 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Carl Creutz
Date: 2001-10-12 15:33
My daughter is an excellent clarinetist - her teacher feels she may be first or second chair at the district band this year (30 middle schools participating). However, she has asthma which limits her expiratory force and volume. This is partially alleviated by using an albuterol inhaler before playing. However, she does find some clarinets easier to play than others. What should she be looking for or doing to get the most tone out of the least wind: What design features eg bore size; what clarinet makes and models; any tips on technique that might help?
Thanks for the advice!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-10-12 16:11
Suggest looking into mouthpieces. Some are a lot easier to blow than others. You might even want to work with a maker of custom mouthpieces to get the results that you need.
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Author: Irwin
Date: 2001-10-12 21:57
As long as she's not marching, particularly in cold weather which can trigger an attack, the breath control that comes with practice may actually help her asthma. Unlike when I was a kid, there are now many excellent and very specific asthma drugs that can be taken on a regular basis to prevent the occurrence of attacks. Ask her doctor about Serevent and Singulair.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-10-13 20:15
I agree with my good friend Irwin. I'm also an asthma sufferer (mostly in childhood) and have limited breathing abilities with my instrument. I loved my Opus because it required less air than the average clarinet and gave tremendous power and great tone. I also love my Buffet Festival that is wonderful with beautiful tone and very easy-blowing. Both of these instruments would be perfect for someone who is serious about playing the clarinet and soaring above the crowd although hindered somewhat from asthma.
Playing the clarinet did actually improve my lung capacity in a great way. In fact, if you tested my lung power you would probably conclude that I have above normal capacity--you would be shocked to know I almost died from asthma when I was a kid. Keeping those lungs inflated and pushing the air out in a controlled fashion really is good exercise for the air ways and heart.
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Author: Laurie H.
Date: 2001-10-13 22:18
As another asthma sufferer, I know there are days that no mouthpiece, soft reed or anything else is going to help. But I find that, overall, my asthma is much less severe if I practice regularly and take frequent breaks during my practice sessions. If she can learn to play relaxed, it will help also. I also practice with my HEPA filter running in the room. Best of luck.
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Author: Hans
Date: 2001-10-16 14:58
In my childhood I was a severe bronchitis pacient but could play the clarinet, both solo and in a band although I sometimes had to put in some extra pauzes to get oxigen/air. After having quit playing at age 12, at 14 I had my first and only astma attack and was hospitalized. At age 18 I'd kind of outgrown part of my asthma (thank God). Now, 32 years old, I have started playing again. I still use ventolin from time to time and off course do not have the lung capacity of a totally healthy guy. But, I can play and it is fun. I guess it is necessary to be aware of the fact that you have your limitations but within those limitations you can become an excellent player. I play a Leblanc with a 2550K-10M mouthpiece given to me by Brenda Siewert and a Vandoren 2.5 which is really great. I started on a Leblanc 2550-4L Mpc with a Vandoren 3 and this was just to much for me. Just experiment a little bit and you'll find the right setup. I totally agree with Brenda that playing is a very good therapy for us asthma patients. Good luck!
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