 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-06-09 21:11
LBH wrote:
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Hey -
Okay, over the summer, I can take whateva new instrumnet I want. I want to take Oboe or Trumpet, I love the sound of it, and I think it would be cool to try it. However I'm really afraid of messing up, and basically ruining/loosing my Clarinet Embrochure. I mean.. Should I just forget the whole idea ?
Laurie
Laurie -
This has come up a lot, here and on the Klarinet board. Those who haven't tried it are always worried. Everyone who has tried it says it only makes your clarinet playing better.
So -- Do it!
Ken Shaw
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Author: lbh
Date: 2000-06-09 21:50
ken -
I'm not afraid .. I play Flute, Piccolo. I have tried Sax before, and I'm considering it, again. I don't know - My teacher wants me to stick with one instrument. I'm in a position where I'm dead if i screw up my embrochure.. it will be the death of me - i'm a top player in the band, and it won't be good if that well.. happens.. What about Eb Sop. Clari ? Same basic embrocure.. but like a piccolo so to say version of it.. and it's basically the same instrument.. I'm lookin for a summer project basically.
laur
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Author: Mike Irish
Date: 2000-06-10 04:58
go for it....enjoy it.....I wish I had been able to stay with the oboe, but being it was a school horn, it was left behind when I graduated in 77.... I have maintained a moderate level of clarnet practice and playing since... and recently got a pretty good deal on an oboe...I am having a blast again....as far as a brass instrument...I piddle around with the bugle have used bugle m/p and trumpet and at one time, used a french horn mp... I believe the switching around actually helped due to using different muscles....the oboe ( in orch ) realy helped with the clarinet ( in band ).... the fingering problem was minor...when I started, was given two weeks...
have fun...... Mike
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-06-10 06:47
Go for it! It will broaden your perspective of the different voices in the band even if you don't get to master that particular horn. I recently picked up an old King euphonium and an old tuba that I'm goofing around with. The only problem I've encountered so far is answering the phone after playing long tones for about 15 minutes. "Hewo diff eh Wilwie".
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-06-10 11:26
Willie wrote:
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Go for it! It will broaden your perspective of the different voices in the band even if you don't get to master that particular horn. I recently picked up an old King euphonium and an old tuba that I'm goofing around with. The only problem I've encountered so far is answering the phone after playing long tones for about 15 minutes. "Hewo diff eh Wilwie".
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My daughter calls this effect "rubber lips"
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Author: Pam
Date: 2000-06-10 15:43
My vote is with all the others! Broaden your experience as much as you can. I played trombone in stage and marching band with clarinet or bass clarinet the period right before for concert band. I don't remember any ill affects from switching around.
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Author: TwrlGrl
Date: 2000-06-10 16:41
I would go for learning a new instrument during the summer. This summer I'm learning how to play alto saxophone. I already play clarinet and alto clarinet. I like to try to play new horns, but I always remember to practice on my main instrument.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-06-13 18:24
lbh wrote:
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ken -
I'm not afraid .. I play Flute, Piccolo. I have tried Sax before, and I'm considering it, again. I don't know - My teacher wants me to stick with one instrument. I'm in a position where I'm dead if i screw up my embrochure.. it will be the death of me - i'm a top player in the band, and it won't be good if that well.. happens.. What about Eb Sop. Clari ? Same basic embrocure.. but like a piccolo so to say version of it.. and it's basically the same instrument.. I'm lookin for a summer project basically.
laur
Laur -
Think of what happens when you pick up a flute. You just start playing, right? You don't have to worry about the upper register being an octave rather than a twelfth higher, and you don't get confused on embouchure or fingerings. It's like loading two different programs into a computer -- they don't interfere with one another. The different feel of holding flute or clarinet cues the proper way of playing.
The more talent you have (and you are a top player, so you clearly have a lot), the easier it is to reprogram yourself.
The only way you could hurt your Bb clarinet playing would be to put that instrument away for the summer. As long as you continue to play both Bb and whatever else you choose, you will have no problems.
Eb clarinet is a good, conservative double to learn. It will strengthen your embouchure and will always be useful to know how to do. However, don't suppose that it's just the same thing as Bb. You have to reprogam yourself to play Eb just as much as you do to play flute. You have to learn to hear everything a fourth higher and change your breath support and embouchure to compensate.
There are also two other things you could do:
(1) Learn to transpose.
The basic transposition for clarinetists is to play a full step higher, in order to play parts written in C instead of Bb. This will be essential when you play in an orchestra or study in college.
Transposition is also a "reprogramming" operation. Probably the best way to learn is to read traditional songs playing along with a pianist, or play flute duets with a flutist. Once you get the knack, it's possible to do it on autopilot.
You will also want to learn to read down 1/2 step (to play A clarinet parts on Bb clarinet) and up 1/2 step (to play Bb parts on A). However, learn them one at a time.
Transposing won't confuse you, any more than playing flute or learning to read bass clef (also a good idea) will confuse you. It's just something else you know how to do.
(2) Learn to sing.
Get with a pianist for "standard" tunes. Sing with a madrigal group or a chorus. Sing with a church choir. Believe me, any singing group will welcome you with open arms. You already know how to breath better and deeper than most singers. You already can read notes faster than almost any singer. You already can hear intervals in your mind before you sing them, just by fingering "air clarinet."
Also, singing teaches you to bind long phrases together with your breath and how to make smaller groups of notes meld together into a phrase by using groups of words that go together.
So there's lots of things to do. Every one of them will help your clarinet playing. You have the luxury of choosing among lots of things, all of them good.
Have fun.
Ken Shaw
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