 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jim
Date: 1999-05-25 13:54
After 30 years, I am trying learn the clarinet again.
I find I am having trouble with a couple things. On
some notes it's hard to get the sound started. Tone
is OK once the sound starts but there is a slight delay
and trying to force it just squeaks. Also some notes
(for instance middle C) play very sharp to the extent I
can't blow it down far enough to get it in tune. I believe
this is a combination of three things
1. It's not a particularly good clarinet. It is a plastic
Bundy bought in 1964.
2. The pads and corks leak like seives.
3. My technique is less than perfect.
Setting aside #3 for the moment, I am looking for any
advice regarding whether to recondition the clarinet I
have or consider buying a new one.
I am sure that if I become serious I will want a new one
at some point however it seems sensible to replace the
pads and corks for the short term. However if the
reconditioned instrument will still be balky and difficult
to play in tune, perhaps it is not worth spending the money
on repairs, and better to dive in immediately and get
a good one.
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Author: mark P.
Date: 1999-05-25 14:10
Take it to a repair shop and get an estimate on repadding or overhauling it. I'd expect it to cost between 80-140 depending on where you live. A new Bundy at mail order price is about $300. It's probably worth getting the old one fixed.
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-05-25 14:25
Good advice. Keep your investment to a minimum for a while until you want to really dive into it.
Also, as has been said several times on this BBS, consider fetching a decent, yet inexpensive third party mouthpiece and some good reeds. This can make a big difference for you.
Leaking pads can make your life really miserable, especially starting out. That's because you may end up compensating for a bad horn with even worse technique. Here's a plan of attack to fix as many problems as possible as soon as possible.
1. Get the horn fixed. Those leaking pads will do you in every time. Again, consider a good but inexpensive third party mouthpiece and some good but fairly soft reeds to help you start.
2. Fetch a month or two of private lessons from a local pro. Even this little bit of help will take you a very long way.
3. Develop a regular schedule of practice. Use a good drill book for your foundation. See your tutor for help in finding a book or a set of books that meet your needs, yet help you stretch a bit. A good scales book or a book that has the scales in it should also be part of your personal library.
4. Make it a point to make it enjoyable. Sure, there will be some drudgery in the dull mechanical training parts of the method book, but you will be surprised at how good you will play after you have practiced the mechanical drills. That's where the real payoff comes. Fetch a songbook of tunes that you like and learn how to play them, too. After all, you are in it just for fun.
If you have questions or just want to check out an idea about the clarinet, feel free to drop us a note on this BBS.
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Author: dave
Date: 1999-05-25 15:58
Good Advice above! I was exactly where you are a couple of years ago. I had my 25+ year old Bundy repadded and recorked at a cost of about $65.00. This with a new mouthpiece (vandoren B45) and ligature (vandoren Optimum - love it!) made a world of difference. I started taking lessons a couple of months ago and find that having the pressure of having a deadline to learn a piece helps me. I didn't think the lessons were that helpful at first, but I am starting to notice a big difference in my tone and in my ability to play more complex pieces. After two years, I am beginning a search to upgrade to a pro instrument, but that bundy is still serving me well. So my advice would be to fix
up your horn and play a while before you look to buy. Your preferences may change as your ability does.
Most of all just enjoy the challanges of playing and be prepared to feel at times that you aren't making any progress. You will tend to make big strides and then plateau - an important fact that I picked up on from this bulletin board!
Have fun!
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 1999-05-25 17:27
Good comments from everybody! I definitely agree that you should get your horn repaired first, if possible, especially since you've played before. It's possible that you're remembering how to do everything right, and it's only the horn that's at fault. A better mouthpiece will make a big difference--you can try some out at most music stores if you bring along your own instrument (oh, and these display mouthpieces are generally for sale at a cheaper price, just like floor models). Lessons are a good idea, or, if there's one available, join a community band that also runs sectionals.
Keeping this fun is the major thing to keep in mind. I'm sure that you do want to improve your technique, but there are ways to do that that are a blast. I used to pick up clarinet arrangement of musicals, pop songs, etc.--the great thing about these is that they're not written idiomatically, so I got really good at making awkward leaps smooth. I find jazz books are great for improving technique while having fun; there's also a book of odd meter etudes by a prof. from Eastman which I pull out every so often.
Welcome back to the clarinet! I'm sure you'll have a great time with it.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-05-25 19:51
By and large I agree with the above advice, but, IF you can find a clar-playing repairperson who trades in used horns [as most do], consider trading for a pro [or semipro] wood so as to, first, avoid repair cost, and second, dismiss any thought that your present cl limits your playing. For me, there is a psychological [sp?] lift in playing one of the best available! I now realize I should have "graduated" to Selmer and LeBlanc [as I have now] and Buffet [as likely I should even yet], long ago!!! Best wishes, Don
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-05-26 02:59
I agree that a good mouthpiece is absolutely essential. The mouthpiece that came with the horn is probably geared towards the elementary school student (who tends to play very flat). An adult playing such a mouthpiece is apt to be very sharp.
Last fall I picked up a Selmer Bundy Eb soprano at a pawn shop. All I had to do was replace a couple of pads and it played very nicely but VERY sharp. So I got a better one (I happened to pick a Vandoren 5RV) and it brought the pitch right down to being in tune.
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Author: Jim
Date: 1999-05-26 14:52
Dee wrote:
-------------------------------
> I agree that a good mouthpiece is absolutely essential. > The mouthpiece that came with the horn is probably geared > towards the elementary school student (who tends to play > very flat). An adult playing such a mouthpiece is apt to > be very sharp.
That's interesting. I have always played with the barrel
pulled out about 3/8 inch (guess) to get into tune. Is this
common practice or just some strange habit I picked up
at some point? My problem now is with a couple specific
notes being sharp while the rest are in tune. I tend to
blame that on leaks.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 1999-05-26 19:50
I believe that clarinets are manufactured so that the barrel must be pulled out slightly for the instrument to be in tune. If they were made to be in tune with everything shoved in, then, if you were slightly flat with respect to your ensemble, you would not be able to correct your intonation.
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Author: Marty
Date: 1999-05-27 20:47
I am going to disagree with the prevailing wisdom. Last Novemeber, I started again after 28 years. The choice was to spend 120 for a complete repad, and more for an overhaul, or buy something decent.
I bought a new clarinet and new mouthpiece. I am really pleased that I did this. The sound is much beter than my old clarinet, the instrument works great, and it is just fun to play.
Look around for a community group to play in. Most of the time they could care less about your skill level.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-05-28 01:18
Jim wrote:
-------------------------------
That's interesting. I have always played with the barrel
pulled out about 3/8 inch (guess) to get into tune. Is this
common practice or just some strange habit I picked up
at some point? My problem now is with a couple specific
notes being sharp while the rest are in tune. I tend to
blame that on leaks.
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3/8 is probably a bit much. Most clarinets are designed to be pulled slightly as otherwise you would have some trouble in a cold room.
The individual notes could be due to leaks or they could just be poor notes. It is not exactly rare for clarinets to have a note or two that are problems. It's not possible to build a perfect clarinet and some compromises are necessary and thus some things must be controlled by listening and adjusting your embouchure as needed. Newer clarinets may be better as they continue to make advances in acoustic knowledge and they find better compromises.
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