 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sheffield
Date: 2006-12-18 08:54
HI All
Sorry to bother everyone, but I have acquired a clarinet, and have no idea where to start, I really would like to play this instrument, so any tips hints and advice anyone can give me would be great
John
(aged 40 and 1/4)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-12-18 09:05
John,
the pointy end comes into the mouth. (sorry, couldn't resist; however, I was in exactly the same situation roughly a year ago)
The best investment you can make is to find a teacher, if only for say ten lessons to get you up to speed.
Probably the most important thing to learn is how to form your embouchure and how to make a decent tone, and exactly this is one of the things that isn't really easy to explain and demonstrate in a BBoard.
I have no idea what clarinet you have, so I can't comment on equipment. Care to enlighten us a bit?
Good luck and welcome aboard.
--
Ben
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2006-12-18 11:39
We need to know a bit more about you as well as about the instrument.....
Have you played other instruments? Can you read music? Are your musical interests primarily classical, jazz, "other". Also tell us where you live (near Sheffield or near Reading, maybe????) in case anyone knows of a suitable teacher in the area.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
Post Edited (2006-12-18 11:41)
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Author: Sheffield
Date: 2006-12-18 12:40
HI All
And thanks for the replies, as for me, well I am disabled, I have a joint disorder which also affects my chest (collagen disease, but its not going to beat me)
I used to try and play electric bass, but the weight got to much for me, so had to give it in.
When I say I am a beginner, I really mean that in every sense, just starting out on this magical path.
My musical interests mainly range to jazz (jarrett, bechet, davis, coltrane brubeck, coleman) and avant garde (Cage, Reich, Glass) and other more mainstream (King Crimson mainstream????) and Chapman Stick type experimentalist music.
I live in sheffield and I am currently spying out teachers and where to start, managed to get some clarient books from the library (they were for sale 50p each, with lots of useful information re fingerings (ie) how get the notes, you know the funny black things with a tail) which has really fired my enthusiasm.
Many thanks all for your time and trouble, but if you dont know its better to ask than flap around in the dark, so I am asking.
Feel free to email me at studiodrama@blueyonder.co.uk
Be safe, be happy, be yourselves.
John
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Author: Sheffield
Date: 2006-12-18 12:41
Whoops
The Clarient is a Primo from J Scheerer & Sons in Leeds, I think its a Bb
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Author: chipper
Date: 2006-12-18 13:32
Having recently gone down this very path myself, I'd say get a music teacher. Not neciseraly a clarinet teacher, although that would be a bonus. First and foremost you must learn music. At this point the instrument with which you play is less significant than getting the basics, rythym, tone, musicallity, etc. Learn what the notation means, not just the notes, but all the little marks above the notes, the time signature, loudness, learn that so well that it becomes second nature. There is a lot going on on a piece of sheet music. As for style, initially I'd say forget about it. Early on a person asked me what style of music I could play. I said the kind with mostly quarter notes. Then practice, over and over again. Scales, arpedgios, thirds. Learn one song, practice with the scales, etc and end your practice with your song. When you get bored with that song, learn to play it better. Once you're familure with the piece you can concentrate on tone and musicallity. As a soloist you can play it however you wish. Now you're cooking with gas. Add a fluorish or two, change the rythym a bit. Have fun with your song. (mine was Unchained Melody, very simple) Then the next step. Find a community band or other group with whom you can play. Perhaps even another student. This, my dear, is a truely humbling experience. I sat with our community band for several sessions before playing a note. The music keeps moving. Cannot "go back and correct a note" like you can in your living room. And break that habit anyway. After a couple of years you'll actually be playing music. I had a cool experience: after playing for our community Christmas tree lighting, I'm putting away my horn and a couple who are aquaintances from our sailing club approached me and said, "hey, we didn't know you played with a band." How cool is that?
Oh, by the way, the repetetive nature of the practice caused the cat to move in with the neighbors and come to think of it I haven't seen the wife in a while, hmmm.
Carl
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2006-12-18 13:39
John,
You could also try the woodwind forum of the ABRSM:
http://forums.abrsm.org/index.php?act=idx
I started off pretty much the same as you and spent ages trawling the net prior to getting an instrument. There's a lot of excellent info there if you look hard.
I had the advantage of already reading music but if you don't, the Abracadabra books are great.
Steve
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Author: D
Date: 2006-12-18 19:41
I second the earlier suggestions. ABRSM forum, mainly because it can be very entertaining. And find a community music group. I go to one in Cambridgeshire which has people from about 4 to pretty much death. Loads of beginners on all sorts of instrument, lots of different groups and levels. As people have said, it doesn't matter if you go and don't play a note for a few weeks. The week that you play a few you'll feel on top of the world. And you'll take the music home and practice, and then next week you'll get a few more.
Also, if later on you start having trouble with the clarinet weight, there are slings and various suspension devices around that are worth investigating. Also whistle, harmonica, smaller recorders, cornet etc might be lighter or strain different places. Whether it is clari or electric bass keep playing! And if you can even partially hold a tune most community choirs are desperate for enthusiastic men.
Most important thing - have fun - but I think you've figured that one out already!
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Author: Cindyr
Date: 2006-12-18 19:43
I think Carl is giving some very good advice. I recently joined a community band, and was a bit overwhelmed by the difficulty of the pieces and quick pace at which the practice sessions were moving. I have a great encourager (another clarinet player) who has been in the band many years, she has helped me to hang in there. After two months, weekly band and individual practice, and two concerts, I'm feeling much more confident. I've learned to set my own goals for improvement and learning, and not compare myself to someone who has played continually for many years. (I played in high school and college, and resumed about a year ago after stopping for many years). A thought I would add is to practice some music that you enjoy playing somewhere in the practice seesion.
I think I've scared my cats with the clarinet practices, also, although I'm happy to say that my kids and husband are still around!
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Author: Sheffield
Date: 2006-12-18 20:06
HI All
And thanks again for the warm welcome and useful advice, I cna now almost squeak 3 notes C,D,E using the left hand.
The books I got in the library sale, I am carefully reading through as they seem to be good advice in them
Will keep you all posted on my progress.
Many thanks and feel free to email me. Because sometimes my mobility is seriously affected.
John
In Gratitude
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2006-12-19 03:36
John, you said, in part, "sometimes my mobility is seriously affected."
I'm 81, which is double your age, have RA and fibromyalgia and have not yet given up--although I have showed down one heck of a lot. Some weeks I really don't practice or play hardly at all (when I have a flare period) but it won't stop you as you can still think, physically handle your instrument (if comfortable) and work out fingerings and count, count, count, timings etc.
There are many wonderful folk on this BB who cope with similar or associated problems---so welcome to the "club" and enjoy what free periods that you can find.
I am pretty much restricted to playing Bass now, seated and with a floor peg. David Spiegelthal (on this BB) also modified the neck on my instrument so it is more easily played---SO hang in there and ask for help, all here are quite willing to give it.
Bob A
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Author: Sheffield
Date: 2006-12-19 09:45
Dear Bob
Thanks for the advice and I have no intention of giving up, just need to keep the old grey matter going, and the body as much as I can.
Thanks to all for the advice and tips, managing to get a fingering chart and going to have it blown up to A2/A3 size and slap it on the wall in font of me when I practice.
More about my condition, its called Marfans syndrome and affects the collagen in the body, which means my joints are breaking down (I was diagnosed at 32 which is very late) I have my lungs stapled to my ribcage to stop them collapsing and I have a leaking heart valve and advanced osteo-arthritis in my hips and shoulders, but this aint going to stop me, mainly because I love learning and trying to master new things, whether I am successful or not, going to give it a go, as well as learning photography and other stuff.
Many thanks and gratitude for the help, for a total novice, think I have managed to squeak 3 notes C,D,E (easy fingerings).
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Author: tedm
Date: 2006-12-20 02:16
Hi,
My daughter, son, and I just started a few months ago, and we recommend the red "Standards of Excellence" book.
If you've played other instruments before you can possibly get by with just the book, but of course a teacher would be helpful at the beginning.
Good luck!
2 Artley 17S & 1 Buffet B12 Crampon
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Author: Mark Fleming
Date: 2006-12-21 18:03
I haven't found a teacher yet, because I haven't looked. I'm sure that's what I need.
I bought the Standard of Excellence series, which look identical to the ones I used 40 years ago when learning the clarinet in grade school. Also available is "Essential Elements" and "Play Clarinet Today", both of which are in several volumes. Mail order music stores or Ebay are good places to look. Tone, posture, etc., are important, but playing that first song is probably more so.
My favoritebook series is Play Clarinet Today because it comes with a CD of all of the lessons. One of the things it does is make you play to a faster beat than you normally would.
Your "favorite" style of music will change. It will become "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Grandfather's Clock." No matter. Be sure to just do some random honking and trills for entertainment. One of the things I find frustrating about the neighbor girl's piano lessons is that it is all from a book with no creative individualism. When I ask her to just play notes that she likes, she reaches for a book. She just can't bring herself to sit down and make something up. I do a lot of that on my clarinets.
Mark
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-12-21 19:20
I had Peter Wastall's "Learn as you play" book, about one unit every week. No CD. When I failed to grasp the rhythm or the tune, I hacked the notes into Lilypond which produces - besides a very decent score sheet - a midi file. As a side-effect you learn the note names as you read and type them in. Sight-reading will improve. Not dramatically, but sustainable.
Relax from sheet music by playing by ear - the usual traditionals, maybe even an opera aria or a radio tune. You will develop a sense what pitch to expect when pressing this and that key. So once you have the melody in your ear, playing will become a lot easier.
So...two tunes a week in the beginning. One from a sheet, the other one "ad lib", even if it's only a short passage. Warm up with scales or trichords. You'll constantly stumble over them later, and it's good to have them in your fingers.
Keep practicing regularly. Better 15 minutes each day than two hours on sundays only. And don't forget: It's meant to be fun.
--
Ben
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Author: tedm
Date: 2006-12-21 19:24
Mark,
The standard of excellence books also come with cd's to play along with the lessons, and also a kind of rudimentary analysis program. (or our version of it did)
the play carinet now books also come in 2 versions that i'm aware of, one is with cd only which we've borrowed from the library, and another one at the bookstores that comes with a dvd as well.
we're happy with the red standard of excellence, and will be getting the 2nd green one soon.
we also get some variations from the band teacher, and there's probably a lot of music on the net as well.
I hope we will revisit the play clarinet now series again as well, since there might be some tunes or interesting arrangements not in the stds of excell. books.
Thanks!
2 Artley 17S & 1 Buffet B12 Crampon
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Author: Sheffield
Date: 2006-12-23 11:59
HI All
and thanks for the valuable and informative information, I am currently searching the libraries book sale for any interesting clarinet books, and currently looking round for dvd's as I dont have a video player.
Just installed Sibelius 3, to help me read music, and for general help all the way round.
You will all glad to hear, that I managed to get the embrouchure correct and now I can play notes, C,D,E,F although I get out of puff easily.
Many thanks and appreciation
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Author: seafaris
Date: 2006-12-23 14:17
Hi John,
I am 59 and have been playing for almost 3 years. My business is in Mexico and I don't have access to a teacher. I knew nothing about reading music. I play for fun. I have listened to jazz, big bands and standards my whole life and that helps a lot. My wife does play and has been a lot of help.
Look into the information below. Personally I play with Band in a Box. It is a lot of fun, you can change you tempo and keys easily, you can practice scales. if you want to learn jazz you will have to listen to it. Besides the players you mentioned listen to everything you can. I play about an hour a day and have a lot of fun. To me that is the main idea until I start spending more time in the states, then I will take some lessons. Hope this helps.
John O'Neill The Jazz Method
Essential Elements For Jazz Ensemble
Jamie Abersold Music Books
www.pgmusic.com
http://www.smartmusic.com/
Best of luck!
...Jim
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Author: tedm
Date: 2006-12-23 17:29
cool, your next note will be very easy, just rest the whole instrument on your R thumb, and take your left thumb off the thumb hole, that note is G.
I'm not sure what is next, I've learned an A where you roll your left index finger up on some dongle, and also a B where you use your R hand to cover a hole, it starts getting complicated after the G, but there are a lot of tunes you can cover with what you already know!
2 Artley 17S & 1 Buffet B12 Crampon
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Author: Sheffield
Date: 2006-12-23 17:50
hi All
thanks for the great advice and inspiration, I am doing what I can, to get there, the pointy bit fits ok, and managing to stop squeaking.
Can anybody help with me getting some instructional DVDS? email me
john
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-12-23 18:53
> Can anybody help with me getting some instructional DVDS?
Don't. I have one. It explains at length what a swab is and where the ligature (that metal thumbscrew) comes. And how to lick a reed before fitting. How to tune your clarinet (very useful when solo at home). But next to nothing about how to operate the register key or how to stop worrying about it.
Save that money and get a teacher.
For sale: Instructional DVD. Near mint condition (run only once). Allow six weeks for rummaging in the attic.
--
Ben
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Author: Sheffield
Date: 2006-12-23 20:27
HI Ben
thanks for the reply, but I think I have managed to work out the pointy end from the blunt end, and what the parts are.
Many Thanks
John
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The Clarinet Pages
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