 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Mrs. Redfern
Date: 2004-12-04 06:54
well, I'm the only clarinet in our high school jazz band, and we're playing the Glenn Miller chart 'Moonlight Serenade' and I can't seem to play over our lead alto player. He is incapable of playing quiter than forte... any techniques to improve would be great... I need to be loud by Wednesday...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jimmy Zhong
Date: 2004-12-04 07:08
You could use a microphone. The Doctor also sells "power barrels" which are supposed to act like amplifiers. You really can't find some way to make the lead sax softer?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mrs. Redfern
Date: 2004-12-04 07:12
nah, he's very conceited and he like the attention, I'm a totaly microphobe! haha! a new word I invented myself! we tried that and I got too nervous and my throat closed up and I almost passed out... my boyfriend, who plays trumpet, and the tenor sax player in our jazz band won't let me forget it... it was terrible.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kal
Date: 2004-12-04 09:19
> nah, he's very conceited and he likes the attention.
This should not be an issue. Your director needs to direct [the alto sax player to lower his dynamic].
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2004-12-04 12:01
A more open mouthpiece will allow you to project more, but if you want to live to tell the tale, you will also have to use a much softer read. Last weekend a friend let me play on his Vandoren 5JB and VD blue box 1-1/2. The projection was impressive, and surprisingly effortless.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-12-04 12:03
"Loud by Wednesday".....
Nice to see kids are consistent in their preparations...
Play nice, play so your section mates can hear you, and play in tune.
Those attributes may be more memorable than pure volume.
Other players are not your worry - your particular passage is.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2004-12-04 15:01
The mistake that most high school jazz ensembles make is in trying to play too loud rather than playing with control. Most of the famous "big bands" played accoustically and really didn't overplay to achieve that "big" sound, but rather strived for a balance of sound from all sections. A good concept or guideline is, simply, the two word phrase: "less is more". Less, meaning that to enhance the bands musical expression, you don't play at FFF levels all the time. If you play softer, than you don't have to play louder to sound loud--duh!!! And that means "more" effectiveness in presenting a truely musical performance.
However, if all else fails, you may wish to suggest the lead alto use a sax mute during the Glenn Miller piece which features the clarinet lead. The "Miller style" is, if fact, subdued and definately not "overblown"--you shouldn't have to mike the clarinet. Basically, a sax mute is a curtain ring wrapped with a soft fabric that can be inserted into the bell. Make it yourself or buy one, but they work great for sax players who arn't really that good to play with control and taste.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-12-04 15:04
Mrs. R - Its a common problem in the "big bands" I've played in, and I second the open mps, softer reeds [if one learns how to play them] and thats where the "mystique" of the big-bore Selmers was created. Also playing in the altissimo provides a "cutting edge". I'm unfamiliar with the "power barrels" but others can/do recommend them. I've listened to, played many, G Miller charts and blending-balance is required since their orchestration/arranging is quite different from the usual 4-5 horn sax section "ballad-swing" format. Dig out some old recordings, play them for your group, asking all to listen carefully for their parts, to see how the pro's do it. Others please chime in, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2004-12-04 15:14
Ask your director how _he_ thinks the balance in the sax section sounds, because, from where you are sitting you are having a difficult time hearing yourself.
If he thinks everything is ok, then to get a bit more edge to your sound you might try dropping your reed strength down by 1/2.
Ideally, of course, the lead alto player should be listening to the entire ensemble and not just blowing forte all the time because his part says "Alto 1" ...GBK (lead alto sax/clarinet - The Big Band East)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2004-12-04 15:22
Altissimo may not be an option for Moonlight Serenade, because I think it's in E-flat. That would have a clarinet going to a thumb high-C as written. That would be quite a task in altissimo.
The clarinet simply doesn't move as much air in normal use as the saxophone does, and that's much of the reason that the saxophone was invented. So mixing the two is always difficult.
As has been correctly noted above, this helps to account for the use of large bores, open facings, and softer reeds by big-band players. But these solutions have their drawbacks and they don't work well when you're not used to them. Years ago, when I played #5 reeds and close facings, I sat in with a big band and was shocked to find that most of the sax players could play the clarinet louder than I could.
Today, I routinely use a medium facing (Portnoy 02) and #4 reeds. This plays both sides of the fence pretty well. Often I'll uses the Legere plastic reeds when doubling and this actually helps a little in that genre.
But you are talking about a short-term solution for a short-term situation. Play as loud as you can with good tone and tuning. On Moonlight Serenade, YOU ARE THE LEAD VOICE and not the alto player. If he is persistent in overblowing you, I imagine that your band director will inform him of this fact.
My immediate advice would be to practice some long tones and get in as much crescendo as you can. This may be an opportunity for you to stretch your own capacity as a player.
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-12-04 15:47
Well said, Wm, GBK, A C, believe you are rite Re: M S, my altissimo thot was a generality for 8,12,16 bar ad-lib solos elsewhere. I always had troubles with Woodchumpers Ball too, dont recommend above hi G. Some Dixie tunes need the alt or a soft-miked chalameau also. I happily note that we all are saying approx. the same things. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-12-04 15:53
Get a power barrel, a jazz mouthpiece and ask the director to tone down the sax player.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mrs. Redfern
Date: 2004-12-04 17:07
we've tried to get him to quiet up a little, and it works for about 2 minutes. I talked to him the other day and he said he could play quieter, but I will try the long tone idea, I can play very loudly with control, he's just louder. haha. thank you all a lot for all this help and so quickly. and to the comment about my whole section.... I am the whole section, its taken 8 years for them to let a clarinet into the jazz band and I'm the only one they will let in... in our concert band, I am the 'concert master/mistriss' and the section leader for marching band... <-- not trying to brag, hust explaining my situation. haha!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mkybrain
Date: 2004-12-04 17:15
im in your exact situation, 1st in concert band and my teacher invited me to play in the jazz band, its going well. We played moonlight serenade a few times for some sort of "old people" gathering, sorry if i offended anybody old here, lol. My teacher usually gets me to play when we have an older audience since it reminds them of goodman, and i play a few songs that goodman made popular. Though our sax problem is the opposite, they don't play loud enough, ha. They're just not very confident and dont really get into the music. Its all fun though.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mrs. Redfern
Date: 2004-12-04 18:00
at least I know I'm not alone! haha! our tenor player has that problem too, he's never sure what to play and when it comes to his solos, our director plays them... I can play my solos, I just get really nervous, especially with a mic. its terrible... in concert band I can play over everyone and their mothers, but Nahum, our lead alto, is just too proud...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mrs. Redfern
Date: 2004-12-09 04:57
AH! I've been practicing longtones for quite a few housr everyday and I have finally achieved my goal! Mwahahaha!!! I can play over the lead alto!!!!! and I came to an agreement, there is no need for a microphone! mwaahahahah! our performance is tomorrow! yay!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: super20dan
Date: 2004-12-10 01:20
rico plasticover reeds -instant increace in volume and projection. also get a good jazz mpc like a runyon
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Contra
Date: 2004-12-10 01:54
I have never seen this wonderous creature known as the 'shy tenor sax.' Exactly what does it entail and how can I replace the one we have with it?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2004-12-10 13:39
That tune requires a nice blend in the winds. Ask your director if the blend is OK. If the Alto has a mic you better have one too...microphobic or not! The section will sound better with no mics at all but if one has it then all must have one.
Bottom line- tell the director your concerns in private. It can get ugly when a player tells another player with a big ego to turn it down.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mrs. Redfern
Date: 2004-12-10 14:16
last night was our gig and I was so excited, the alto player was tired because he blew his chops out on our other songs! I was so excited, I barely had to work at being lead for once. I was also so nervous I almost passed out, but that beside the point! haha!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
