 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: marabob
Date: 2003-03-01 02:16
Hello,
My son has an 8th grade clarinet assesment tommorow. The problem is that all of a sudden his sound has become airy and squeaky. He has had decent tone before. He is playing a E11 with a Vandoren 5RV lyre.
He says something feels like its clogged. We have tried a half dozen reeds.
Any suggestions? Could there be something wrong with the clarinet?
Thanks
Bob
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2003-03-01 03:48
Check to see that the mouthpiece has not been chipped...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2003-03-01 03:52
Do all of the notes sound airy? If not, you could try each note to pinpoint where the leak is. If one note is fine and the notes below it are airy, there is probably something wrong with a pad at that position. If all the notes are airy, make certain the reed is wet, look carefully at the mouthpiece for any damage, and make sure there is no gunk stuck on the flat part of the mouthpiece or the bottom of the reed.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-03-01 10:46
One section at a time....
Block the lower end.
Close the open holes by using normal fingering.
Blow firmly but not excessively in the upper end.
You will hear where the leak is if there is one.
There could be many causes:
- swollen pad, from absorbing water
- rust, or other cause of friction on the throat A spring
- compromised membrane on a pad
- loose pad
- split across tone hole
- rusty pivot rod
- over-tightened pivot point screw (on some models)
- bent (hence binding) pivot tube
- a key slightly bent and hitting something it should not
- ......
If it is only the notes using the right hand fingers that are a problem, it can be a bent 'bridge key' (A/D) linkage from the lower ring key, so that the pads involved do not close together.
And of course there could be many other causes.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
