Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 1999-09-08 13:59
There are several different concepts of sound for clarinet tone, and depending on which school you took lessons in, other sounds will seem very different. I'm assuming that you may have studied in one of the European traditions, in which the tone is lighter, brighter, and very liquid. This means that, yes, to you the North American sound will seem very dull and flat. I was brought up in the North American tradition, which has the dark sound you mentioned, and to me, this European sound seems too harsh and thin. (This is an instant reaction only; by listening to may recordings of this sound, I've attuned my ear to it, so I no longer automatically view the sound this way.) North American teachers do still emphasize the need to change tone colour, but it's different from the European style, so it may be very difficult for you to hear it. It's a difference of opinion that has lasted a long time, and there are good and bad point about both traditions, of course.
As for your question about whether you would need to change your tone to study with North American teachers, that does depend on the teacher, but in many cases, the answer is yes. Unfortunately, North American ears are very tuned to the dark sound, and untutored listeners, and even some educated listeners, will view a brighter sound like yours as evidence of bad playing. This is most definitely not true, but it can be a real obstacle. If you are considering studying in North America, I'd suggest contacting the teachers you're considering to ask them their opinions. After all, you've no doubt spent years developing the tone you have now, and can be justifiably proud of your sound; there's no reason to change it all over unless necessary. I hope this helps.
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