 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: magic
Date: 2008-04-03 21:16
I've played flute for 12 years now (I feel old admitting it!) and I recently decided to take up clarinet....because there was a cheap, tacky model in a cheap shop, so I bought it, gave it a try, decided I liked it but that I couldn't bare to play a tacky instrument that didn't even have the right mouthpiece (a sax mouthpiece!!!) and bought a yamaha 250....my husband thinks I'm a snob because Yamaha are my manufacturer of choice and I'll only play yamaha instruments.
Anyway...
I was hoping that you could give me some advice please?
I can't really have normal lessons, -I have a neuro condition that affects my hands so some days I can't use my hands, but most of the time I have limited use of my hands - it drives me mad but the only thing that will stop me playing my instruments, is if my hands are chopped off. So, given that I'm not really reliable, as in, I can't commit to say that I will be able to use my hands enough for x amount of time on xx day, normal lessons aren't really an option.
My husband plays sax (actually he plays alot of instruments, his baby is bass though) so he's been helping me with getting used to playing a reeded instrument.
Fingering isn't that bad, not particularly difficult (well, no more than playing flute, given the state of my hands) but I'm struggling with getting used to a reeded instrument.
I bought a book to learn from - grades 1-3 or something like that.
I was just wondering if anyone could give me any advice on learning to play a reeded instrument please?
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-04-03 22:16
If would suggest getting a neck strap so that you won't have to deal with the instruments weight.
Try to get a teacher at least for a few lessons to get you on the right track as that can save you a lot of trial and error time.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: D
Date: 2008-04-04 21:27
As an adult learner I have a teacher who fits me in, as and when is mutually convenient. This is about every two months. We both have lives, he makes his living performing, and my work life is insane. But it works as he can give a whole pile on instructions in one session and then I go away and work on it when I can. As you already read music what you actually need is someone who teachers you the other bits. Now, if you can find the right teacher, then the state of your hands is not going to be something which stops progress. You need to talk with some prospective teachers and find someone who is used to teaching adults and is not going to insist on working through method books or explaining what a semiquaver is ad nauseum.
What you need is someone who will listen to what you can do on days when you can play, and on the days when you have arranged a lesson but can't play then will work on other aspects. This might be going over rhythms you find hard to read. Or demonstrating different exercises for you to try.
I also second the suggestion of a neck strap. And probably one of those horrendously expensive thumb rests that looks like the Smash Robots sent it down with the mashed potato. The last thing you want to worry about is the weight of the instrument.
If you are managing the flute your hands are doing pretty well, but with clarinet you have probably already find the strain comes in different places. You might need to find some exercises to build up the muscles where you can. You'll also find the breathing on flute and clarinet are very different. I went flute, sax, clari myself and really noticed a difference. I would think of it as the flute is a big fat push of air with you controlling the column round the edges. The clari is a smaller column with your tongue acting as a valve. Get ready to blow but with your tongue on the reed, then release and replace the tongue. The pressure should remain the same in your body, whether there is sound coming out or not. You are probably going to notice that it is hard to get rid of all your air after being used to flute. Like oboe players we have to sometimes get rid of excess carbon dioxide. Be aware of getting rid of it and you'll probably start doing it quite naturally.
And have fun.
My latest venture is trombone - might be one for when your arms are working but the fingers are having an off day!......
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