 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-18 04:11
Suck in every now and then if it's in the mouthpiece. I suck in often (before the spitty sound starts) in order to PREVENT too much saliva from forming.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-18 12:38
yea- if it's that spitty sound in the MP, try not to...uh...I guess salvate so much. :P I never get that, but I notice my that when my sister plays her clarinet the reed is soaked and the MP covered in saliva, so maybe control how much you let your mouth water?
it is a good idea to suck in too. sometimes it's the reed that's crappy because it takes in to much moisture, so make sure you're using a good brand and the correct thickness.
also- not sure if you meant to ask about this too, but I'll answer is anyway- spit in the keys- use cigarette paper or something similiar to soak up water stuck in the keys (which forms pockets of air and wont allow you to play that particular note, or, if it does, will make it sound nasty and spitty). or just CAREFULLY stick the corner of your swab in there. blowing the spit out of the key- or sometimes sucking it out helps. and make sure you frequently swab the clarinet (especially the upper section, THOROUGHLY)
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Author: Dana J
Date: 2005-02-19 14:53
I hear it's a good idea to stay away from mints or oranges before playing, I don't know if that's true.
Does anyone know what to do when you have been playing for a while and there's no room to take a break to suck in the saliva? I am thinking about a passage where there is a crescendo descending line followed by a whole note which I am supposed to do a niente.
Thanks.
D
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-19 15:09
Dana J wrote:
> Does anyone know what to do when you have been playing for a
> while and there's no room to take a break to suck in the
> saliva? I am thinking about a passage where there is a
> crescendo descending line followed by a whole note which I am
> supposed to do a niente.
>
> Thanks.
> D
Take some time to go through the music and see if there's a place beforehand where you can take a VERY deep breath that will last throughout or if there's something else you can do.
If there's no way to avoid it, pick a note that's the least important, drop it, and breathe.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: hans
Date: 2005-02-19 15:18
Blowing quickly at a right angle between the reed and the mouthpiece will usually move the moisture out of the way enough so that it no longer causes a problem.
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-19 21:27
I have never had a problem with having too much spit in the MP, and most advanced players I know, do not. I never had this problem, so I can't say I know what causes it or how to stop/prevent it. the best advice I can think of is...well, cut back on the amount of spit! I don't know how else to say it! I guess you need to swallow your saliva rather then just letting it all just kind of go into the MP, thus giving you a spitty sound. I mean...I know you wet the reed, but don't waterlog it, just moisten it. make sure when you blow, you don't allow any spit to leave your mouth. of course it's going to happen, hence the reason we swab, but it sounds like your putting too much in. If I were you, I would check my embrochure (make sure it's nice and tight...and that you're not lipping too little or too much...)
I know that was a verbose comment with not much content, but that's all I can think of to say.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-02-19 22:00
Moisten your reed by soaking it in water for a couple minutes, rather than in your mouth.
Condensation compounds the problem. Five to ten minutes after you start playing, take the reed off the mouthpiece and clean out the moisture. The effects should last the better part of a playing session.
I was historically very spitty, and these steps have all but eliminated the problem.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: Katelyn
Date: 2005-02-24 05:44
Thanks! I also asked the first chair clarinetist, who's a senior, if he had any tips.
(him) "Suck in. If that doesn't work, check your embrochure. Try sucking on your reed if that doesn't work."
(me) "So what happens if I still got that spitty sound?"
"Then either your reed's bad, or your a crappy player."
"Oh, gee, thanks."
"Don't mention it."
*shakes head* 'sucking' on my reed helped a bit, though. Spit on the reed used to be a big problem for me when I was younger, but not so much now. It's just really annoying, because it was usually only on that open G - Bb area.
Anyway, thanks for all your imput.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-02-24 14:05
Quote:
him) "Suck in. If that doesn't work, check your embrochure. Try sucking on your reed if that doesn't work."
(me) "So what happens if I still got that spitty sound?"
"Then either your reed's bad, or your a crappy player." Now THAT'S funny!
That's precisely the type of thing I'd say to my fellow players (and have!) I just don't say stuff like this on the board (it's hard to get across dry humor/sarcasm on a bulletin board so I'm forced to maintain a certain degree of seriousness . . . otherwise people take me seriously and don't understand that I'm joking . . . ah well)
Hope it all works out.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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