 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: quilter_gal
Date: 2004-12-09 13:52
So the new clarinet is on its way, and should arrive today or tomorrow. It occurred to me this morning that I don't know if a new clarinet needs to be "broken in" in any special way. This obviously wasn't an issue with her rental as it as well-used. But a brand-spankin-new instrument - is there a process or procedure to getting it into playing mode properly? Can she just pick it up and begin to play or is there a some magical process to go through?
Janet
Janet
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2004-12-09 14:07
(Disclaimer - I am a maker of the Forte' clarinet)
With composite clarinets there should be no break-in period. The pads will seal better with use (presuming that they are properly seated to begin with) and the player will have to get used to the new mouthpiece if they use the one supplied with the clarinet or adapt the mouthpiece that they are using now. All clarinets play a little differently IMHO and there is an adjustment process with any new clarinet to the keywork and little ideosyncrasies peculiar to each clarinet. Comfort in playing with any horn only comes from using it with practice. It may be a good idea to use a tuner and go through scales to establish the intonation of all of the notes and see where the player or the horn needs adjustment to bring the notes in tune.
The Doctor
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-12-09 14:15
Janet, you've just gotten the advise you need from THE Doctor, since he's the maker of the Forte. Didn't you just buy a Forte?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2004-12-09 14:16
Just play it as needed, and don't "worry" about it. Treat it with the usual "TLC"--swabbing, avoid extreme temp changes, etc--and the instrument will condition itself. The biggest "break-in" that you may notice is with the key action, which tends to be on the stiff side with any new clarinet. And loosening that up simply takes playing time. So, enjoy the new clarinet and "play at will".
Post Edited (2004-12-09 14:17)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-12-09 22:29
Get a good technician to check, and make adjustments as required. Almost every new clarinet needs this. It is very rare for normally-open pads on new clarinets not to close firmly at at hinge side, but poorly at the opposite side.
It is very unusual for me to disagree with the Doctor.... In my experience, use never improves poor sealing of the normally-open pads.
Post Edited (2004-12-10 11:13)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
