 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tkillian
Date: 2007-11-05 13:37
I have a student who has played out of tune for the last 2 years.
Ive tried everthing, new mouthpiece, getting her clarinet "fixed", all different reed strengths, chaning the embouchure...
Then this year for whatever reason I looked at her barrell. Its shorter and fatter than ANY other barrell on all the clarinets Ive ever seen. EXCEPT where the barell meets the body of the clarinet. In other words if I take a normal student clarinet and have her put her mouthpiece and barrel on it, it wont fit...and vise versa...
Hers is an OLD students model.
The Bb and A are the worst out of tune and things get better as you move away from those notes in either direction.
We have tried to put other barrels on her clarinet but they dont fit...
So whats the deal...Im a percussionist and we have no professional clarinet players around here to ask.
Oh, and on all other clarinets she plays in tune.
Its driving me crazy.
tk
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-11-05 13:43
The barrel may be part of a "high pitch" setup (A=442..446), if it is original at all. What happens if you have her pull out the barrel a bit (say 1..3 mm)? Will that improve the situation?
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Ben
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Author: tkillian
Date: 2007-11-05 13:43
By the way, and this makes obvious sense....she plays SHARP....
in response to previous post...it DOES help initially but then everthing else is out of whack....
she does have embouchure "issues"
Post Edited (2007-11-05 13:45)
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Author: tkillian
Date: 2007-11-05 13:50
Also,
This is to just make me feel better....
Is this rare for a student clarinet?
Ive been teaching 15 years and this is the first time Ive ever run into this.
So is it safe to say that it was an honest oversight on my part?
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-11-05 14:09
Okay...if pulling the barrel puts everything else out of whack, then the clarinet is either not a Bb clarinet (but rather a C or maybe even a Bnat clarinet, as they do have comparably short barrels), or it is in serious need of an overhaul or complete replacement.
Does this student have a private teacher (I understand you're "only" the band director); if yes, what does he/she say about this?
In a nutshell - if she plays fine on other clarinets, have her play on other clarinets. No need to torment either her or yourself.
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Ben
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-11-05 14:40
T K , Have you measured her barrel length [in mm] ? Most clarinets and prob. nearly all student models use barrels about 64 to 66 mm in length to tune to 440 Hertz, shorter by about 1 mm to tune to 442. Yes "pulling the barrel" preferably at the barrel's lower socket should establish the right length. Then reproduce that setting every time, OR, I'd suggest the use of a tuning ring in that socket, slightly thinner than the tuning "gap", OR procuring another correctly-dimensioned barrel from one of our BBoarder-makers . For most of us, this is our tuning routine. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2007-11-05 15:05
Out of curiosity, what make/model clarinet does this student play? Any ideas as to its age? Since you say that other barrrels are too snug to fit on this clarinet, you may need to go to the manufacturer to finde a suitable replacement barrel. Having one custom made for a student clarinet seems like a waste of money.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: pelo_ensortijado
Date: 2007-11-05 17:30
why not try to get her a new one. that should solve the problem very easily...
an used yamaha on beginners level cost about 100$ if lucky. and then maybe new pads and stuff for about 100$ more?
will save a lot of sweat and tears!
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-11-06 01:20
Has she tried playing another student's clarinet?? Some clarinets are just badly made and it might not be her fault.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2007-11-06 01:51
When you say the barrels of other clarinets do not fit, are they somewhat snug on the tenon, or are they not even close? I am wondering if you were to find a cheap used barrel that was a couple mm longer and sand the socket if it might fit. I had a student who was way off on an old horn and found his barrel was a couple of mm too short.
Post Edited (2007-11-06 03:00)
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-11-06 08:45
just read the original post again. the last line, 'On all other clarinets she plays in tune.' ... then get her a different clarinet.
You didn't mention- what kind of clarinet is it? name, model?
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Author: tkillian
Date: 2007-11-06 19:02
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I checked this students clarinet. The name brand is rubbed off. I know its her grandmothers so its old.
The barrel is 2 1/2 " long.
I measures 5 other clarinet barrels of my students, all different brands and they are are 2 and 5/8" long...
So I guess that extra 1/8" makes a difference??
The obvious "Just get her another clarinet" suggestion doesnt really work.
I wont go into the details but maybe I could share this info and it will help.
I also tried the other barrells on her clarinet and they are ALL too loose.
So in not only is too long but its also THINNER than other clarents at least where the barrel meets the body.
So IS there a RING I can fit onto the body to lengthen the clarinet 1/8"???
These exsist correct?
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-11-06 19:17
Yes, you can put a ring between upper joint and barrel. But try without a ring first - just pull out this eighth of an inch. If the clarinet isn't in tune with itself any longer, a ring won't help either.
Then - if you have to pull the barrel, it is likely that you have to pull between joints as well, say 2mm for the barrel and 1mm between joints. So, before you invest in rings, experiment a bit "on the loose".
Third, if the inner diameter of a replacement barrel is the same as the one on the upper joint, you might buy a new barrel and have the upper joint recorked so that it doesn't wobble any more.
--
Ben
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Author: Fred
Date: 2007-11-06 20:56
"The Bb and A are the worst out of tune and things get better as you move away from those notes in either direction."
It could be something as simple as insufficient cork under the A key which would allow the A and Ab key to raise too high - thus going sharp.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-11-06 21:49
Yes, T K, that 1/8 " as about 3 mm, and could make the tuning diff., 63 vs 66+ mm barrel length, so try "pulling the barrel" by about 1/8 ". Yes, tuning rings are available, you could "shape" a garden hose "washer" to fit into the lower socket and solve this problem, simply. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: ken
Date: 2007-11-06 22:56
As if you need more errant advice to confuse the issue ...
Have you confirmed this horn is a B-flat Boehm system clarinet?
This mystery brand clarinet might just be the culprit and not the mismatched barrels, repair job, mouthpieces and cane; and if the student doesn't play out of tune on other instruments, it's not poor breath support either. I would start entertaining throwing in the towel and get her off Grandmas' "thing" and on a decent horn. v/r Ken
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2007-11-06 23:50
since it was her grandmama's, it may be High Pitched (A at 444 or more).
To make a normal barrel fit on her clarinet- just wrap plumber's teflon tape around the top cork many times to get it bigger.
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