 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jerry
Date: 2000-08-19 14:50
I've posted it before but for those who have not read, I am 60+ years old and planning to learn the clarinet (no music skills, er ugh, knowledge, and was just wondering. What do you think of the idea of buying a MP (something like the Clark Forbes)to practice the, what do you call it, embaucher? .........while I investigate the purchase of a clarinet.
Okay! Just a thought. I'm starting to study some pages on how to read notes and all that fun (?) stuff.
~ jerry
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-08-19 15:21
Jerry--as one old fa-- to another I think it is a great idea. As a matter of fact i tell people if you can't get a sound out of the mouthpiece and a good reed you won't get a sound out of the horn. You will find that no matter what you do some mouthpieces they are impossible to work with. This is one of the reasons i gave up as a kid. No one ever told me this. i figured it was all me. Anyhow a good mouthpiece and a good reed are a good place to start. However you will get bored very very quick.
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Author: jerry
Date: 2000-08-19 15:40
"However you will get bored very very quick."
Thanks Bob. Maybe that will get me off the pot and on with a "C" selection.
~ jerry
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Author: Fred
Date: 2000-08-19 19:50
I'm not sure that I would go with the mouthpiece alone, Jerry. First of all, I've heard better sounds out of duck calls than the sound most of us (let alone new students) make with a mouthpiece alone. You've got neighbors, cats, dogs, and international treaties to consider.
Second, one of the rewards of a good embouchure (thanks, Mark) is a nice tone. You know it's a nice tone because you've heard nice tones before. How will you know when you've "done good" when it sounds like a cat got caught in your fan belt?
Then again, if you want to do it . . . just go ahead and do it. One of the advantages of embarking on a new adventure later in life is that most folks think you're close to the edge anyway, so you might as well have some fun and jerk their chains a little. They'll probably shake their heads sadly as you toot away, and all the while you can smile and plot your next grand adventure. After all, new adventures are all about having fun . . . ENJOY YOUR CLARINETTING!!!
(Did I just make up a new word?)
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Author: ron
Date: 2000-08-19 20:03
As another old fa--, Jerry -
Your mouthpiece idea is a good one. Some people do just that to keep their chops in shape. I agree with Bob however, you'll probably get a little bored with it pretty soon. There are only so many noises (mooing, squawking duck calls - etc.) you can make. No, I take it back, maybe you can invent some new ones. Annnnnnyway, it's fun.
Personally, I'd rather get a cheap horn in GOOD WORKING ORDER. Honk on it for a few weeks until you get a decent sound, then try different mouthpieces to get a feel for how they respond for you. The mouthpiece alone won't be a good indicator of the *clarinet sound* you want.
Leaning to read music, if only the basics, will be a great help to you later on - especially if you decide to play with others. It'll get you on the same page, so to speak and
I, along with many others, wish you well and - - -
Above all... Have fun playing the horn.
ron b.
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-08-19 20:20
As the Pres. of the Acker Bilk fan club. I wonder if Acker can play stanger on the shore with only a mouthpiece? i bet he can. however it would sound like a saxaphone mouthpiece.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-08-19 20:26
I would suggest adding at least the barrel to the mp, to achieve anything like a clarinet sound. The more the better, but have fun and start learning new skills. Don
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Author: Pam
Date: 2000-08-19 23:19
And to think that I had never heard of Acker Bilk until last week. Man! What else is my life missing? ;-)
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-08-20 00:26
When I first started, the band instructor had all the clarinetists play just the mouthpiece and reed for the first week just to get used to getting a good, clear, strong sound.
By the way, see the hint at the top of the bulletin board for the spelling of embouchure.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-08-20 06:16
You can have fun with just the mouth piece. Hold it in your right hand as you would a duck call and use the left hand for an adjustable mute. I got "Sweet Georgia Brown" out of mine as well bugging the heck out of my wife and kids. Some of the notes were almost in tune too.
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