 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2005-07-09 22:23
For many years now, I've wanted to have a really respectable embouchure and address to the instrument. I know I should have worked on it earlier, but somehow I was too seduced by people asking me to play in concerts.
I know I should have been much more serious.
And now it's probably too late.
My dream was to play without my upper teeth touching the mouthpiece, no biting, and with a really flat chin. I know, because so many intelligent people have told me over the years, that this is basis of the only sure way to the true clarinet sound, the sound that all of the clarinet legends made, each in his or her own way.
And I wanted to be able to touch the tip of the reed with the tip of my tongue, too -- and, *consistently*.
Why didn't I do this???
I so often fall short of the ideal. I can't stand it.
Fingers too -- not claws, but gently curved always, without superfluous tension. NO gripping the instrument at dramatic moments!
(How often I've yielded to *that* temptation.)
I feel bad also that I never really learnt how to adjust reeds *properly*. There are books that can help you, I know, like 'The Art of Clarinetistry', by William Stubbins. Why could I never manage to summon up the concentration to get through this marvellous book? I have no self-discipline.
And I never found the artist/artisan genius mouthpiece-maker that I could work with intimately. My dream was for us to create together (and then give to the world) our version of the truth; a truth that, without
negating the fundamental designs, apertures or facings of the great players of the past, nevertheless contrived to add at least one small contribution toward the ideal of the perfect mouthpiece.
But I never looked hard enough, so we never met, lazy sod that I am.
I'm really ashamed of myself, you know? I feel as though I've wasted my life, and let you all down.
I'm sorry, everyone.
Tony
Post Edited (2005-07-09 22:24)
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Author: Danny Boy
Date: 2005-07-09 22:26
rotfl I can't wait to have the chance to learn from you again next year.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2005-07-09 23:42
That's truly a shame, Mr. Pay. You'll never get into a community band or orchestra like I have if you have such a lollygagging attitude toward such vital clarineting concerns. Now you just go and think about that while I'm playing "Clarinet Candy" to a crowd of well over a dozen people tomorrow night.
I didn't get to where I am by ignoring the important stuff, son.
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-07-10 01:53
Tony, Your instrument is to blame.
I have seen it.
It is missing a whole bunch of keys!!!
No wonder you have no time to work on the basics.
And another thing.....it is out of tune.
No wonder you have to work with orchestras that need enlightenment.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: ken
Date: 2005-07-10 02:00
Attention everyone ...
ATTENTION EVERYONE!
Oh gee thanks, I just love attention. ![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif)
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-07-10 02:36
Tony, in the nicest way possible: Why are you acting SO WEIRD? I still don't think this is you........
I'm sorry that you're not the best clarinet player in the world. None of us are. Get over it you Tony imposter!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-07-10 02:41
Clarinetgirl06 wrote:
> Tony, in the nicest way possible: Why are you acting SO WEIRD?
> I still don't think this is you........
>
> I'm sorry that you're not the best clarinet player in the
> world. None of us are. Get over it you Tony imposter
It is the "real" Tony who is posting.
No imposter...GBK
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2005-07-10 02:48
Tony, are you OK? Your writing sounds like a person very close to us who seriously needed a lot of support and companionship in a time of need, fast! We almost lost her. Do you have someone there you can talk with, really open up to?
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-07-10 03:09
Don't feel too bad, Mr. Pay; you write very, very well.
Thanks for the things you have done.
PS
I don't feel so badly about allowing myself to play "songs," instead of practicing my scales.
Bob Phillips
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-07-10 03:58
just look at it this way
statistically, virtually no one in the world has heard of you
(despite those great recordings you've made)
so actually
you haven't let very many people down
does that make you feel better?
donald
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Author: susieray
Date: 2005-07-10 04:11
<Why didn't I do this???>
Maybe because you'd prefer to do what works for you, not what works for someone else. ![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif)
Sue
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-07-10 04:27
Put Mr Pay in the comfy chair.
Oh NO, NOT the comfy chair!!!!
(no one ++expects++ the Spanish Inquisition)
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Llewsrac
Date: 2005-07-10 07:54
Soaking reeds in Gin, Scotch, Vodka, & Whisky has a profound effect when unleashed on the keyboard.
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Author: OpusII
Date: 2005-07-10 08:43
It's great to know that you don't have to be perfect in every way, to be one of the best musicians in the world....
It gives us all a little hope!
But a list is a good thing to work with, I've started the same list of things I haven't learned yet, great idea Tony.........But it looks like I'll have to start over again learning the clarinet.......... but why? It really works how a play now.. so maybe I just burn the list.![[hot]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/hot.gif)
Post Edited (2005-07-10 08:53)
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2005-07-10 09:28
But you're already a legend, and if that's any indicator of how important "proper" clarinet playing is...
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band
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Author: Tim2
Date: 2005-07-10 22:24
A blatant way of saying what is important to play clarinet well, It sure has drawn attention. And hopfully, young people who come to this site and read the initial post will remember something, if not everything from it.
I think Mr. Pay is just having a little fun. Many times, things are explained very technically and at length, and many young people don't have the time to read it all, a summary of some of what's important to the mechanics of clarinet playing is a good thing to have.
I had a good chuckle from this, Mr. Pay, and (what I hope is) your sense of humor.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2005-07-11 20:22
Perhaps I can be so bold as to interpret this post for those who are having trouble comprehending it. (Hey, I'm a musician and thus allowed to interpret someone else's composition. Others are free to put their own interpretation to it and present it publicly.) Mr. Pay appears to be telling us, in a somewhat sarcastic manner, that there is not just a single way to hold the instrument in your mouth, to tongue it, and perform the other mechanical acts necessary to get a sound. Basically, play it in the way that works for you. I would even go so far as to say that, if you can play it well with your right hand on top and left on bottom and using a popsicle stick for a reed, don't allow someone to tell you that you can't do it that way. (This is all good news to someone who is largely self-taught.)
But, in defense of the rules and the "best" ways of doing things, if a player, especially a new one, is having trouble getting the instrument to respond and create a desireable sound, there are ways of doing things that have helped many other players in their playing and probably should at least be tried. Trying these "best methods" may save them large amounts of frustration and experimentation. If nothing else, they make good starting points from which one can experiment to create their own improvements.
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Author: Rachel
Date: 2005-07-12 03:03
Clarinetgirl06 (---.an2.stl10.da.uu.net)
Date: 2005-07-10 02:36
Tony, in the nicest way possible: Why are you acting SO WEIRD? I still don't think this is you........
I'm sorry that you're not the best clarinet player in the world. None of us are. Get over it you Tony imposter!
----------------------
I am the best clarinet player in the world! Everyone who was better than me has been disqualified for being better than me without my permission, They are now clarinit players. I believe there are quite a lot of them.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2005-07-12 17:23
It is always interesting to hear English and American people say things differently:American people optimisticaly, and English people cynically.
It is like a scene of an American movie where Chevy Chase visits a London hotel with his family and picks up a pocket translator (made in Japan) not understanding what the hotel clerk says.
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