 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2005-01-24 20:16
That's right, I'm such a damn idiot that I left my instrument on the counter-top. Five seconds later it somehow fell about 2 and a half feet to the hard tiled floor. I returned and saw that the joints were somewhat pulled out (not pushed in all the way) and that the ligature and reed had come off the mouthpiece.
After much screaming and angry gestures, I tried a new reed with the clarinet and it seems to play fine, but I really can't tell if something could be wrong with it. The only thing I could imagine is that the higher notes don't seem to be so stable, such as E almost always being overblown and high F# and G..but this could be my mouth, I'm not really sure.
Someone please tell me I'm overreacting or something. I have All-State auditions this Saturday and don't want anything to be wrong with my instrument. :[
Post Edited (2005-01-24 20:27)
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-01-24 20:36
Don't worry - they are pretty hardy beasts ... it was accidental (if somewhat foolish) but I'm sure you're in good company, take it to a tech if it will settle your nerves.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-01-24 21:06
Probably a good time to think about purchasing a clarinet stand ...GBK
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2005-01-24 22:12
My instrument fell down a set of outdoor cement stairs on a concert night when I was in college. I stumbled over a bump in the dark and the latches of my case did not hold. OUCH Chipped a big piece out of the bell tenon, and a bell crack probably started then. It was a total miracle that I could play the concert on the instrument that night.
A key or two could have gotten knocked out of adjustment on your horn--take it to a tech if it feels different. Diz and GBK covered it pretty well.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-01-24 22:33
Play a chromatic, play all the alternate fingerings you can think of. If they all play like they used to, count your lucky stars. (And a stand might not be a bad idea)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-01-24 22:49
Do a suction test and make sure that you don't have any leaks - a bent post or rod could give you a small discreet yet huge problem.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2005-01-24 22:53
Part of every Tech's apprenticeship training is: "How to Reassure People Who've Dropped Their Instruments on Hard Surfaces". That's what that box of Kleenex on the counter is for, by the way.
So, stop beating yourself up and be happy nothing's broken. If you're still worried, visit you local tech for some pre-packaged, postage paid, "Reassurance". It's a normal service given freely all the time around my hometown. Seriously, if something's a little out of adjustment, they'll probably fix it while you wait... just to see you smile again 
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: Joel Clifton
Date: 2005-01-25 00:48
Once, when I was flinging water out of the bell joint, I accidentally threw it on the floor of the practice room, which was some sort of plastic tile. I was horrified and afraid to pick it up and see the damage. Finally I looked, and found a tiny crack that went about halfway up from the end of the bell. It was almost invisible - it is hard to find even when I know where to look. In a year it hasn't spread, but I still learned my lesson.
-------------
"You have to play just right to make dissonant music sound wrong in the right way"
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-01-25 02:34
Ahhh...but make sure it's a STURDY clarinet stand, GBK...I had an "incident" about this time last year with a to-be-unnamed brand of less-expensive, but light-weight clarinet stand...
It was a bad bad gig...
Katrina
(who only uses her Blayman stands now and is wondering what to take to Europe if she goes again this summer...)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-01-25 02:38
Katrina wrote:
> Ahhh...but make sure it's a STURDY clarinet stand, GBK.
I have never seen a Blayman stand ever go over. Worth its weight (pun intended) in gold ...GBK
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-01-25 02:38
Quote:
Once, when I was flinging water out of the bell joint, I accidentally threw it on the floor of the practice room, which was some sort of plastic tile. lol. Same exact thing happened to me! Except our practice rooms are lined with carpet (what genius came up with THAT idea, I'll never know).
I'm done with the flinging too.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: William
Date: 2005-01-25 14:58
Ditto GBKs endorsement of the Blayman stands--they are simply the best there is. However, the K&M folding clarinet stand is less expensive and quite stable. Not recomended is the folding, plastic, store-in-the-bell model that I will never use again after having my vintage R13 Bb knocked over by a viola player. One of the Ab post sockets was actually cracked loose from the upper joint, but fortunately, the clarinet still functioned for the concert. Successfully repaired by epoxy, I now take no chances and use a Blayman stand which--due to its heavyweight base--is virtually topple free.
BTW--I understand that Herb Blayman invented his stand after having his clarinet(s) knocked over whle playing in the NYC Met orchestra.
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Author: rc_clarinetlady
Date: 2005-01-26 04:08
I agree with you David. I had a close call at a concert with a light weight stand and even though I now have a very substantial stand, I still pick up both clarinets and carry them if I leave the stage during intermission at concerts. It's the only way to know for sure where and how they are. I have the same philosophy for my children. If I want to know where and how they are then I make sure the party's at my house! It's been working like a charm for 5 years now. And so far all of my babies are safe.........Clarinet and child varieties. ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
Rebecca
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Author: clarispark
Date: 2005-01-26 13:35
I also agree with David and Rebecca. During marching camp at school one year our sectional was outside on a nasty cement sidewalk. I brought my brand-new, light-weight, local music store clarinet stand. Luckily when it tipped I was able to catch it. Since then, I haven't used a clarinet stand, being too poor to buy a Blayman, but I take my B-flat and E-flat off stage with me. I actually take them with me everywhere....
Michelle
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-01-26 14:50
Yup. The Blaymans are the BEST stand ever. I really really wish I would have used that for that gig last year...I was just too dern lazy that day!
However, does anyone know of a compact, lighter-weight stand that could be a "travel" stand?
Katrina
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2005-01-26 16:33
Good news: I took my instrument to my repair man and everything is fine.
Bad news: Before reading all your posts, I bought one of those plastic, light-weight, folding clarinet stands...lol.
Well, I don't want to carry around one that can't fit inside my case, so I'll just have to be careful with this one and make sure I keep an eye on it.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-01-26 16:51
Bigno16 wrote:
> Bad news: Before reading all your posts, I bought one of those
> plastic, light-weight, folding clarinet stands...lol.
> Well, I don't want to carry around one that can't fit inside my
> case, so I'll just have to be careful with this one and make
> sure I keep an eye on it.
You've been warned. As all have said, it's not worth the risk...GBK
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2005-01-26 17:26
I was standing over the dining room table, holding my clarinet and getting ready to put it away. I still don't know how this happened but I dropped the clarinet onto the table. The mouthpiece was broken but the rest of the clarinet didn't get damaged. I'm a real klutz but that was the epitome of klutziness.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-01-26 20:47
The http://www.wwbw.com/Konig-and-Meyer-Folding-Clarinet-Stands-i80655.music
which are foldable are wonderful as well as sturdy and light weight.
You don't want to bang into the clarinet, but then again, you shouldn't be doing that anyway.
They aren't clunky like the blayman, but of course aren't as inpregnable either.
Very good compromise though - I have 3 of em.
The "Pack A Stand For Clarinet " - complete crapola
BG - same as they are lightweight and very easy to knock over.
get the K&M and you won't go wrong.
Post Edited (2005-01-26 20:51)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-01-26 20:49
Yup...you gotta watch the light-weight stands. When even ONE of the legs will not stay LOCKED in it's position, throw the stand away and get another one. The legs WILL break...
Katrina
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Author: rc_clarinetlady
Date: 2005-01-27 04:36
Bigno16.......The first time was an accident but the stand is another issue......you have been warned by people who have been there. Not only that but YOU have now experienced that sinking feeling of not knowing if your clarinet is okay or not. You will kick yourself when your beloved clarinet lands on the ground .....again. The problem is that just because you say you are keeping an eye on your clarinet doesn't mean everyone else is. The viola player in the back row that's running late will not necessarily know that your clarinet is on a stand and will just blow right past it. It's a scenario I'm sure more than one of us has seen, or has been the one crying because it was our clarinet. That's why we know to recommend the Blayman.
Once big scare was enough for me on my vintage R-13. I don't gamble with it. By the way, I'm glad your clarinet checked out okay
Rebecca
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2005-01-27 14:20
Okay okay.
So I know my new stand is a piece of junk. I will definitely get a better one soon.
K&M and Blayman are the names people are happy with, eh?
I think I'll end up going with a K&M to replace my stupid little "Pack-A-Stand" for traveling purposes. And I'll eventually get a Blayman for home use then, just because I wouldn't have fun carrying that thing around by the looks of it.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-01-27 14:53
Yup, the Blayman is heavy duty. Hard to knock over at all.
The K&M can be knocked over, but you pretty much have to try or at least be careless.
It won't be knocked over "by the wind" - unlike the pack a stand could be considered in my opinion.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-01-27 20:49
In college, I lugged my 2-peg Blayman around all the time, dis-assembled, and tucked into the side of my Land's End attache case holding my double Buffet pochette case. My poor shoulders could NOT stand up to that thing...nor could the "fabled" Land's End attache case! It developed holes where the iron base of the stand wore against it.
David, it seems to me that the K&M stands do NOT fit inside the bell while the instrument is in a case. Is this a correct assumption???
FYI, it was a pack-a-stand which I used sucessfully throughout Europe 4 years ago. It was also one which mangled the LJ ring keys when the instrument fell last year. The one which let my axe go tumbling, however, had a broken peg which was supposed to lock the leg in place. These stands are ok for certain purposes ONLY IF all 4 legs LOCK!
Katrina
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Author: Bigno16
Date: 2005-01-27 21:49
The K&M's really don't fit inside the bell? All the reviews of the product say that it does. False advertising?
That's not cool, I can't fit one anywhere else if not in the bell. :/
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-01-27 21:55
If you are playing in a Pro group perhaps the others will respect your horn on its Blayman peg. If you're playing anywhere else.....all bets are off and the safest place is inside its closed,latched case....which,then, can get stolen.
Bob Draznik
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