Author: Robyn
Date: 2004-05-30 21:30
Hi everyone,
I've run into a problem (partially my own fault) that I need solved fairly quickly, so I am tapping into every source of clarinet knowledge that I know of......
I was hired to play the Reed 4 book for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. It was kind of a last minute thing because I am replacing someone who couldn't do the gig after all, but I didn't realize until I accepted that over half the book is bass clarinet. I don't have much bass clarinet experience, but I figured with a week of good, hard practice, I should be fine. The problem I have is that I rented an instrument from our local music store and it came with a stock mouthpiece that has a very open facing. I'm used to playing on a Richard Hawkins B facing, so this is taking a lot of getting used to. After two days of practice, I am still unable to play anything above top line F, unless I play a scale up to it, and even then it is unreliable and I sound like a dying goose most of the time.
This gig is already getting expensive because I've decided to purchase a bass clarinet stand, but I'm not sure that I am going to be able to continue with this mouthpiece. Is there a mouthpiece available that is more closed, but is somewhat affordable (less than $100)? How else might I go about begging/borrowing/stealing (just kidding) a better mouthpiece? I guess I'll spend the $100 if I have to, but I'm quickly watching everything I'm earning from this show go down the drain.
Thanks for any help you can offer,
Robyn
P.S. I have a lesson tomorrow when I can ask these same questions, but in the meantime, assuming my instrument is in good repair (which I assume it is because it is brand new) is there anything else I can be doing to increase the reliability of those notes?
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
