 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jillie
Date: 2003-06-11 21:11
I have a Scheiber clarinet that my parents bought for me in approximately 1971. It's been completely redone with new pads, cocks, ect and a new mouthpiece, yet my 14 year old daughter tells me she has a hard time blowing into it. She had a friends plastic clarinet and using her own mouthpiece she played it and said it was much easier. Is this just her way of getting me to purchase her a new clarinet, or is there really a difference in the ease of playing one over another? I honestly see no difference when I try.
Thanks in advance
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Author: Corey
Date: 2003-06-11 21:26
I've never noticed blowing into a wooden or plastic clarinet easier than the other. This could be her gettting you to buy her a new one. If you've tried it and don't see a problem, you might want to take it to a repair shop to get a second opinion on it. Good luck
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-06-11 21:31
Since,evidently, you are an experienced player your embochure is probably stronger than your daughters and this might explain the difference
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2003-06-11 23:01
Research and acoustic theory suggests that the material is irrelevant. Some players argue black and blue against this.
The factors that definitely make a difference are the player, the state of adjustment (many overhauls are VERY poorly done), the acoustic design of the instrument and mouthpiece. These factors are HUGE compared with material, if indeed material makes any difference.
Post Edited (2003-06-11 23:02)
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-06-12 01:51
It may be a difference in bore size between the two clarinets. To me, this seems the most plausible explanation. A smaller bore offers more resistance, and a wider one offers less - most plastic clarinets are student models with large bores, and therefore might be easier for a beginner to play on.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2003-06-12 09:16
The plastic clarinets are made for beginners, and do have less spring tension (I played a B12 for two years). This may be one factor. It is also considerably lighter in weight, which is good for young kids. Anyway, I suggest you try the difference yourself to get the experience.
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Author: Bradley
Date: 2003-06-12 11:00
Plastic clarinets having less spring tension?
Have you tried a Selmer 1400 or 1401?
Anyway- I agree with Benni. Plastic clarinets are not necessarily made to have the right resistance that an advanced player would require for their instrument. If you get a mouthpiece with little more open of a tip opening and make sure not using to hard a reed, this should make the wooden clarinet play a little more like the plastic one. I'm not saying this is the solution at all, since this would compromise tone quality eventually if she wants to play classical pieces, but it would help if she really cannot deal with your wooden horn. She might also just want a shiny new plastic clarinet, not knowing that wooden horns are usually a great deal better. Maybe she also just likes the style of plastic clarinet- since different brands have different key sizes, designs, etc.
I hope that is helpful.
Bradley
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Author: beejay
Date: 2003-06-12 13:45
My daughter told me recently that the reason she gave up the clarinet many years ago was because her classmates laughed at her instrument case, which admittedly looks 1950ish. Children don't always see things the way we do, thank goodness.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-06-12 14:51
Two potential problems come to mind: 1) the complete overhaul was not done properly and there may still be some pad leakage occuring; 2) the "new" mouthpiece may have an opening that does not complement the reed strength your daughter is using.
But beyond those considerations, different clarinets will have varing accoustical charateristics which must be balanced with a compatabile mouthpiece/reed set-up for best performance results. (yikes, talk about being wordy) In (more) other words, perhaps the set-up used by your daughter on the plastic clarinet was "right" for that instrument, but not for the Schrieber's accoustical properties. One mpc/reed set-up definately does not "fit all."
I use a set of LeBlanc Concerto's for concert work and a Buffet R13 for jazz and use different mpc/reed set-up for each. The LeBlanc's play diffeently than the Buffet, but the different mpc/reed equipement makes then seem to play the same, so I do not notice a great difference between the different instruments. But if I tried to use one mpc set-up for all my clarinets, they would seem different--and one would seem to play better than the other.
IMHO, the Schrieber most likely plays better than the plastic, but your daughter is just "too used" to the other clarinet and her own mouthpiece. As a Dad with a clarinet playing daughter, I might suggest that it is often most prudent to let them play the instrument they like best and have the most fun with. The serious "stuff" can be worked out later.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-06-12 16:21
William and others make a good point(s)....maybe she's getting flack because she's got an old fashioned horn/case combo. I do agree wholeheartedly that the young student should be allowed to select the horn they want to play.....if at all possible
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Author: JellyJazz
Date: 2003-06-12 18:03
your daughter is right!!!!!! i had the same problem when i moved from a plastic clarinet to a wooden one.
Jelly Jazz
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Author: Rene
Date: 2003-06-12 18:52
Bradley, the B12 definitely has less spring tension. Try it! It is however sufficient to keep the pads closed. As I told you, I have been playing one for quite some time. My new one is a Selmer Odysee. But I also tried the better Buffet models. All were quite a lot heavier and the keywork is sort of more solid. And yes, that is also due to a little more resistance by the springs.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2003-06-13 14:12
Bradley,
All other things equal, a more open tipped mouthpiece will increase the resistance not reduce it.
Jillie,
I don't know your daughter so I don't know how likely she would be to exaggerate to get a shiny new plastic instrument in a new case (if the case is the problem, cool looking replacements are available for much less than the cost of a new clarinet) but I think her complaint could be legitimate. Her undeveloped embouchure may be more sensitive to small differences in resistance than yours is. If she is taking lessons from a clarinetist, the best course of action would be to ask her teacher to evaluate her equipment. As others have mentioned, it could be that the Schreiber clarinet has more resistance than her friend's due to bore size or slight leaks. Or it could be that her mouthpiece matches her friend's instrument better than hers. Or it could be both. BTW, what kind of mouthpiece is her new one?
Since you play the clarinet, you can do a couple of simple tests for leaks in the joints at home. Cover the bottom of a joint
with one hand (or press it against your leg or put in a cork that seals it thoroughly), then finger middle C (for the upper joint, low E for the lower joint). Now try to suck air through the joint. You should be able to create a vacuum that holds for at least several seconds. If you don't get a vacuum or it won't hold for more than a couple of seconds, you probably have a leak. If you get a vacuum, try blowing through the joint (not too hard). You should feel significant resistance.
These tests can find serious leaks but will sometimes fail with very small ones. Sucking can pull closed a pad that is slightly misalinged. Blowing can force open a pad that is actually OK but has relatively light spring tension. Nevertheless, if the instrument fails the "suck" test, you likely have a leak. If it passes both tests, you probably don't have a leak. If it passes the suck test but fails the blow test, it MAY have a leak. In this case, to find out for sure, you will probably need to have the instrument examined by a GOOD repair tech.
A final comment: Even if the complaint is psychological, or the real issue is the relative weights of the instrument (a child may also be more sensitive to this than an adult) or the instrument's spring tension, it can be an impediment to her continued interest in the clarinet.
Let us know what kind of mouthpiece she has and good luck with sorting out her problem.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Clay
Date: 2003-06-14 13:28
I am not a professional clarinet player, but have taken interest in your "plea for assistance", so here goes! I own an Olds, a Vito Reso-Tone, a LeBlanc Opus (I), and a Buffet Evette Crampon clarinet. There are significant differences to these. The Olds and Vito Reso-Tone play with ease, but the tone is left to be desired. My LeBlanc and Buffet play extrodinarily well, my LeBlanc was the only reason I was Concert Master my freshman year. I achieved numerous superior markings on my solo with my LeBlanc, and it is my most prized possession! However when I was in middle school, I tried to play a wooden clarinet (my band director's) and it was "interesting" to say the least! You might try EBay. I purchased both my wooden clarinets there, and both turned out Okay. Try typing "new marching band clarinet", as there were several for under $100.00. Hope this helps!
P.S. Also, if your daughter desires more attention, there are several VERY colorful clarinets on EBay that are student models.
Clay
Post Edited (2003-06-16 20:26)
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