 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Justin Silber
Date: 2000-03-18 21:17
As I said yesterday, I got my Buffet E-11. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard! (sniff) Just one problem: I normally use the Rico Royal #2 1/2, and switched to the slightly stiffer Vandoren V12 #3, which I need to use to rech the notes around C in the top of the clarion register. (I hope I can hit the altissimo when I have to.) When I use the rico, everything is fine except the high notes, but when I use the Vandoren, in addition to a very controlled and beautiful sound, there is a slight amount of airyness to the notes. Is this supposed to happen, or should I go down a strngth?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-03-18 21:41
Justin Silber wrote:
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As I said yesterday, I got my Buffet E-11. It is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard! (sniff) Just one problem: I normally use the Rico Royal #2 1/2, and switched to the slightly stiffer Vandoren V12 #3, which I need to use to rech the notes around C in the top of the clarion register. (I hope I can hit the altissimo when I have to.) When I use the rico, everything is fine except the high notes, but when I use the Vandoren, in addition to a very controlled and beautiful sound, there is a slight amount of airyness to the notes. Is this supposed to happen, or should I go down a strngth?
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According to the reed chart on the Internation Music Suppliers web site a Vandoren V12 #3 is nearly a step hard than a Rico Royal #2.5 so perhaps you should try the V12 2.5 when you need a reed that is only about a half step stiffer.
However any time you go to a stiffer reed than you are accustomed to, you can expect that airy sound. To get rid of it, you will need more breath support. The air pressure needs to be stronger. This does not mean more volume just higher air pressure.
The key to hitting altissimo notes is again in the air support. Although these day I use Vandoren #3.5 reeds, I learned to play clear to altissimo G using plain, ordinary Rico #2.5 reeds (sorry guys, I didn't know about better reeds then as I was only a young kid).
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Author: Rick2
Date: 2000-03-19 03:16
If you can't reach those upper clarion notes you are probably pinching the reed.
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Author: Justin Silber
Date: 2000-03-19 04:39
Sorry, but Im still a semi begginner, so what exactly does "pinching the reed" mean, and how do I fix this?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-03-19 05:04
Justin Silber wrote:
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Sorry, but Im still a semi begginner, so what exactly does "pinching the reed" mean, and how do I fix this?
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Basically it means that the embouchure is biting down on the reed rather than being a firm support for the reed. At this point, I doubt that you have to worry about it. The habit of "biting" or "pinching" generally doesn't develop unless/until a student tries to go into the altissimo notes (those above the second ledger line above the staff) with too soft a reed. Since it sounds like you are not there yet in your playing, it shouldn't be a problem.
Biting or pinching restricts the reed vibration and leads to a poor quality thin sounding tone.
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Author: Keil
Date: 2000-03-19 13:57
i would suggest trying VAndoran 3's and gradually working up to V12 3's, you mouthpiece might not be made for V12's. The airiness is also caused by the reed being hard, i'm sure after some refining of the reed and a good long playing... the reed will soon be beautiful. I just got V12's 4 and they were HAAARD... but i went up to JMU which is higher north than where i'm at, pressure is different, and i came back and my reeds worked beautifully, i normally go through a box every 2 weeks or so, but i'm still working the 4 reeds i had at state auditions back Febuary!!!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-03-19 14:30
Keil wrote:
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i normally go through a box every 2 weeks or so
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Ow! I go through a box of Grand Concerts once every 3 months or so ... I probably don't play as much as you, though. 2 weeks is excessive, though. My oldest son probably plays a bit more than you do, and he doesn't go through nearly that many. He's learned to use a reed knife, so far more of his reeds are playable, possibly.
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Author: Cathy
Date: 2000-03-19 16:21
Keil wrote:
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i normally go through a box every 2 weeks or so
Yikes! 2 weeks a box! I play a lot but I still only go through a box of V12s in about 4-6 weeks. (and I wouldn't have the slightest idea on how to use a reed knife)
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Author: Rick2
Date: 2000-03-20 03:54
Dee wrote
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The habit of "biting" or "pinching" generally doesn't develop unless/until a student tries to go into the altissimo notes (those above the second ledger line above the staff) with too soft a reed.
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Dee, I'm afraid I have to disagree with that definition of pinching. The more I play, and the more my instructor helps me to refine my emboucher, the more I am coming to believe that pinching is a natural habit...it easily seduces you like the dark side of the force. I also don't agree that it's biting down. My pinching was all lip. It's basically very hard to get a good loose emboucher (stress the word good) without a lot of help. The natural tendency is to have tight lips and tight emboucher to prevent leaking.
Maybe the word pinching doesn't describe it as well as the word clamping. As I said in another thread, I can play as high as altissimo A with a 2-1/2 reed, and I'm back to using my closed mouthpiece.
Justin: First of all, there is no shame at being inexperienced. Everyone starts somewhere. You've got many years on me, by which I mean when you get to my age you'll have 15 years more experience than I do. In any case, there is a simple test to see if you are pinching (clamping). Try playing a long tone (something between chalumeau B and open G works best because that's where clarinet has that nasal quality to the tone). Play it your normal way, then part way through, puff out your cheeks. It's virtually impossible to pinch and puff at the same time, so if the tone changes, you are pinching, and you need to work on getting the puffed tone without puffing. It takes time just like anything else.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 2000-03-20 03:59
The other thing I noticed is that when I was pinching, I went through reeds like crazy. Something about shortening the amount of the reed that is allowed to vibrate just tears them up. I've bought six LaVoz reeds in december and I still have 3 in decent shape.
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