 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-22 16:32
I can't believe that some clarinettists are not entirely clued up on the working knowledge of their clarinet. While technical knowledge or mechanical aptitude may be a bit low on the agenda for clarinet players in the early years, I'd have expected better of professionals who have been playing for a number of decades.
This all goes to help diagnose and resolve mechanical problems when they happen, so they can explain to their repairer what problems they are having instead of leaving all the guess work up to the repairer.
And also having the player present to demonstrate the problems they're having is paramount instead of no information or a game of Chinese whispers from a friend of theirs acting on their behalf who isn't even a clarinet player.
So understand how your clarinet works and if you do have any problems, then take yourself along with your clarinet to your repairer so they can deal with the specific problem you're having instead of being left to work things out for themselves if they're left well in the dark.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2016-08-22 19:59)
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2016-08-22 18:29
Knowing that if you blow test the lower joint and the Eb/Ab pad moves up with force then your spring tension is too low. Knowing the difference between a leaky pad caused by a bad pad and just bad key action (for instance the B and C pads not moving together).
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-08-22 19:15
Knowing the likely symptoms of a poorly adjusted crow's foot (already mentioned- B C pads) or- less common- bridge key.
I actually think it would be helpful for new students (after a year or so?) to have these 2 and perhaps a few other flaws demonstrated to them- as in, "here, try to play this", and then "now try again after I fixed it". Any teachers out there do this? I'm thinking probably not.
20+ years ago someone told me that future church music directors at seminary were being forced to learn about MIDI (horrors!). As in- here's a MIDI keyboard setup that is not working- you fix it. (Typically something like keyboard and sound module on different MIDI channels- very common in those days.) So- are clarinet majors not required to demonstrate similar understanding of the operation of their instruments?
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2016-08-22 19:20)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-08-22 19:48
I'm continually amazed at the inability of some players to diagnose or identify elementary problems with their instrument. Some of these are players of many years of playing experience. I'm referring to problems such as missing or disengaged springs, bridge key adjustments, proper functioning of the crows foot area, A key screw, ill fitting, damaged or missing pads, stuff like that. Often the problem is obvious at a glance. I seem to spend a lot of time fixing trivial problems.
Tony F.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-08-22 19:59
Tony, could be worse, you could be a service writer at a car dealer, I bet they get some dooseys. And they have to smile and go on.
I don't suppose there are situations where- if a clarinetist actually (properly) adjusted their own A key screw- somebody would get mad because they are stealing work from a service tech? As in a union work rule violation? Such nonsense has gone on in many fields for 100 years, and I bet still exists somewhere. I hope not in music. (But in another thread we heard about perfectly good military instruments being destroyed by distributors, so that new ones would be required. Same kind of unacceptable mindset.)
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: pewd
Date: 2016-08-22 23:31
I continue to be amazed at how many private clarinet teachers are totally unaware of instrument maintenance ssues - bad pads, torn/missing key corks, etc. It the teacher is unaware then they just tell the student to practice more, not realizing that in some cases, what they are hearing is a maintenance issue.
I have to keep reminding myself to play my student's instruments every month or 2 - and look for problems. Especially for the younger ones.
I wonder how many end up with lower chairs, in a lower band, or quit, thinking they just can't get it right - when its a simple repair issue. Its not your reed, embouchure, fingers not covering the tone hole, etc., hey, you have a torn and leaking pad, bent key, whatever. Fix it and the issues magically go away...
I really stress instrument maintenance when I teach summer master classes at a high school; including me personally examining each instrument and telling the students about any maintenance issues I discover. Then I hand them a piece of paper with the names of local repair shops on it.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2016-08-23 16:39
Teachers can do a lot to get students interested in understanding and maintaining clarinets right from the start -- not just as a duty but because this stuff is fascinating. My grammar school band teacher started that process with kids who hadn't even joined the band yet, when he brought some band students into a sort of "petting zoo" in the regular school classroom to demonstrate instruments and encourage kids to sign up. I can't remember any more exactly what he said, but his own enthusiasm was contagious as he showed us how wind instruments work.
I think a high percentage of those of us who signed up to learn clarinet were tinker-geeks in the making. (No accident that although I always sort of knew I'd write stuff, my favorite math class was geometry and, for work that paid a whole lot better than the writing, I ended up as a stained-glass designer-builder-restorer. One of the other clari-nuts grew up to be a physicist.) We loved finding out how all those mechanisms fit together and our teacher loved demonstrating that stuff and showing us how to take care of our instruments.
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: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-23 17:02
Only if someone has the aptitude for it, then they should be allowed to take a screwdriver to their clarinet to tighten up the odd loose screw, remove a key to replace a key cork or do any basic adjustments (such as setting the throat G# adjusting screw).
But no more than that for the average player. Only when pads, springs or tenon corks need replacing should they leave that to the professionals as a lot of harm can come to instruments that have had DIY jobs done to them.
If a player shows no mechanical reasoning, then best keep things simple but give them the correct vocabulary and terms to use so they can explain the problems they're having.
While there are a lot of technical terms that may go over the heads of some, an annotated diagram of the various parts will help communication between player and repairer.
The last thing a repairer wants to be faced with is a vague comment of 'B doesn't play' - which B do you mean and what are you getting instead? It will also help greatly if the player is present to demonstrate the problem they're having wherever possible, so then that problem is pinpointed and then sorted.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2016-08-24 20:08
I've saved myself many £s from doing the odd job here and there over the years including fixing a crack which re-opened after a pro originally filled it. It's been fine ever since.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2016-08-24 22:08
When I was a teen, armed only with the knowledge that the screws had to go back into the same places, I took almost all of the keys off of my R13.
Got 'em back on too with no leaks, etc.
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2016-08-24 22:25
Each year I remove all the keys and check or clean out the tone holes. It's not rocket science, but let me tell you, those needle springs are sharp.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2016-08-24 22:27
I have bought several unplayable instruments from sellers whose son/daughter had quit playing. It is tragic.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-08-24 22:35
Boehm system Clarinets have perhaps the simplest keywork of the major woodwind instruments, so are a good introduction instrument for anyone wanting to get started doing woodwind repairs from the most basic right up to the most advanced.
While some education authorities send their teachers on courses to learn basic woodwind repairs, the work carried out is only as good as the person's aptitude to the task their faced with.
If you want to get your way around basic clarinet repairs, then a decent quality instrument is best to learn on and more rewarding as opposed to a cheap Chinese one that will have all manner of factory defects.
But in any case if you find you're getting well in over your head, seek professional advice or help.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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