 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: magritte
Date: 2004-01-09 21:39
A newbie problem. First: I have played music for over 60 years, but never a wind instrument. I have played over 20 instruments, some of them professionally, and mostly self-taught and by ear. I have played a lot of jazz on vibes, bass, and drums, and played bluegrass fiddle on stage for decades...and other things.
So... a few weeks ago, I bought a used Vito clarinet, read a bunch of stuff on the net about embouchure, breathing, etc. and set out to learn some tunes in my usual self-taught way. I am doing pretty well: I can play 8 old standards pretty well by ear and I'm getting into a little improvision. The problem is...I have these unpredictable squeeling attacks that can strike at any moment, and sometimes they persist.
I am using a Fibracell soft (I have also tried Fibracell med soft, Rico 1 1/2, 2 1/2, and 3) and a Hite Premier mouthpiece.
I have learned a lot reading this board and I appreciate any anti-squeeling advice you can offer.
Many thanks,
magritte
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-01-09 22:00
Hi Magritte- From your URL, my guess is that you are in Tulsa, I'm in Bartlesville and play bass cl in the Tulsa Community Band. From your description, since your Vito plays OK ?? at least at times, I'd guess that your problem is likely in fingering, possibly in embouchure, and a bit of teacher help could easily solve it. One of the best cl teachers in Tulsa is Bill
Viseur, and I'm sure he would help you. If he is not in the phone book, I can and will give it to you. If you have large fingers, its easy to open the two "banana" keys between the rings, or maybe just not cover the toneholes completely. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2004-01-09 23:16
Squeeling and squawking are quite normal for beginners. At this stage, and for many months to come, you will bump keys and they may open. You might not cover the holes completely leading to minute leaks. You may apply too much or too little pressure to the reed or make sudden uncontrolled changes in pressure. The ability to avoid these things will develop over time (a good teacher would help though).
With wind instruments, the player is much more physically involved than with percussion, keyboard, or string instruments. In a very real and physical sense, you become part of the instrument not the emotional, interpretive sense that people use when they speak of "becoming part of the piano" or violin or whatever.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: leonardA
Date: 2004-01-10 03:27
I think Dee did a good job of describing the squeal thing. I've been playing for a year, and it still happens to me, but I will say there are more and more notes (even measures) between squeaks as time goes on, so I am encouraged. Try to concentrate on keeping your finger position constant and close to the holes.
Good luck. Sounds like you're off to a good start.
Leonard
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-10 04:44
Also make sure that your mouth isn't taking in too much reed. Lots of times, if your bottom lip is too far down on the reed, you'll accidently pop out an overtone (squeak). Instead of pinching and/or keeping too much reed in your mouthpiece you have to take in only a little bit and use lots of good 'ol air to pop out those notes.
Alexi
PS - I only mention the "taking in too much reed" because I remember that being a major problem of my own in high school and also my old "cheap" way of hitting those altissimo notes (instead of using airflow and good techinque I used to just overblow it)
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: msroboto
Date: 2004-01-10 04:51
I would advise taking a few lessons as well. It is too easy to get into bad habits playing with no lessons. Then trying to unlearn is more difficult than if you learned it right from the beginning.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: magritte
Date: 2004-01-10 06:32
Thanks, guys. All of your suggestions have been helpful and I find that watching my fingering more carefully and "taking in less reed" have alleviated a lot of the problem. I will see if I can get a few lessons, too.
Thanks again,
magritte
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2004-01-10 13:52
Some Common Causes of Squeaks
a dry cane reed
accidentally touching a key
the middle joint in a clarinet is not properly aligned
using a "wrong" fingering instead of a better alternate
a finger not covering a hole
a pad not seating properly
a weak spring not holding a key closed
keys out of adjustment (e.g., the A key)
uncoordinated fingering
a leaking joint
a cracked instrument (in a wood clarinet)
too much mouthpiece in the mouth
a burr on the mouthpiece top rail
misapplied lip pressure
a reed is split
the reed is not perfectly sealed on the mouthpiece
a reed is too thin at the center of the tip or is stiffer on one
side than the other
a poorly designed or warped mouthpiece (a warped mouthpiece can
be refaced)
the mouthpiece baffle (the slanted top inside the tip) is too
high
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
