 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mattg
Date: 2004-08-08 00:09
Hi,
Last year my daughter started paying clarinet in school. Rather than rent, I purchased a Yamaha YCL-20 plastic clarinet on ebay that was like new. When the clarinet arrived it was indeed like new, except it came with a Vandoren B45 mouthpiece and a ligature that did not fit the mouthpiece properly. I purchased a vandoren ligature that fits the mouthpiece. We are using Rico Royal Reeds 2.5 -> 3.0 (She started out at 1.5). I am an amatuer sax player and pianist. My daughter practices every day and has made tremendous progress but I noticed she is blowing incredibly hard to get the notes out. I tried the clarinet myself and it feels like there is a sock stuck in it. I had her try my sax and she was able to play it effortlessly. Is there something wrong wit the clarinet setup or is the clarinet just more difficult to play?
Thanks,
Matt
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Author: tenorchick
Date: 2004-08-08 01:26
First of all i would try a different reed. Ricos (in my experience) are ok for very beginners, but if she's made such progress it might be time to try a different reed. Try out some Vandorens or Mitchell Luries. Vandorens are usually harder then other brands, so drop back a half size if you go that route. (Example, she's using a 3 in Rico, get a 2.5 in Vandorens).
If the problems continue, take it into a repair shop in your area to see if there is a problem with the instrument itself. You could have her try a different mouthpiece, but the B45 usually is a pretty decent one so i'd be surprised if that was the problem.
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Author: Karel
Date: 2004-08-08 02:00
Have you tried blowing your daughter's clarinet to see how resistant it is? Also, I woudn't agree with tenorchick that "Ricos are ok for beginners", the assumption being that a learner has no need for a better quality reed. That is asking a developing player to learn new techniques under the handicap of using poor reeds, and having to work out whether the problems they are having stem from their lack of ability or from their instrument. I am casting no aspersions on Ricos, only using tenorchick's implied evaluation. I have seen it said that beginners deserve good quality equipment to allow them to progress freely without unnecessary handicap. Also, it might be worthwhile having the clarinet pads checked for leaks etc.
Karel.
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Author: mattg
Date: 2004-08-08 02:33
Thanks for the replies.
Karel. Yes I have tried playing the clarinet, and playing an F major scale over two octaves was extremely difficult for me (though I don't play the clarinet) The amount of pressure I had to use was ridiculous compared to the alto sax. I agree that inferior equipment will do nothing but discourage a beginner. I have purposely not shared my concerns with my daughter because I don't want her to start to "blame" the instrument (an excuse that is personal favorite of mine). I also don't want her to break any blood vessels trying to play :^) I am still wondering is it normal for the instrument to provide so much resistance?
Matt
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-08-08 02:47
Matt,
The B45 is a very open mouthpiece. After getting the instrument checked by a repair tech, and assuming it's OK, I suggest you try a 5RV or similar size opening. Have a look at the mouthpiece chart at <www.vandoren.com>.
In the meantime a softer reed should help.
IMO there is nothing wrong with Rico Royals; I've played them for 30+ years, on both clarinet and saxes.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-08-08 03:02
As Hans rightly points out, the B45 is a terrible choice as a beginner mouthpiece. It is far too resistant and often, with the wrong reed, forces the student to blow unnecessarily too hard.
Unfortunately the B45 is (seemingly) the only mouthpiece most band directors (who are not clarinetists) know and recommend.
Save the B45 as a back-up and purchase a more student friendly mouthpiece such as a Hite Premiere, Fobes Debut, Yamaha 4C or a Vandoren 5RV...GBK
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2004-08-08 03:21
Experience as a teacher of young kids on "student" instruments leads me strongly to echo GBK's recommendations, after it's determined that the clarinet is in good adjustment. Keep the B45, you may find it to be ideal at a later time. If you can test a few at a shop, then I suggst trying a 4C (the standard one supplied with the instrument) followed by others.
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Author: tenorchick
Date: 2004-08-08 05:07
For the record people, i was simply going off of my experience with Rico Reeds. I have never found them to very dependable, and because of that, i made a suggestion that a different reed might help. Plus, it's a simple thing to try before taking the time to bring it to a shop where it might sit for awhile before the repair technichian can even checkout the problem.
MattG, if you go the route of buying a new mouthpiece for your daughter, I would recommend a Vandoren 5RV. I bought one in 5th grade after playing for only a few months, and it served me well through the end of 8th grade, when the top chipped. (But don't worry about the quality of that mouthpiece, it was my own fault that the thing got broken.)
I wish your daughter luck in her quest as a clarinet player. I have been playing for over six years, and still love it. Playing an instrument is a skill that will no doubt benefit her throughout her life.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-08-08 07:54
Definitely get the clarinet checked out before replacing mouthpieces. Even a bridge key a fraction of a millimetre out of adjustment can make half the notes very difficult to play.
Also, it is common to have on new instruments, normally-open pads that seal very poorly when they close.
Have you done any basic pressure test for leaks?
Post Edited (2004-08-08 07:55)
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Author: mattg
Date: 2004-08-08 14:03
Gordon,
I do not know how to do pressure tests I know next to nothing about the clarinet.
Thanks,
Matt
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2004-08-08 14:25
Two things to try:
(1) Play the instrument with all the keys - including the trill keys high up on the right-hand side - held open. If it is still hard to blow, leaky pads can't be the cause. If it is easy to blow with all keys open, then shut the keys one by one until the clarinet starts to fight back.
(2) Try another clarinet.
You say your daughter started out on 1.5 reeds, then moved up to 2.5 or 3. Why did she move up? Does she find 1.5s too hard to blow?
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
Post Edited (2004-08-08 14:27)
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Author: Drenkier_1
Date: 2004-08-08 22:03
I had that exact same difficulty when i bought my Buffet R-13, take the horn into a repair man, usually a new clarinet has leaks and is unable to produce much of any tones except maybe the lower register. As for reeds my teacher started me on vandoren 2 ½ and they work great when working on the mid lower and middle registers. My reccomendation, take it to your local music store
Kevin Collins
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