 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Becky
Date: 1999-12-28 13:53
I'm a freshman in high school, and I have played clarinet for about 4 years. I recently bought an Olds plastic clarinet about three months ago, for marching band (I don't know what model it is). The tone, of course, is not as good as that of the wood clarinet I rented, though everyone tells me plastic clarinets take awhile to "break in." This is my only clarinet and I don't have any wood ones. I would like to major in clarinet in college, but I cannot buy a better, wood clarinet anytime in the near future, because they are so expensive. How do I improve my tone quality if I'm stuck with a plastic clarinet? Will my clarinet be sufficient for auditions? If anyone out there is familiar with Olds clarinets, tell me, is this a good brand?
Thank you, Becky
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-12-28 14:04
You can get a decent mouthpiece for it. I have a Vandoren B45 but there's the Forbes the Hite and a bunch of others. You could also try WWandBW's 10 month payment plan and geta nice wooden one. Or you could see if your local music store has financing like that. If you absolutely must play on this instrument just get a decent mouthpiece and you'll be absolutely fine. After all, that's how I got into Regionals last year on a plastic clarinet. That and a LOT of hard work. Well...back to practicing for me.
The Freshman,
Nicole Y.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-12-28 14:27
In addition to getting a good mouthpiece (probably the most important thing that you can do) as Nicole has suggested, buy good quality reeds. The plain Ricos that most people start on are quite poor. The other Rico models are much better. For someone who doesn't want to fuss with reeds, I recommend Mitchell Lurie (also made by Rico). Some people like Rico Royals also. There are a host of other good quality reeds but right now it's probably more important to just pick a good brand and focus on your practicing rather than trying out a whole bunch of different reeds.
With a good mouthpiece, good reeds, and plenty of practice, you should be fine for quite some time.
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Author: Becky
Date: 1999-12-28 15:38
What type mouthpiece do you suggest? I read that crystal and hard rubber are the best types, and that wood and plastic aren't really recommended.
Thanks,
Becky
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Author: Becky
Date: 1999-12-28 15:41
I started using Vandoren #3 reeds, but they take a long time to break in, and aren't very consistent. Should I change my reed brand?
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Author: Ken
Date: 1999-12-28 15:57
To Becky
Try Grand Concert Select Thick Bank or Marca Traditional.
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Author: Nicole Y.
Date: 1999-12-28 18:06
Mouthpieces are made of different materials and they all change your sound. You should order a bunch from a mailorder company or go to your music store and try them out! As for reeds, if you feel that you're sick of the Vandoren's then change them but if you love them to death keep 'em. Me, I used to play the V-12's but now I play Marca Select and I love them to death. I tried Zonda (which are good...but I just wasn't as comfortable) and Grand Concert Select Thick Blank and Rico Royal and Olivieri and Queen...I really experimented. You're going to have to do that too until you find the "perfect reed" in your eyes. The mouthpieces--the tried and true are Vandoren B45, B40 5rv...I think and then you know, the forbes and Hite...all reasonably priced. You should ask Dee for the rest since I loved the first mouthpiece I tried the B45 and really don't know all the different mouthpieces.
The Freshman,
Nicole Y.
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Author: Ginger Martin
Date: 1999-12-29 00:38
Dear Becky,
Just to pass on some encouragement.... one of my students was accepted into Melbourne University after auditioning on a plastic Yamaha. They said if he could get that good of a sound out of a "cheapy", he had great potential. His university teacher put him onto a used Buffet R13 for $1000, and he's all set, now!
A good mouthpiece is definitely the key, but a plastic clarinet shouldn't hold you back.
Ginger
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Author: Jeff
Date: 1999-12-29 01:32
I play on a plastic inst., and I just got a box of Vandoren's today. After going through them, I got 3 GREAT reeds, 4 Good Reeds, and 3 Bad. The point is not to switch reed brands just because you have gotten a couple bad reeds. Vandoren's have always been great for me.
By the way Becky, are you using VD traditionals or V12s?
Jeff
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Author: Mark Charette, Webmaster
Date: 1999-12-29 01:47
Jeff,
Don't throw the "bad" ones away! Reeds "develop" when you play on them, and after a week or so of playing (in rotation) you might find a few "bad" ones that end up playing very nicely (sometimes with little or no work) and the good ones not playing so well.
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Author: Jeff
Date: 1999-12-29 02:47
I know that. I don't throw them away. Right now, they are sitting on a shelf "aging" if you want to call it that.
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Author: mandy
Date: 1999-12-29 03:29
i agree with mark. i'm a sophmore in college (music ed and performance) and everyone there (clarinetists and saxophonists) tell me that they have such trouble finding good reeds in a box. the one guy told me that he tends to get 1 or 2 "performance" reeds, but total he maybe gets 4-5 decent reeds. i usually end up using all my reeds, at some point. no, many don't tend to make it to performances, but there are plenty that work for practice, and if you can sound good on a "so so" reed, you'll sound even better when you play on that "good" one.
for becky, as for reed brands...i never liked regular vandorens, then i got hooked on their V12's. i still like Michelle Lurie and Vintage (the reeds made in Australia). the V12's and Vintage seem to take awhile to break in, but are well worth it.
as for playing on a plastic clarinet....my clar. prof showed me one day in my lesson. he took the worst student, plastic clarinet he had sitting in his office, and he played on it using the mouthpiece that was with it. he sounded bad, to put it simply. then he put his mouthpiece on it and played, and there wasn't much difference between the plastic clarinet, and his good wood clarinet.
good luck,
mandy
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Author: Becky
Date: 1999-12-29 04:05
I'm currently using the regular Vandorens. How are the V12's in comparison?
~Becky
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Author: Becky
Date: 1999-12-29 04:11
Everyone tells me mouthpieces really do make the difference in tone quality. Do you recommend any particular types or materials?
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Author: Jeff
Date: 1999-12-29 14:32
My experience with V12's has been better. They just seem like they have more body to work with. I mean they just seem easier to play. I get more V12's to work. But then again, I have been switching a lot lately from V12's to traditionals and haven't noticed much difference. I started on V12's, and have done pretty well with them. Now, my teacher thinks I should switch from V12 3 1/2's to Traditional 3 1/2's.
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Author: Jeff
Date: 1999-12-29 14:40
As for mouthpieces, I like the Vandorens. I use a M-13 Lyre and my instructor uses an M-14. With Vandoren reeds, these mouthpieces work very well.
Jeff
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Author: mandy
Date: 1999-12-31 03:48
Becky,
at college, many of the clarinets use the mouthpieces that the other people above me had suggested. i don't. my clar. prof told me that when i auditioned that he decided that he was going to try to get me to change my mouthpiece if i came to school there. my freshman yr (last yr.) he decided not to get me to change, and is actually thinking about buying what i have. i have a Brillhart (not sure if there are 2 l's or 1) 3 star. its plastic and it cost about $20. very inexpensive compared to what other clarinetists that i play with are using. (last yr. as a freshman i was 4th in concert band). this yr. for orchestra, myself and my roommate juggle being principal (our director likes to use rotational seating). good luck.
mandy
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Author: mandy
Date: 1999-12-31 03:53
Becky,
just so you know, my setup tends to be a little odd. i play a Yamaha 52 (which is an intermediate), the Brillhart 3 star mouthpiece, and have been switching between V12 3's, Michelle Lurie 3.5 or 4's depending, and Vintage (reeds from Australia) 3.5's.
mandy
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