 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Amy Tindall
Date: 2004-03-28 18:12
If were to tell one thing I didn't like about playing clarinet it would be reeds. Reeds are the tyrant of music! I've never been happy getting a new box of reeds or trying new kinds. There horrible. Anywho... It seems that everytime I perform my reed seems to magically expand and the notes come out so hard. The last two time I have performed for a judge my reed seems to get hard. If anyone has played the Tarantella from Cavallini's Adagio and Tarantella- thats where it really showed. Some of the notes were coming out- my reed seemed so hard. The reed worked just before my performance... But sucked horribly during. If anyone knows a reason why it may seem my reed gets hard... let me know! I need some way to prepare myself for a sucky reed situation... Thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cujo
Date: 2004-03-28 22:19
Moving the reed very slightly on the mouthpiece will effect its strength. With the reed wet lightly push the tip closed so it just barely touches the mouthpiece tip. You will see through the reed to see where they line up.
A higher reed will play harder. Experiment with different reed positions. A very small up or down movement should have a pretty noticable effect on the response.
Of course this is only one theory on your problem.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-03-28 22:55
It only happens when you perform?
Sounds like nerves to me. It happens to me too sometimes. When I am playing and it "matters," I'll be a bit more nervous, and will tense up a bit. This tension leads to a flurry of extra biting, which tires out your mouth. Within a couple minutes, the embouchre is prematurely worn out, and the reed feels incredibly hard and stuffy.
Lately, I come to a turning point about 3-4 minutes into any solo performance (audition, jury, whatever). Either I've tensed up so much that the notes barely come out any more, or I've begun to truly enjoy the piece and have loosened up in time to allow the rest of the performance to go well.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Burt
Date: 2004-03-29 00:23
I've had the same problem EE describes. Perhaps I put too little of the mp into my mouth. In any case, I bit the reed closed. When I start doing this, I open my mouth, push the mp in further, and reset the embochure a bit on the loose side. The damage has already been done, but at least (for me) this stops it from getting worse.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
