 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: trumper
Date: 2008-01-15 02:23
After many years of percussion and brass I've decided to at least learn the basics of playing a woodwind. I have a Conn 16 clarinet which appears to be in good condition - relatively new pads, good corks and spring action seems to be good and purchased for ~$45. It does need a mouthpiece as the tip has a chip. Would appreciate help with the following questions.
Any recommendations on a good student/intermediate mouthpiece? Assume a standard ligature is okay?
I'm using RICO 2 1/2 reeds which I understand are good beginner reeds.
Understand the 16 was a student model. Curious what years it was manufactured and any opinions on how good of an student instrument it is?
Was surprised to see the rivet for the register keyhole extending into the upper barrel. Appears to be normal but would have expected nothing would extend into the airflow. Again curious if this is unique to this horn or typical of clarinets?
Appreciate any answers or recommendations. Thanks!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2008-01-15 03:50
Attachment: ShawMethod.bmp (154k)
trumper,
At the risk of violating someone's copyright... the attachment is an excerpt from the Artie Shaw Clarinet Method book, which is unfortunately no longer available. It describes Artie's mouthpiece philosophy, among other things. If you can find someone who plays better than Artie did, take her/his advice instead.
IMO standard Rico reeds are not very good. Try Rico Royal, if you want to stay with the brand. Go down in strength to a #2 until you've been playing a month or two and your embouchure has developed.
The register tube is supposed to intrude into the bore. Try to avoid getting your swab caught on it.
Last but not least, try to find a competent teacher who can show you what to do and what not to do so that you don't pick up any bad habits.
Regards,
Hans
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lann
Date: 2008-01-15 05:01
Things I wish my first clarinet teacher would have told me:
Ricos are cheap, meaning you can buy several in different sizes, play around, and not be out a whole lot of money. Yes, you'll want to end up on something else. But it's sort of like buying the lowest grade of petrol. Your car will go, sure. And you'll be fine, yes. However, paying extra is very much worth it.
Don't be worried about playing on a hard reed. I've been playing for 12 years, and I play on a 2.5 (Mitchel Lurie) because I have a terrible jaw. One of my repair tech mentors gave me a big long lecture about reeds being like shoes somehow? I just remember that he sent me home with 5 reeds, strengths coded, and I was to come back in a week with the one that my band director liked me best on. So, don't be biased, or think it makes you less of a musician to play a softer reed.
Got any clarinet player pals? Have them give the instrument a whirl to make sure that all of the squeaking is your fault. Unless your best friend happens to also be a repair tech, this is the quickest way to find out if anything is wrong.
Ligatures are a whole nother (that's right, I said it) story. Don't crank the reed into the mouthpiece, just put it on tight enough to hold it in place. For now, your little metal ligature will do the trick. All that matters is that you don't crank down on the screws.
There are a lot of great mouthpieces that you can get for $20 or less *cough*Hite Premier*cough*...I actually have no bias, but this only one I can recall off the top of my head because mine has treated me so well.
I second getting a teacher. I was embarrassed, after being a well established clarinet player, dragging my new old french horn into a teacher who was about my age. But I have no doubt in my mind that she got me into good habits.
And remember---swab top to bottom. That will help with getting things stuck in your instrument.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-01-15 09:28
For inexpensive good mouthpieces the ones I tried and liked are Yamaha (4C is most common), Hite Premiere, Fobes Debut. there are more options recommended on the forum.
If you can afford it, I can recommend the Vandoren Masters ligature. It is $20 and is as good as any ligature. I guess there are good cheaper ligatures but I've seen some cheap generic ones that were pretty bad and broke too easily. I have my Masters for probably 15 years.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-01-15 13:16
In high school I played mitchel lurie premium #5 1/2
couldn't imagine playing that now. I guess I substituted macho heavy reed stupidity with heavy weights at the gym......
The avoid getting you swab caught advice is good, how you do it is to make sure that your swab (get a silk one which has a much less chance of getting stuck) is completely unwrapped when you put it through. If it is bunched up at all it can get stuck pretty easily. I avoid cloth swabs as they get stuck a lot easier and the chamois swabs that come free with clarinets(brown small squares with the exposed metal end) swabs don't do anything much at all.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2008-01-15 19:10
The best way to keep a swab from getting stuck is to back it out the way it went in as soon as it feels tight! Honestly, some guys can be real ding-dongs about insisting that the swab MUST come out the other end, then feel like a real dope about having to ask for help to cut it apart when it's firmly stuck.
The silk swabs are wonderful, just pause them for a second or two to soak up the moisture on the way through. The Buffet cotton swab that I have can get stuck if it bunches up, as was mentioned above. It's been allocated to only oiling duties, so doesn't get a lot of use.
There are lots of good ideas above. Yes, have an experienced person check over your clarinet equipment. It's pretty discouraging to struggle just to find out it wasn't you after all, a pad was loose or missing, or the keys were twisted.
And talking about twisted keys, use a good cork grease! If there's sufficient resistance in assembling your clarinet, you'll be twisting your keys in the attempt. Then pads aren't centered, won't seal, leading to problems playing the thing.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: trumper
Date: 2008-01-16 02:06
Thanks Hans!
I do expect to get a teacher in the near future. I agree there is probably nothing better you can do to learn and progress on any instrument.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: trumper
Date: 2008-01-16 02:11
Lann, appreciate you taking the time to share your insights/perspective. I've gotten a couple of other recommendations on the Hite Premier so I'm likely pick one up this weekend!
Oh yes, a teacher is surely on the list!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2008-01-16 02:23
As far as ligature goes (and I may get flamed for this), but IMO, the easiest to use, and one of the best ligatures (and still VERY cheap) is the basic, cheapest rovner ligature. Around 15 to 20 bucks new, and much cheaper secondhand. And I'm willing to bet one of the clarinetists you know has one laying around somewhere not in use.
Best thing I find about that ligature is that I can (even though some people say not to) really crank it down and doesn't seem to effect my playing negatively. And it's a piece of cake to put on. One screw in the back, and just tighten. That's it. Also, it'll last for a VERY long time, you don't need to worry about it getting bent (you should see the sad state my bonade ligature is in after some air-travel) and it's VERY unlikely you'll scratch your mouthpiece table/rails with it's softer material.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-01-16 02:28
I use the Rovner for young students up till they hit late middle or high school. Works great and is really durable.
Sax monster Dale Underwood cranks the Rovner quite tightly as a former sax student of mine who studies with him at Univ Maryland told me.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
