 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Joe Cool
Date: 2003-11-29 02:07
for where I'm at? The "Concert by Jewel". I'm just wondering, because I got this mouthpiece over 3 months ago, and it hasn't really been performing as well as the $80 price tag it had, even if I really suck that much. It felt good on my mouth when I got it, but that's basically all its good for, lol, j/k. It's OK, just want an honest opinion on what I should really have at this point of "clarinet-ism",lol. So you see, it's not just about the mouthpiece now.
1. I've been playing the clarinet for over 3 1/2 years. I am currently 3rd Clarinet (7th chair) in Symphonic (2nd best) Band at my high school. Our school is the best in the county (musically, and academically, but that's a different story altogether), and I think I'm playing OK for my age (15).
2. I've NEVER had lessons, but I've been trying to get the parents to get me some.
3. No method books either... but I should be getting some tomorrow, hopefully :P
4. I, personally, don't think I'm that good, but I'm striving to be the best. I mean, seeing a freshman clarinet make ALL-STATE really pisses me off, and I want to be at that level someday.. and soon. I can play all of my scales (all 12 major scales) and about 4 - 6 double octave. See... I'm not all that good.
5. I've only had ONE clarinet. ONE. A Selmer plastic one. I know I'll NEVER be able to make Wind Ensemble with a plastic Selmer clarinet, lol. Should I have a better clarinet at this point?
Any more questions... shoot 'em at me.
I'm just really concerned with where I should be now... :S I want to be the best.. but I dunno if I'll ever be there.
~ Joe Cool
Post Edited (2003-11-29 02:08)
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Author: Mark P. Jasuta
Date: 2003-11-29 02:43
Joe,
Where are you at? Lost, from where I'm standing. To find your way, you need a minimum of 3 things,
1) A teacher, it could be your band teacher if they have the time to spend with you or better yet, a private one.
2) A good method book to help develope your skills. I (and most of us on the board) recommend Baermann III.
3) Willingness to put in as much effort as that freshman that made All-State.
Any questions?
Regards
Mark
Post Edited (2003-11-29 02:49)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-11-29 03:11
Joe...Sorry to be blunt about my answer, but without any formal method books and a teacher for the first 3 1/2 years you have been playing, you have a bit of catching up to do.
It is also possible you have developed a number of playing habits which may now need to be undone.
Even if you cannot afford regular weekly lessons, take a few lessons with the best clarinet instructor in your area, just to put you back on the right path and to check that all essentials (embouchure, tonguing, technique, fingerings, etc...) have no serious flaws.
I would worry less about the equipment you now have and more on a dedicated course of study.
I have had students make great progress while playing on a Bundy clarinet with a Selmer Goldentone mouthpiece. I have had others do essentially nothing with an R-13 and a $200 custom mouthpiece.
It all depends on how hard you are willing to work and how bad you want it...GBK
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2003-11-29 03:32
Joe...
Where you at?? You near a city? maybe if your parents can't afford a professional clarinetist, you can find an older college student to help you out? Maybe that freshman who made all state has a good teacher. Do some hw...see who the best people in your area study with. You seem to have the drive. Now you need someone to point you in the right direction.
Good luck!!
Gretchen
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Author: Joe Cool
Date: 2003-11-29 04:29
I figured, as all would say, that it has nothing dto do with equip[ment, but more w/ dedication.
To tell you guys the absolute truth, the first 2 years I played the clarinet (in middle school - beginning band, concert band), I was not as dedicated to band as I want to be now. My parents keep telling me they'll get me lessons soon, but hell, I want em now. And as you said, I need them... bad. Even looking at what I wrote first, that looks pretty sad for 3 years, but I'm gonna shape that up, hopefully. My parents just don't see that this is what I REALLY want to do, this is what I love now: MUSIC. I want to be that freshman All-State player, I want to be good. But just saying that does nothing.
Oh well, hopefully practicing for now will do it.
As always, I am open to suggestions.
P.S. My music teacher, Mr. M. Nelson, is a great, awsome teacher and all, but he's a trumpet major. I could ask, but he seems too busy :P. I'll be getting private lesssons soon, though, no worries.
P.P.S. I do know that clarinet all-state player, but she was just born with that talent. I, obviously, wasn't. I'll just have to try harder, I guess.
Goodnight,
Joe Cool
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-11-29 11:40
It's not a race.
The horn won't make you a hero.
There is no substitute for practice time.
(Even the prodigious plunk a few buckets at the driving range.)
Most champions are made in the preseason...
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Author: William
Date: 2003-11-29 15:33
"I know I'll NEVER be able to make Wind Ensemble with a plastic Selmer clarinet, lol."
Hmmm...in high school, I recieved First Division ratings at State all three years that I went, placed first chair and was featured soloist in all-district festival band, placed second chair in an All-State Band, and "on-and-on"--all while llplaying on a Bundy Resonite clarinet with an "off the shelf" Selmer HS** mpc. (Yikes--and Rico reeds!!!!!)
A pro level clarinet would make it easier for you to play better, but it will never enable you to play something that you are not already capable of. You may be correct in your self evaluation, but don't be too quick to put the blame on your equipement. Keep practicing, but also try to get some clarinet lessons from an expert. Good luck!!!!!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-11-29 16:49
The only thing the clarinet can really limit you to is tone and tuning. The techinque is something all your own and something you can work on with any clarinet. So even if you practice for hours and hours on your plastic selmer, while you may hear the occasional out of tune notes, your fingering and tonguing technique will undoubtedly still get better (even if it's just a selmer plastic clarinet). Then, when you can afford to upgrade, it will all fall into place and you will just sound THAT much better.
As for the mouthpiece, I don't see why it wouldn't be a good mouthpiece. Obviously it's hard to tell since intonation problems at this point could either be the mouthpiece, or the clarinet, or a combination of both. But if you feel comfortable playing it, that's all that should matter in order to get better. And chances are that as you get better, you'll sort of "grow into" the mouthpiece and be able to use it much more effectively.
BTW, congrats on your accomplishments so far. I've been playing for about twelve years and know about three or four scales by heart. I can read scales off a paper well, but if you were to just ask me to play an Ab scale, I'd simply stand there with a dumb look on my face. I wish I had been told to learn scales/arpeggios earlier instead of just having pieces of music plopped in front of me and being told, "Learn this by Christmas". ![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: CPW
Date: 2003-11-29 20:59
Is there a "Settlement School" or similar in your area??
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Author: Joe Cool
Date: 2003-11-30 00:44
Thanx all. well, today was a good day. Got some brand new reeds, and two method books that are already starting to be very helpful.
Klose's Celebrated Method - Complete Edition
and
Baermann "Method for Clarinet" Book III (expanded and edited by David Hite)
I've been practicing for two hours on the first few exersises of Klose, because I haven't had alot of time to look over Baermann yet. My chops are out for tonite, but tomorrow is another day.
P.S. I guess I'll be getting lessons soon. I had a LONG talk with my parents about how I want this to be my life, and it finally got through their heads.
I'm happy,
Joe Cool
P.P.S. Practice makes perfect, doesn't it, lol?!
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Author: clarinetstudent
Date: 2003-11-30 01:27
Well, what my clarinet teacher says is, "Perfect practice makes perfect"
or that it doesn't matter necessarily how long you practice it's the quality of your practicing. Always warm-up first and I always like to play through my chromatic and maybe a few scales before playing any music. It's good to get in the habit. Hope things go well with your lessons.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-11-30 05:03
Klose page 123 seems to be a good warmup of scales. My current instructor says he was told to play that page by memory before every lesson could even begin.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: john gibson
Date: 2003-11-30 14:45
Joe Cool......
email me....have a lot of advice that I can pass on......but probably not of interest to those on this thread.....being a musician is tough tough work....
John Gibson
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Author: WinJ
Date: 2003-12-01 00:50
If you're serious about playing, getting a new clarinet either now or later is always important. It's not as imporant as some people make it out to be, but it is important. :-) Luckily, my father was a clarinet player, so I actually got a wood clarinet, by inheritence I suppose. The clarinet doesn't make so much the difference as the mouthpiece.
Mouthpiece is mostly where different tones of clarinets come in. I personally have three, a Portnoy BP1, Vandoren B45, and Lakey 4* (for jazz band). I find that each one has a distinct sound (sweet, orchestral, jazzy). Basically what I'm saying is that if not a better clarinet, at least a good mouthpiece (at this point). If you check out www.wwbb.com or their catalog, they include a chart, and I'm pretty sure they must have reviews too.
Good luck with the praticing!
I'm 6th chair Symphony too. 3rd part. ^_~
-Winnie^_^
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