 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Vikki
Date: 2003-02-01 18:43
Hi
I am new to learning the clarinet, although have played various recorders in my youth. Had my first clarinet lesson last week and it feels that I will never get my fingers to cover the holes properly to maintain that sound! Also whenever I blow it my way, I get a sound out of it. When my instructor tells me how to do it the right way, I can't!
Can someone please give me some words of wisdom? I am determined to get this right as I gave up the clarinet when I was in my teens and really wish I hadn't!
Thanks
Vikki
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Author: Thomas Piercy
Date: 2003-02-01 20:07
Go back for your second lesson and tell your teacher the exact things you wrote here -- especially the last sentence.
One of the main reasons you're taking lessons is to learn one on one, face to face. These thoughts and feelings of frustration can be very common and are ones that can come up when you are practicing away from the lessons. If you trust this person, these feelings should be brought up when back in the lesson and can become part of the learning experience.
Hang in there,
Tom Piercy
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-02-01 20:56
Hi, Vikki
You are an inspiration to many of the rest of us who returned, or plan to, to playing after a pause. I'm sure the majority of us returnees can empathize with your situation. I, for one, know your determination will see you through and it will get easier sooner than you might imagine right now... really, it will. Tom's suggestion, to share your difficulties and concerns with your instructor right away, is excellent. It's far better to overcome those things early on than spend weeks or months later trying to un-do poor habits. Good instructors can help you establish good technique far quicker than most of us could ever do on our own.
While it may be frustrating because, let's face it, it is, you can take some comfort in knowing that it can only get better :]
Posts like yours are an encouragement to many of us, though we often just read them and don't bother to respond.
I, for one, Vikki, would like to thank you and wish you many years of happy music making :]
- ron b -
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-02-01 21:55
I'm happy to echo Tom's and Ron's encouragements. While I've had only small gaps in some 70 years of cl/sax/oboe playing, I feel I'm still learning "tricks" of this [funny] trade. Best wishes, Don
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Author: Vikki
Date: 2003-02-01 22:56
Thanks so much for your replies. I am new to this forum and find your encouragement overwhelming. Thank you for your support and I look forward to overcoming the "problems" with my instructor next week.
Don - I have just spoken to my partner about your "small gaps in 70 years" and we think you are awesome!
Speak to you soon
Vikki
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Author: Peter
Date: 2003-02-01 23:46
Hi Vikki,
Generally speaking, nothing worth doing is easy, at least, at first.
Sure, it may be easier, right now, to do it your way, but if you have a good clarinet teacher, perhaps he/she recognizes what you are doing now as a possible bad habibt yet to be developed and they are getting you over to the right way of doing it.
Don't give up, as was said above, go for that second lesson, if it turns out that the clarinet is really for you, later on you won't regret a little extra sacrifice now, at your new begining.
Welcome back and good luck!
Peter
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Author: Johnh
Date: 2003-02-02 21:50
Vikki,
As an adult beginner I surely know what you are experiencing. I also, had problems getting those first clear tones. My first instructor was very patient and gave me the one bit of advice that I try to follow, but often don't…relax. Considering that you are focusing on your embouchure, your fingers, the music, the rhythm, and not to mention that during a lesson you are performing for your instructor, it is hard to be relaxed and enjoy what you are doing.
While we can't see your embouchure, follow your instructor's advice. In the long run you will make faster progress.
Good Luck.
John
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Author: leonard a
Date: 2003-02-03 03:40
I agree with all the comments here. I am an adult beginning student and you just have to keep at it. I am not there yet, but week by week I see progress. I still get squeaks (often seemingly without any rhyme or reason) but fewer as I go. One thing that is helpful is to practice in front of a mirror. You can often see which holes are not completely covered that way. Often they feel covered, but when you look in the mirror, you see that they are not. I also gave up the clarinet in high school and went straight to the sax because that was what I really wanted to play anyway, and it was a lot easier. Now, I want to be a doubler, and I am willing to take the time to learn the clarinet to achieve that, even though it means slowing my progress on the sax temporarily.
Good luck to you, and don't give up. Just relax.
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Author: clarinetgiggirl
Date: 2003-02-03 07:42
I started playing a couple of years ago and I love it. Sometimes I hate it too, but mainly its wonderful.
Remember, if it was easy then everyone would play the clarinet. They don't! They can't! Its hard work but its a really, really good feeling when you start to make progress.
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Author: Vikki
Date: 2003-02-04 15:11
Hi there!
Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated.
I bit the bullet and picked up the clarinet yesterday and gave myself half an hour of playing and reading my tutor book so basically 15 mins of each. I then thought "I am going to do this right" and you guessed it, I did it! Was very happy with myself and realise that everything you have mentioned i.e. embouchure, fingers, breathing from the diaphragm, looking in the mirror, position of the clarinet all matter and when I concentrated on it, it just happened.
What is the betting that I will get it all wrong tomorrow at my second lesson? Oh well, at least I know if I do then the gesture is in there somewhere and that I will be able to find it again!
Vikki
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