The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: saxysam89
Date: 2005-02-22 13:52
I am originally a saxophone player (still am), but I took up the clarinet about 4 years ago, and I was getting very good. But last summer, my little cousin (age 4) came over while I was practicing and somehow when I wasn't looking, she took the cork off of the mouthpiece. Both of my parents have had crazy schedules and couldn't take me to get the cork put back on my clarinet until this month. But after about two weeks of not practicing, I said I don't want my embouchure to be shot. So I pracitced without a cork for about 7 months, and I actually got a really good tone. But when I got the cork put back on, the resistence from playing without a cork was gone, and now my tone isin't the greatest in the world. I know I obviously did something wrong, but what was it?
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2005-02-22 15:48
You adapted! Unconsciously any living thing will adapt to changing circumstances in order to survive, with varying degrees of success. You'll adapt again once you do whatever needs to be done to develop your good tone, this time with the cork replaced. Just be patient and work at it for a bit.
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Author: RodRubber
Date: 2005-02-22 17:32
Next Time your cork comes off, put some masking tape around the mouthpiece or whatever to seal if off.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-02-22 17:50
Other temporary fixes for a loose or missing tenon cork:
- teflon tape
- waxed dental floss
BTW- carrying a small roll of teflon tape in your case for on-site emergencies is very cheap insurance
...GBK
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Author: kal
Date: 2005-02-22 19:04
I replaced a missing cork with waxed thread and liked it so much I never got it recorked. I rethread it when necessary.
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-23 01:12
speaking of corks... the upper cork of my upper section is lose- it spins around. it's not falling off or anything, but sometimes it's really quite annoying, trying to get my barrel on and off! I know I should probably just take it to be fixed, but my local music store is shady and would keep it for a week, and I cant do that right now. any suggestions?
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Author: pewd
Date: 2005-02-23 05:28
um, find another music store?
that should only take about 15 minutes, 10 minutes of that waiting for the glue to dry.
i replace tenon cork for my students all the time, its a fairly quick repair for experienced techs.
-paul
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-02-23 12:33
No mouthpiece cork is less resistance??????
Are you sure that it isn't just a bad reed right now?
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Author: Pete
Date: 2005-02-23 14:16
This is a perfect example of why everyone should have their instrument checked over by a competent tech on a regular basis. If a player can adapt to something like a tenon cork missing, imagine how well you adapt to leaky pads and bad adjustments. Players do this all the time and do not realize it.
Woodwind instruments go out of wack. Playing them is a lot more fun when they are in good repair.
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