarinet. Keep it "hovering" over (under, you know) the hole.

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Post Edited (2019-06-03 01:11)

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