 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Katelyn
Date: 2005-01-15 01:39
I'm a high school sophomore, second chair in our band and in our Wind Ensemble. We play about a three rating music in Symphonic band and four to four and a half in Wind Ensemble. I stumbled on this site a few days ago and was so excited to finally find a group of people who seem to know what they're talking about.
Anyway, I can't go from C# to B on my clarinet without it hesitating. I know I have an air leak, and where it is. The thing is, though, I took it into the local music repair store and they charged me to 'fix' the springs, but it still leaks. This nomally isn't a problem for Marching, Pep and Symphonic band, but for Wind Ensemble all the composers my band director like seem to love putting in grace notes, sixteenths, and the like (from C# to B and B to C#).
What would you recogmend doing? I've tried tightening the screws that correspond to the springs, but frankly they won't go any tighter without stripping the screw and/or breaking something.
If I could get any clarinet, what would you recogmend? I heard the NY Metropolitan all switched to Selmers, but most on here seem to have Buffets.
Oh, and can anyone give me any tips on how to improve my tone? I've switched to Vandoren 3 1/2 reeds, and that's helped a lot. Anything else?
Thank you all for putting up with a little sophomore. You all seem so welcoming and helpful. (I especially liked reading the thread about the clear mouthpiece stuck to the rubber barrel.)
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Author: Katelyn
Date: 2005-01-15 01:43
I forgot to mention, the C# and B are the ones in the middle of the staff.
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Author: Jimmy Zhong
Date: 2005-01-15 02:06
Larry Guy's embochure book is great for improving tone, I think. You can get it from wwbw.com for $15 (that's the only place I've seen it). If you haven't already, experiment with different hardware to find a setup that may help (mouthpiece, reeds, etc).
If you took it to your local store and they charged you without fixing anything, I would march right on back there and demand they fix my problem. That's what they're there for, after all! If it leaks, it's probably a problem with a pad, not the springs? I'm not so sure.
Anyways, nice to see new people coming to the BB. I hope you don't mind advice from a lowly freshman!
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2005-01-15 02:09
Hi Katelyn,
Welcome to the BB. You will get lots of opinions here and often some good advice :-).
I have a pretty good idea what your problem is but do a search with the feature above and for your search words use the words crows foot (a key linkage that IMHO may be associated with the problem you describe - the crows foot is located under and between, the RH C# and B and has a cork on top).
See is this rings any bells and then get back to this thread with what you find out.
HRL
PS I play only classic Leblanc and Selmer clarinets
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Author: Fred
Date: 2005-01-15 02:21
I would feel really skeptical about a technician that worked on the springs to fix a C#-B hesitation. Many shops have more than one technician - perhaps you can talk to one that specializes in woodwinds.
As far as recommending equipment . . . you need to understand that clarinets are kinda like people - no two are exactly alike. There are dogs and there are gems in most every brand. So you need to try them for yourself. At your level of experience, it would be desirable to have a clarinet teacher help with the selection.
You mentioned reeds but didn't mention mouthpiece. That's kind of like the tail wagging the dog. The reed must be the correct choice for the mouthpiece. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that better players play harder reeds. 3.5's would probably be good for a lot of mouthpieces, too hard for some, and not hard enough for others. And there in NOTHING that can do more for your playing than finding the right mouthpiece for you. And what is the right mouthpiece . . . see advice on selecting clarinets. Try them, hopefully being guided by a teacher.
Welcome aboard. This is a marvelous resource for players of all ages!
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Author: marcia
Date: 2005-01-15 02:40
I would agree that you should go back to the shop pronto, and when it is ready, make sure you play it in the shop before taking it home. My repair tech, our good friend Morrie, will insist that I play and am happy with the instrument before I leave the shop.
Marcia
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Author: Katelyn
Date: 2005-01-16 21:05
I was thinking about it being the pad on the key, but the key doesn't go down all the way - there's about a millimeter of space between it when I use the right hand B finguring, so I go tinto the bad habit of having both pinkies down. The pad looks okay, though. It's just as thick as my other ones on my lower keys, and they play fine.
*Searches "crow's foot"* Oh my gosh, now I get what you're talking about. And the cork's almost completely gone! I can't believe the techies didn't see it when they were trying to figure out what was wrong! I can't believed they just thought it would be the springs because that's what I thought! Thank you SO much!!
Anyway, I completely forgot about the mouthpiece. It came with my clarinet, and the brand on the front's rubbed off mostly, but it has a little 2 by the cork. *takes out mouthpiece, squints* UMI, I think. Top corner of it's chipped slightly. Yes, definitely wouldn't hurt to get another. And would be cheaper than a whole clarinet. So to try them out you just slap it on and see which sounds best? (sorry if I sound a bit...dense. I'm kinda new at this stuff.) Don't worry about me thinking harder reeds = better player. It's been drilled into me for years that that's not the case. Hmmm...Ligiture(sp?) have anything to do with anything? Probably not, just as long as it hold the reed in place and doesn't leak, huh?
^b^ (<---flying flat)
~Katelyn~
PS: Jimmy Zhong - Of course I don't mind...age is just a number, right? ha ha
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-01-16 22:03
I'm glad you recognised the corking being damaged/gone on the crows foot, I was going to suggest that both the C# and B "touches" should "sit" on it with no gaps or loosness. When you read our earlier discussions of these Very important, long-key adjustments, pay close attention to those by GordonNZ, John Butler and some others of us who sound like we know how they work. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2005-01-16 23:49
Katelyn,
As a temporary fix, try cutting some small pieces of tape and put them, one at a time, on the part of the crows foot that is missing the cork. After adding each layer, try playing the B natural without having the C key down (you are correct, it is not good technique to play B with C down unless you are going right back to C).
If the missing cork was the problem all along, you have somthing to show the tech.
HRL
Post Edited (2005-01-17 00:01)
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Author: jArius
Date: 2005-01-17 19:50
Welcome to the BBoard, Katelyn! I've only been here for about 8 months but it's a great place!
Katelyn wrote:
> (I especially liked reading thethread about the clear mouthpiece stuck to >the rubber barrel.)
If you think that's funny, you should try to find the thread "Oops...". A very good demonstration that rats and clarinets don't mix....
Jeremy Bruins
Proud member of the too-much-time-on-my-hands club.
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Author: Katelyn
Date: 2005-02-05 07:08
Okay, so and upate.
Last weekend I took my clarinet into Beacocks, and withing three days I got it back. Turns out that my "supplier" forgot to mention that I really should take my clarient in to be looked at about once a year. So, she fixed the problem. I'm not sure what she did exactly, but they replaced a bunch of pads, and now my precious plays wonderfully. Now I'm all set for Wind Ensemble and Pit Orchestra.
Thanks yet again for all your insight!
>Hank Lehrer: I sorta did that for about a week. You know those cushion things some people put on pencils? Well, I cut about a centimeter length off of one and used that. Worked okay, just never stayed on for longer that a phrase or two. Too bad I didn't think of using tape!
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Author: pewd
Date: 2005-02-05 17:06
a once a year 'playing condition' check up at the shop is a good idea.
also, search the archives here on how to perform a leak test yourself. i try to teach my older students to do a leak test every month or so.
paul
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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