 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bartmann
Date: 2006-06-19 14:10
Over the past months I've become more focused on the flute than my clarinet for many reasons: quick set up and break down time. no reeds, large baroque repertoire, easier to play for longer, and most especially, the use of vibrato makes creative expression more interesting to me.
My question is this, I have a wonderful Brannonized R13, with tons of sheet music, what do I do with all this hard earned stuff? I've so identified my self as a clarinetist and dedicated so much time over the years that emotionally I can't just sell this stuff. Yet as I become better at the flute, (something that is happening very quickly) I find myself not interested in playing the clarinet on the weekends for about 1 hour and a half.
I'm thinking about keeping all my gear, watering my clarinets, and just holding out for a couple of years until I have a better idea of what to do.
Any similar experiences?
Bart
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-06-19 16:02
Bart, what do you mean by "watering" your clarinets?
But, I agree you need to hold out for a while before deciding to sell or do away with your clarinet gear. There will always be a market for a good R-13 that has been Brannenized. I've made lots of bad decisions about selling gear too quickly when I thought I didn't play it/them enough. Later I've regretted it and haven't been able to afford to get back the stuff I've sold. So, this "honeymoon" with the flute isn't a solid relationship yet. If you find after a year or so that you really don't want to play clarinet again, then would be the time to sell off your clarinet gear.
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Author: Bruno
Date: 2006-06-19 16:19
Don't sell your clarinet gear. The same thing happened to me because flute is a wonderful and seductive instrument. But I'm betting you will want to play clarinet again someday, if only as a second horn. You must ask yourself what it would cost to replace your present clarinet. IMHO, far more than you'd ever get selling it.
Brenda S. said give it a year before selling out. I'd say give it at least five years.
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2006-06-19 19:47
I would say hold onto it, too. If you really can't stand to have it around any longer, I would be happy to pay the shipping to have it sent to me in San Francisco!
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Author: Radjammin
Date: 2006-06-19 20:54
Is it a money issue?
If it is I would say you need to have your primary horn the best quality possible. If it's not and your new secondary is better I would said downgrade and put the money into your primary.
You can't play them all at once. Your primary should be the best you can afford.
Maybe sell it and pick up a R11, still a good horn and sink the money into a new flute? I wouldn't however completely get rid of a clarient with so much time invested in it.
Sax/Trumpet player
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-06-20 00:19
Please send me all of your spare clarinets and clarinet music.
Send it collect!
Please
Bob Phillips
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Author: joeyscl
Date: 2006-06-20 23:37
I'd say Keep it..... unless you're about to be evicted bu your land lord for over due rents
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Author: ned
Date: 2006-06-21 04:01
''the use of vibrato makes creative expression more interesting to me.''
An interesting comment from Bart who is contemplating making the flute his major instrument.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2006-06-21 10:44
I "quit for good" once. Glad I kept the clarinet, because having it right there available in my closet, instead of going out and spending money when I wasn't really sure I wanted to go back to playing, gave me just enough of an incentive to pick up the instrument again. Taking it out of the closet was easy and there was no reason not to take it out. Also, as long as you have the ability to double, why not keep the means to do so? You never know what life might float in your direction. Some sort of interesting gig might turn up for which you might need both your flute and your clarinet skills.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Pathik
Date: 2006-06-21 10:55
You ask: "What do I do with my clarinet?" Only you can know the answer to that.....but my advice is:
Play it! ...and if you don't feel like playing it just now, keep it. Do not even think about getting rid of it. One fine day you will want to play the clarinet again, you just wait and see!
Pathik
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2006-06-21 12:07
I would hang on to it. Right now, as a relative beginner on flute, with transferrable skills from your clarinet, you are probably making progress by leaps and bounds. Unless you are a true prodigy, however, you will eventually reach a point where progressing to the next level on flute (and it will probably be below you highest level on clarinet) requires a great deal more effort. At that point, your love affair with the flute may continue or it may cool. If it cools, you may wish you still had your clarinet. And, of course, being able to play both opens up considerably more performance opportunities. I've been through this before with a variety of instruments and I've seen my daughter go through it with instruments, dance and voice.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2006-06-21 12:27
I empathise completely with your feelings. Have had love affairs with both the oboe and the flute and I still play both of them, although only the oboe as a for pay job. You are right that the vibrato on both adds a lot of musical expression that is more suppressed / frowned upon on clarinet. However I do sneak some into my performances, especially when playing with oboes or flutes. Excess vibrato does not sound good on clarinet, but a subtle one I do like.
My ability to do jobs is always increased because I can play a number of instruments. Especially for shows when you get "Reed 1" book that has everything but the kitchen sink to play. Therefore I'd definitely keep your Buffet, if only for that reason. Generally these gigs pay pretty well even though they're not musically all that exciting.
Right now I do a rotation of my instruments each day as I practice,and when I have time I try to give each of my main instruments an hour. Even a 4 to 1 ratio of flute to clarinet practice would keep your chops going and would allow you to kep both instruments in your arsenal.
Eefer guy
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-06-21 14:41
To chime in once more, I quit the clarinet totally TWICE in my life and both times sold my equipment (as recently as a few years ago). When I decided it was a great outlet for me and my life changed to allow time for it again, I no longer owned the absolutely top-drawer wonderful equipment and couldn't afford to buy new stuff like my old stuff. I still am trying to get geared up to what I sold off a few years ago. I genuinely regret selling a fantastic Buffet R-13 Greenline that had been Brannenized and a magnificent Buffet Prestige that had been hand-selected by my professor at the factory in Paris, along with many original Kaspar mouthpieces. My list is long, and on it are many great instruments that have passed through my hands over the years.
I have wonderful equipment right now, but I'm still paying for some of it. So, the bottom line is--hang on to the good stuff. Unless, as mentioned already, you need the money.
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Author: Bartmann
Date: 2006-06-21 15:37
Ebclarinet1,
I have been "sneaking" in a subtle vibrato in some of my performances: very subtle though. Mostly on more pastoral pieces.
Brenda,
Your own experiences are what I fear the most could happen if I sell my equipment. Thank you for telling me.
The real issue is not money, rather time, I don't have the time to play both well. But certainly my life situation will change, and when I have more time, I'll be happy that I still have my clarinet to pick up and play.
Thanks,
Bart
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-06-21 15:50
Yes, Bart, you will have the time one day and you will be glad you kept your clarinet equipment. The clarinet is a truly remarkable instrument and it has a huge range of potential for much expression. Listen to Ricardo Morales, for example--or to go in a slightly different direction--Richard Stoltzman. Or, how about Benny Goodman--or perhaps someone like Eddie Daniels?
Perhaps I'm a peculiar person, but I think the clarinet has more potential for expression than the flute. Oh, I agree the vibrato thing is a nice touch and the flute is a beautiful thing to hear played well--but, when you listen to someone who can move your heart on the clarinet--that's a truly wonderful experience.
I'm glad you're keeping your stuff.
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