 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: graceej13
Date: 2005-09-12 03:46
Hello. I am beginning to play after nearly 18 year hiatus. I was formerly a music ed major in college, major instrument was clarinet. I am playing a completely overhauled selmer plastic horn (ugh!) I wanted to see if I could still play at all - and I am pleased to report I can make a few pleasing sounds, anyway...lol.
I am playing lots of scales, trying out reeds (Mitchell Lurie, Van Doren). My mouthpiece is a Larry Combs I remember buying in college upon the advice of my professor. I have my Selmer (HS*, I think?) too, although I haven't tried that yet. I bought several books yesterday of etudes and classical clarinet.
I would like some advice - major issues are 1) too much moisture in the horn and I need to remove reed and clean mouthpiece and swab horn every 15 minutes or so..What's the deal with that? I don't remember this being a problem all those years ago...
2) I would like to play for community band. I know my horn is not desireable - but it's what I have right now...Should I audition with it - or would it be better to wait until I have something more acceptable?
3) Any other advice would be appreciated. You folks may think of something I haven't even begun to think of!
PGrace
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-09-12 04:17
Don't really know about the moisture.
As for the community band, most ones I've been to don't really care what horn you play. Nor do most of the ones I know of (in my area) have auditions. Just be wary that the dificulty levels of the music played in them can vary and you may not fit in with certain ones quite yet, and may not enjoy playing in ones that don't challenge you enough. It's a bit of a delicate call, so try out a few bands, make it clear to the instructors that you're getting back into it and want to see if you'd fit in and if the music they play is right for you, and see where it goes.
There's a lot of "adult beginners" and other of those style threads on this board so definitely hang out and do some searches to see what you come up with.
Otherwise it sounds like you're doing things the right way. You have a good quality mouthpiece, practicing your scales, some etudes, etc.
You also might want to find a clarinet teacher to help guide you along. They can help setup some sort of practicing regime for you to follow and recommend some etudes and whatnot. Also, they can help keep you from developing bad habits as you relearn.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ron b
Date: 2005-09-12 08:59
From your brief introduction, Grace, I believe you're way ahead of most of us Re-starts. It should come back to you very soon.
Please allow me to say, as many others undoubtedly will also, "I'm so glad you decided to come back. It's about time !" 
As a re-tread I can say with confidence that it'll come back rather quickly. Probably your mental processes will kick in way ahead of your embouchure and finger 'muscle memory' -- already have, I'd guess .
Also, as a player and fixer of woodwind instruments, I find nothing to complain about when playing any one of several Bundy (or Vito) plastic horns I've reconditioned. I regularly use a Selmer Bundy that I've set aside for personal use when I give lessons. Actually, we play duets more than we do lessons. My personal philosophy is that playing *is* practicing, by the way. I am primarily an Albert system 'player' but use the Bundy, 'cause it's a Boehm, for "teaching" since it is the standard in North America. Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to use a plastic horn in any setting, including auditioning. The Bundy's intonation is reasonable and it's a good, sturdy all-weather instrument.
I seem to recall that after a twenty-year layoff wetness was an annoyance to me too the first couple of weeks. However, as the chops got back into shape, two-three months, the excess moisture became proportionally less of an issue. Now, after almost six years it's negligible.
If you feel your instrument is undesireable, that may hinder your [re]development, but I don't know you - so I don't really know that for a fact. Of course, I presume we'd all prefer to drive a Mercedes rather than a riding lawnmower. But seriously, I didn't realise just how much I really missed makin' music all those years I let it slide until I one day decided to take it up again. Now, I'm just happy to be able to play at all.
I, for one, am happy you decided to re-enter the old neighborhood of music makers. Your presence may well be an inspiration to many more folks than you realize. Thank you for sharing.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-09-12 10:40
I'm taking clarinet more seriously now, after only playing intermittently in the last fifteen years with a small orchestra and Big Band.
Clarinet was my main instrument at college and I pretty much stopped playing after I left, mostly due to the disappointment in not being able to fund my study and finish the performing diploma, not that I had even really started that!
Now after buying and rebuilding some excellent instruments I've started playing again, and I'm amazed at how things come back after that time, all the special fingerings for certain notes, shortcuts, etc., but still need to work on the embouchure more and develop the sound to get nearer the particular clarinet sound I have in my mind, having spent the majority of those wasted years away from the clarinet, but still playing mainly saxes in bands and more recently oboe and cor anglais in orchestras too.
One thing I didn't miss was the gurgling speaker vent and condensation in the thumb tube, I play mainly baritone sax so condensation is dealt with in a different (and much better) manner on that. But that's one of the quirks, and every instrument has them to a different degree.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-09-12 14:29
Grace [A fine name, was my sister's], Ron and Chris et al have said MORE about musical-playing's value to a person and her/his surroundings than I can get into words. Do all you can. In our comm band, we have several cl teachers who play 2nd/3rd cl parts, and, in effect, teach their sections for better playing, FREE. I [no great shucks teaching] help a bassoonist and a couple of tenor/bari saxes toward better playing, since my BC has many similar passages. Re: insts, its the player, not the horn, thats important , THO, the psychology of playing better/best does help [me!], but may be very costly, partic. for oboe/bassoon. Cls are a bargain !! GO, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-09-12 16:28
How do you deal with the stubborn players that have been playing for years but won't play staccato notes, or tongue everything, or cut long notes too short, or hold short notes on too long, only use the basic fingerings from a chart even though they're the most impractical fingerings in most situations, and won't be told anything that could be to their advantage?
I do offer my help free of charge and with every good intention, but some people just don't want to get out of the rut they're firmly in.
Sorry, I just had to get that out of my system, but it never ceases to amaze me - and to top it all, these people TEACH!
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Author: graceej13
Date: 2005-09-13 00:56
Thank you to all that replied! I feel SOOOOO encouraged! I can't wait to start band now!!! There are two community bands nearby. One is definitely better than the other one - and would be my ultimate goal. However, maybe I would fit in better in the OTHER band for right now!
And I don't mean that in a self defeating manner, either. It might be more fun to be in an up and coming band rather than one where more perfection is demanded. And I can be learning all the way! Or maybe I'll try them both out and see which one fits, like someone suggested. I like that idea.
Don, I believe you mentioned how quickly some things return - and I am truly amazed! I told my son the other day that my fingers remember scales. And several months ago if I had looked at some of the music I am playing today, I would have been lost. But it's just amazing. I never dreamed it would come back (the mental part anyway) so easily. So if there's anyone else out there thinking, "gee, I wish I'd never quit" or something similar, GET A HORN TODAY AND BEGIN AGAIN! I am truly having a ball!
PGrace
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-09-13 02:28
<<So if there's anyone else out there thinking, "gee, I wish I'd never quit" or something similar, GET A HORN TODAY AND BEGIN AGAIN! I am truly having a ball!>>
Grace's comments really resonate with me. I couple of years ago, I was in the same place that she was. I not only "re-began" clarinet, but I began, for the first time, to play the oboe.
The first band practices (on clarinet) were daunting. I was lost more than I was on, and I was embarrassed. I wanted to plead to everyone (and no one in particular), "This is not me! I'm better than this!"
Fortunately, the band I was in needed (first) clarinetists badly enough that they cut me a lot of slack. Within a few weeks, I was feeling better. By the end of the season, I was holding my own with the others in my section -- two performance majors and a military band alumnus.
I picked up the oboe after that first summer season with the band, and when summer rolled around again this year, I boldly went where no one else would venture -- into the oboe chair.
Talk about having a ball! I have taken to the oboe like a duck to water.
And I can truly say that I appreciate this so much more NOW than I ever would have when I was younger. I am just so grateful to be able to do this, and to feel so good about doing something that I love.
I have to wonder, if I had pursued instrumental performance more seriously when I was a young adult, would I have gotten burned out and come to hate it? I was an English major in college and graduate school, and I am turned off of literature forever.
Does absence make the heart grow fonder?
Susan
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-09-13 09:38
>>>>
too much moisture in the horn and I need to remove reed and clean mouthpiece and swab horn every 15 minutes or so..What's the deal with that? I don't remember this being a problem all those years ago...
<<<<
Funny you should mention that. I too leak like a dog waiting for his cookies. Wondered if that's normal. After some ten minutes I get water out of the thumb hole. (fortunately the horn is plastic).
--
Ben
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