 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2003-07-31 14:50
OK, gang, here’s my gripe.
One of the clarinetists my community band is a competent musician and a dedicated band member. But he doesn’t keep his horn in working order.
Last night at rehearsal, a guest conductor was working the clarinets through a tricky section and found that though this guy was fingering the right note, it was coming out about a half-step out of tune. “Messed-up horn,” the guy said apologetically.
The thing is, he’d told me the same thing when I sat next him maybe four years ago, before I moved to bass and alto and he switched to bari sax for a few years. His clarinet has some bad pads. That didn’t stop him from playing the wrong-sounding notes.
Back then, he and I discussed which music shops he could go to for repair. It was obviously for naught. Last night, I noticed he’s still got a piece of plastic wrapped around the tenon where the upper and lower joints go together because the cork is long gone.
I’m bummed that this “messed-up horn” was part of our summer concerts. It affects the way we sound.
BTW, this guy isn’t hurting for money.
Any suggestions on a diplomatic way to handle the situation?
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-07-31 15:10
Hi,
Have you shared your concerns with the director? Let the director make the decision on this since he or she is ultimately the one that must take the responsibility for the intonation problems.
Don't make this a personal issue of the "messed-up" clarinet person versus you. Life is too short (and CB relationships can last too long) for you be in the direct line of fire.
HRL
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-07-31 15:25
An interesting, all too common, story, C H, can be a touchy situation. In our soprano cl section, we have several teachers giving advice, and our #1 cond-clist, has said to some,"let Don look at it, and see what's wrong", sometimes just a spring loose!! I got caught by our #2 cond., sax, music store owner, who spotted a thin rubber band on my BC neck reg. vent key! So I had to explain all it needed was a bit more closing spring, and I was from out-of -town, and he volunteered to fix it! Will do [sometime!]. I've been suggesting and loaning a Selmer CT to our #3 1st, to replace a very old out-of-tuner, not much reception, tho, I'll keep trying!! My advice, perhaps, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2003-07-31 15:56
Don, I thought long and hard about lending this guy a horn. If he was a student or couldn't afford a repair, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But in this situation, I'd feel taken advantage of.
We're in the process of selecting a new conductor. (Ours is out for a year on maternity leave.) Hank, I liked the idea of bringing this up with the director -- but at least at first, it might be impolitic for the new person to tackle this. But I also appreciate your advice about life being short and community band associations being long!
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Author: Clarence
Date: 2003-07-31 17:55
I'm not sure this guy has a horn problem. Take your mouthpiece off and hand your horn to this guy and see if his problem disappears.
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Author: hans
Date: 2003-07-31 21:26
C.H.,
I am curious about what happens when you are tuning up before rehearsal?
If you know which notes are the worst on the decrepit clarinet, perhaps the conductor could ask the section to play some of those notes to highlight the problem and seek a solution?
I agree strongly with Hank about staying out of the line of fire; i.e., focus on the problem and not the personality quirks.
Best wishes,
Hans
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2003-07-31 22:20
C.H.
This problem is 4 years old, right; IMHO it is not going to go away unless a outside force is exerted on it as this is all about inertia.
Perhaps the wisdom of the legendary Cleveland Brown's coach Paul Brown is appropriate. "If you have a big gun, shoot it!"
Time to call out the heavy artillery. Put this problem in the new director's hands or be prepared to live with it.
HRL
PS A competent musician does not have "messed-up" instruments/tools. I don't think you'd let a dentist, physician, or a carpenter get away with that answer.
Post Edited (2003-07-31 22:43)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-07-31 22:40
Obviously the mom-to-be-conductor had more pressing problems to attend to.......Personally, my attitude is let the conductor handle it and concentrate on your own playing.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-08-01 00:30
This is not a big problem. I know a guy who, for 20 bux, will steal the thing.
Regards,
John
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-08-01 00:30
Small band politics is the number two reason I'm not inclined to join a community band :|
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-08-01 05:20
It's hard to know what to do with somebody who can enjoy playing a 'messed-up horn.' IMO, the best you can do is to offer help and advice. If neither is accepted, there's not much more that you can do. Your music director will have to weigh just how much of a problem it is, and what action--if any--would be worthwhile.
In volunteer organizations you have to shrug a lot of this stuff off.
Allen Cole
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Author: Clar inet
Date: 2003-08-01 05:33
He obviously isn't very competent if he isn't sharp enough to get his horn fixed or may flat out may not have the money to get it fixed. Who knows
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Author: Garret
Date: 2003-08-01 08:17
I agree with Clar inet. He can't be competent or else he'd figure out a way to get the problem fixed. OR, perhaps the problem isn' t the clarinet, but the person, but the person uses the clarinet as the excuse.
On the other hand, it must be remembered that many community bands open themselves up to players of varying ability. I've played in some of them, some good, some not as good. I'm a serious player but there have been some members who were there for the sheer pleasure of plugging tone holes and blowing out the end of the bell. Intonation, rhythm, phrasing and blend were not in their vocabulary. Have you noticed the same nonchalant attitude from other players or other sections? If so, maybe it's time to find another band to play with that is more to your expectations and ability. If, on the other hand, the band is good and you only have one bad apple, wait for the new director to come on board and have him/her be the bad dude to tell Mr. "Nonrepair" to fix it or get out. As my high school band director used to say, "You're only as strong as the weakest link." Good bye!
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-08-01 11:08
I call this the "Flapping Slipper" syndrome...
After a few years of co-habitation; brilliant baking skills, good lovin' and general compatibility will be swept away over the sound of worn out slippers flapping across the floor.
It's the dinky, piddly, itty-bitty irritations that make you nutz.
The fact that you're concerned about the performance of another player, and the conductor is not speaks volumes about where the problem lies...
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Author: William
Date: 2003-08-01 14:55
The book three player in a recent orchestra pit had a similar problem and continuosly muffed an important solo. Her excuse, "my clarinet is out of adjustment." I simply told her that I would take it in (to the shoppe) and get it fixed (at her expense)..... she agreed and I did. However, she still played the solo passage just as poorly as before--but this time could not blame her clarinet, and eventually mastered the passage via home practice. And we all played happily..........................
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-08-01 15:19
A very good move, Wm! C H, is there a possibility that your clist might read our thread??, what a variety of opinions!! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2003-08-01 19:15
William -- BRILLIANT solution. I will remember it.
For all those curious, the note in question is a clarion B, the lowest note in that register, the B above C4. The guy really does finger it right. And because it's that note, it doesn't come up when we're doing our warmup, which is always on a Bb concert scale.
That said, I really liked the guest conductor, who is one of *six* who auditioned for our year-long director's job. Since he ID'd this problem in the first 5 minutes of our rehersal, I think he'd not let this problem fester. We'll have to see how many people vote for him.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2003-08-01 20:50
Bb concert scale is a C-scale on the clarinet so, unless you are playing in odd ranges or not playing all the notes in the scale, clarion B should come up.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2003-08-01 21:36
Jack --
Clarinets in our band generally start on C5 (the C in the middle of the staff, an octave above middle C) and go to C6 when doing the Bb concert scale. The B I refer to is a half-tone below C5 -- fingered like the lowest (chalmeau) E clarinets can play but with the register key. Our clarinet players don't play this B in our warmups.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-08-01 23:41
Okay, okay... if you don't want to have it stolen, just knock it off his chair and step on it.
Regards,
John
supporter of pragmatic solutions
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-08-02 23:08
Or you could send a note to the inspectors that it's a WMD, and no one will be able to find it...
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