 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Linda
Date: 2000-08-09 03:12
I have just started playing again after having quit for 15 years. Before that, I played for 18 years altogether, the last seven years in non-union gigs and then "minor league" orchestras...
I have been essentially removed from the clarinet world since 1985 and I have a number of questions:
1) How long does it take to get your chops back? What has been your experience. I feel like I can play pretty okay for not touching it for 15 years but am I fooling myself? When will my chops be like they were before, I wonder?
2) Equipment: I have been browsing the internet and have come across so many new developments such as all these new mouthpieces, ligatures, Eaton clarinets (any comments on those would be helpful) I always played Buffet R-13's and I used a Vandoren 5Rv mouthpiece. I sold all my equipment and I have to get a new mouthpiece and other items. Right now I'm using a Buffet that someone gave me but it's a stock mouthpiece, and I don't know where to begin to look... How long before my chops are good enough to even shop for a mouthpiece (!)
3) Does anyone live in the Baltimore, MD, Wilmington, Delaware, Philadelphia, or South New Jersey area who would be willing to get together and talk shop or play duets? I am within an hours drive of all these places.
THANKS SO MUCH. This site is great. I hope to hear from you all. Thanks again,
Linda
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Author: William
Date: 2000-08-09 04:31
Welcome back!!!! Play with the stock mp for a while. Don't try too much practice, too soon. For a few days,just play some of your old music until you feel tired. Soon, you regain some of your old stamina--you will know when you are ready to play for longer time periods. When you feel that you have some control over your tone quality and can play for more than one hour without tiring, it is then time to consider looking for a better mp. It sounds like you were a capable clarinetist before the "grand pause" in your playing career--everything should come back to you rather naturally if you take one step at a time. Again, welcome back--and, good luck once again finding the perfect reed.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-08-09 04:58
Welcome back! My clarinet sat in the closet for over 20 years. Those chops will come back probably sooner than you think.
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Author: Beejay
Date: 2000-08-09 06:11
Things haven't changed that much. The R13 is still one of the standards. The RV5 mouthpiece remains as it was. You can read about Peter Eaton clarinets by clicking on *sponsors* at the bottom of this page.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2000-08-09 07:11
My experience after a layoff was it's a lot easier to get back into the "swing"of things (thanks Benny) if you go back to the same mouthpiece you had when you stopped playing. Your muscle memory (OK, its really your brain, but I'm sure you've heard the term) will find it a lot easier to create the sound you once had without having to find a new configuration for corners, lips, tongue and what I call "chin drop."
Licorice stick always tastes better the second time around! Good luck!
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Author: Mark Charette, Webmaster
Date: 2000-08-09 11:02
Linda,
The stock mouthpieces on the R13 are wonderful barrel inserts; other than that they're pretty much worthless!
There's a great number of good mouthpieces out there (there were 15 years back, too, but I think communication among clarinet players is better now!). You might want to try the 5RV again, as someone suggested, for a while. As your chops come back, and considering you were a talented player, in 6 months or so you might want to start trying some of the custom mouthpieces available. There are a number who are sponsors of this site - check the sponsor's page for the names & URLs.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2000-08-10 02:45
1.I had experience to play flute and forget clarinet and to play clarinet and forget flute again and again. Typical time period to get my chop back was 3-6 months depending on routine exercise dilligence.
2.Since 1985 I feel reeds cane quality have degraded lametably. You might need (very much)more patience than before.
3.Vandoren mouthpieces are not what used to be by deteriorating last finishing. I might buy one 5RV and to ask refacer to make its table perfectly flat and its shape perfectly symmetrical(it costs about 20$,I guess). Technology became better but now good craftpeople became rare especially for mass products.
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-08-12 06:07
Welcome back, Linda!
I, like you, played for years and years, then took a long leave of absence - 30 years. Had something to do with steady work, raising a family and... stuff like that:|
I got older, came to my senses, retired and took up the horn again. Now, that was a wise thing to do:]
It comes back pretty quick. I mean, you never forget, you just don't have the endurance. But, that'll return. As mentioned above, don't push yourself too hard at first.
Hope you find someone to talk shop with soon. In the meantime it's a real pleasure that you came by here to share and encourage some of us other 'second-timers'.
ron b.
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2000-08-13 07:35
My primary advice is to BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF. I've seen so many good players chicken out of a comeback because it didn't all fall together immediately. It doesn't have to be that way.
As for mouthpieces, I agree with Mark. Use something cheaper like a 5RV or a Hite Premiere until your chops are really back. Then there will be many to choose from.
Traditional reed brands seem to have gone further downhill during your absence, but there some new upstart brands. I have really enjoyed Zonda reeds. They are one of several brands that offer reeds in more different strengths with more consistent cutting. Get yourself a Woodwind catalog and see what's around.
Good luck. Don't be hard on yourself, and I hope you stick with it. I had to reacquaint myself with the clarinet a few years ago as the result of excessive sax playing. It was worth every second I spent doing it!
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