 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TheVelho
Date: 2006-07-14 21:03
Hey,
I finally ordered a Forte' clarinet this week end. Today was the first day I had enough time and was in the right place to really try it and play it. (The place is quite important since people usually don't like hearing ``squeek squeek'' all the time...) Here is a pic of the clarinet :
http://thevelho88.free.fr/clar/forte.jpg
Today is the 14th of july in France so I tried to play the national anthem for fun, but it's quite hard and hurts a bit so I had to stop before I could avoid all squeeks and other problems... I don't take lessons yet because I'm on holidays but I will when I get back home. I'll try to play simplier pieces at first. Here is a recording of my experiments :
http://thevelho88.free.fr/clar/clarinouille.mp3
Have a good day and sorry for having destroyed your ears,
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2006-07-14 21:17
Ah memories!
Keep at it. I'm sure your teacher will have a few helpful hints at your 1st lesson.
You will likely improve rapidly as long as you stick it out and practice.
All in all, not bad for a beginner on his own.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2006-07-14 21:50
TheVelho --
You could make a clip of your playing each week, and keep it like a scrapbook of baby pictures, which you would then have fun looking back over and saying, "I can't believe how he's grown!"
I just played your first clip, and I have to tell you, my dog identified it right away as a clarinet (this is not a bad thing -- she hates clarinets, but never comments at all on the oboe and other instruments, so your tone must be pretty identifiable, to her ears).
Keep it up!
Susan
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-07-14 22:14
Cheers to you, TheVelho, and your fabulous new clarinet. When I first discovered clarinet, I fell in love - in no less powerful a way than one does with a person - and your comments and recording are a (wonderful) reminder of that time. I envy you your experiences right now. Best!
Bill Fogle
Washington, DC
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Author: ClarinetMaster
Date: 2006-07-17 16:46
I'm from the US so I'm not too familiar with the song although I've heard it before... but from what I could tell I think most of your mistakes were with fingering... I've played worse before and I'm sure I'll play worse than that again... For a beginner that really wasn't bad I was a LOT worse when I started... ah the memories... anyway just keep practicing and you'll get better... If this clarinet isn't right for you sell it, ask for a good price and with the money you get buy a clarinet that will work for you (test by maybe borrowing a friend's clarinet and seeing if it works for you, or renting one so you aren't stuck with a clarinet you hate when you find the right clarinet take the model # down and brand and BUY IT!!!) BTW I had the same expirience as Bill did...
~Katie
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Author: TheVelho
Date: 2006-08-07 09:16
Hi all,
Thank you for all your replies. I think I begin to understand what Bill was saying when he said that he fell in love with the clarinet...
Since last time, I took one clarinet lesson for the summer, so that I would be able to experiment it more, without the fear of catching bad habits, etc... (I think one quite important thing to work for me is to tighten my lips correctly, especially on the sides of the mouthpiece.)
I've been able to record a bit more of the ``clarinet experiments''... (There is a music room in the campus where I stay for the summer.)
First, here is a theme from a video game that I enjoy a lot, and that some might possibly recognize : http://thevelho88.free.fr/clar/clariyoshi.mp3.
After that comes something more strange; I do (and let resonate) a silly chord on a piano (which is in the music room) and I ``play'' something over it: http://thevelho88.free.fr/clar/claripanet.mp3.
(Warning: There are some violent ``squeeks'' in this one, so prepare your ears to suffer if you decide to listen to this...)
Thanks for listening if you did, and have a nice day.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-08-07 09:32
Do you play some other instrument before you started clarinet? Your rhythm is not bad at all! and your improvisation is melodic and musical most of the time. Pretty impressive considering your clarinet level!
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Author: TheVelho
Date: 2006-08-09 09:24
What is the ergonomic key exactly ?
Is it normal that my right thumb hurts when I play for a long time ?
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Author: clarinet@55
Date: 2006-08-09 17:04
You have played other clarinets before this one, correct?
If so , consider the reed, maybe a size smaller to start out with, until your used to it ,then go up a half.
I'm having somewhat the same problem , after years of not playing any. I used to play a size 3 reed, but found less squeekes with a 2 1/2.
Good luck! You'll get "the hang of it". Don't get discouraged.
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Author: TheVelho
Date: 2006-08-10 08:30
Hi,
This is my first clarinet and I never played it before that. The clarinet came with two 2.1/2 reeds and I bought myself a ``student strenth'' plastic reed, two strengh 2.1/2 Vandorens and two strengh 3 Vandorens.
I try to play them all so that I can get used to all of them.
For now, my favorite is one of the two 2.1/2 Vandorens, that I marked with a pen. It is really nicer than the other of the same brand/strenth.
Yesterday and the day before I tried to learn and play the song Petite Fleur by Sydney Bechet, which I submit to you :
http://thevelho88.free.fr/clar/clarpf.mp3
I hope you'll like it. I think there are some little problems such as a bit of rhythm and some sqeaks. Also, since the end of the recording ``goes nonsense'', you might not want to listen to it to the end ;-).
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