 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: huff n' puff
Date: 2008-12-23 10:11
Hi, all.......... this may be a non- starter, but would it be a good idea to assemble some of the many hints and tips that are scattered about the forum into one heap for the benefit (mainly but not exclusively) of newcomers to the clarinet......... the sort of things that no-one tells you, based on common-sense or experience, and are unlikely to be in the Beginner's Guide to...........
Perhaps I could kick off with one of each that are high on my list........
DO:- Get into the habit of checking the small screw on the G# key- that the A key has that little bit of free movement- every time you assemble the clarinet.......... you may suddenly lose half of your notes in the middle of something if that screw moves.
DON'T:- Pull a swab through the mouthpiece! This can cause terrible damage to the tip of the mouthpiece..... the type of damage (wear) that creeps up on you and you won't notice until it is too late.
Claire Annette....... I think you have a bit of advice to pass on.... probably fits into the "daft" category, but valid.
Also, what about a condensed version of the "exhaling stale air" debate?
Etc etc.............. H&P.
Post Edited (2008-12-23 18:40)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-12-23 13:12
DO make sure to start out with a competent teacher when you begin playing the clarinet.
DON'T buy your instrument from Wallyworld. (See the thread in the Keepers section about CSOs)
Putting the instrument back into its case when you are done (AFTER swabbing) is NOT optional.
DON'T leave the reed on the mouthpiece.
DO rotate your reeds.
DON'T believe that playing a harder reed makes you more advanced or "professional." Use the reed that works best with your setup. When in doubt ask your teacher (See first suggestion).
If you don't know what you're doing, DO leave the repairs to qualified techs.
DO learn to adjust reeds.
DO practice (as much as possible) on a daily basis.
DON'T look to expensive new purchases to solve problems you are having because of inadequate technique. If you haven't mastered the fundamentals, a new ligature, mouthpiece, barrel, bell or instrument is probably NOT the solution to your problem.
DON'T get rid of the plastic clarinet when you upgrade to a better instrument. You will eed it later for outdoor performances in bad weather, marching, etc.
DON'T march with your good mouthpiece!
“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: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-12-23 14:31
huff n' puff said DON'T:- Pull a swab through the mouthpiece! This can cause terrible damage to the tip of the mouthpiece..... the type of damage (wear) that creeps up on you and you won't notice until it is too late.
I've been doing it for years, many years. It's really not a problem if done right and carefully. Using a Silk swab, very soft and not abrasive, not having a metal weight on it of course, pulling it through wide opened, not bunched up, a good idea always anyway, and pulling it through from back to tip and not pulling it through the facing but rather the other side of the mouthpiece. Never been a problem for me and I've had the same mouthpiece for almost 20 years now. It's just a matter of being careful and using common sense. ESP
www.peabody.jhu.edu/457 Listen to a little Mozart, live performance.
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Author: William
Date: 2008-12-23 16:14
I swab, with a silk as DB suggests, my vintage Chicago Kaspar--been doing it for 40 yrs--and it is still as good as new. I also use Lime-Away (full strength) to rid it of the calcium buildup from playing with no damage to either the shine nor the tip, rails or table.
[ snipped - GBK ]
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Author: eac
Date: 2008-12-23 17:15
Don't ever leave rubber bands in your clarinet case. The sulfur from the rubber will corrode silver. Even if your keys aren't silver, don't think you'll remember not to leave a rubber band in your case when and if you upgrade to an instrument with silver keys. I've seen at least once nice instrument damaged by an "innocent" rubber band holding two paper reed holders together.
liz
Liz Leckey
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Author: GBK
Date: 2008-12-23 17:28
When packing your clarinets and preparing to play a gig, performance, concert, etc... DON'T forget to put your mouthpiece in the case.
Corollary #1 - DO carry a spare mouthpiece with you at all times.
...GBK (who, more than once, has loaned his spare mouthpiece to forgetful colleagues)
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Author: huff n' puff
Date: 2008-12-23 18:32
Hi, Ed, David,William........
This is something I never do myself, but I saw the damage on a friend's mouthpiece, and I honestly don't know how he manages to play his clarinet at all. I couldn't think how it got into that state, but then I saw him dragging the swab through, and saw the "string" sawing it's way into the mouthpiece. Couldn't tell you what the swab was made of, but I would blame the cord for the damage. So maybe the warning should be directed towards choice of string. Silken cords from the mysterious Orient might do?
After playing, I am more inclined to clean the reed, blow the moisture off the lay, and perhaps clean the Mp later with a small delicate plastic covered brush........ a bit like a teapot spout brush. I just try to avoid any physical contact with the lay, maybe just a dabbing motion with a cloth...... H&P.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-12-23 18:41
This list reminds me of the Ten Commandments. And I admit, I'm a sinner. ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
--
Ben
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-12-24 02:44
True, never pull a swab over the facing, pull it through the other side so it doesn't touch the facing or tip. Of course the string and or the weight should never touch the tip - facing either. ESP
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-12-24 05:41
I read the posts on this thread and let's see.....
I originally adjusted the G# screw on my clarinet securely, so I only rarely check it (and never, in years, had a problem with it). I occasionally swab my mouthpiece. I don't always put my clarinets in their case after playing and swabing them. I sometimes leave the reed on the mouthpiece (and then play it again, many times). I don't rotate my reeds (they work best in the normal direction ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif) ). I did my own repairs on my own instruments long before I "officially" became a repairer. I learned just a little about adjusting reeds, but I only very rarely do it (almost never). I've never needed my old plastic clarinet ever since I got my good clarinet, and in the few outdoor concerts I played, I used my good clarinets. I also use my good mouthpieces for these outdoor concerts. I never have a spare mouthpiece with me at all times. Hmm.......
I have only one DO and one DON'T.
DO listen to logic and common sense when reading any advice about your clarinet or playing, for example on the internet, regardless of who is the person giving the advice.
DON'T automatically accept any advice you hear or read, for example on the internet, or from another player, without first doing the DO.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2008-12-24 10:00
'Do' learn /all/ your scales, up to 6 sharps/flats (not just the 'easy' ones, which was my mistake; they're all equally valuable).
'Do' wipe out the sockets when you put the instrument to bed.
And as always, wise words from GBK about spare mouthpieces. They do occasionally go walkabout, or commit seppuku - I've missed concerts for just this reason.
*
I try and avoid 'don'ts' but here's two I try and show beginners so that they never ever do them again:
*1. Don't stand the instrument on its end without a stand. It WILL fall over and you'll lose the mouthpiece just like that.*
*2. Don't put the instrument across your chair. You WILL sit on it and lose the middle joint (and hence the whole instrument). If you must put it on your chair, DO split it at the middle joint first.*
In fact, my 'DO' here is this: if you see a clarinet in this state, DO rush over and correct the situation before you witness a disaster.
*
As for cleaning... I've always pulled through the mouthpiece from the tenon to the tip and I've never had any problem.
Post Edited (2008-12-24 10:10)
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Author: huff n' puff
Date: 2008-12-24 12:03
Hi, tictactux........ from one sinner to another.
Hi, Bassie....... I was once shown a flute that had been left across the arms of a chair! What a sight. That would cure you for life.
Hi, Ed, David, William.......... I was thinking of advice mainly for beginners.
We all were beginners if we go back far enough.
I can well imagine someone pulling through the mouthpiece for the first time not thinking that this inoffensive piece of string could harm this hard shiny piece of plastic, and not realising that if you did this 5 or 6 times a week that is a lot of wipes.
I wish someone had told me a long time back about rubber bands and silver. There is now a beautiful silver plate sax with two dark lines round the body because I didn't know!!! I didn't know...... I didn't know.
If everyone on the forum got together, what an excellent beginner's guide we could assemble............ H&P...... A job for someone?
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Author: huff n' puff
Date: 2008-12-24 12:15
And....... on the topic of advice to novices, where did I see a short video in which an "expert" informed beginners that if you want to sharpen your clarinet's pitch you simply pull the joints apart, and this would increase the decibels by which units the pitch is measured!
I cannot find it again, but I do remember one of the forum's contributers having a go at it. Has it been withdrawn?
What hope is there for beginners...... this person may even be a teacher.
If anyone knows where it is, please inform- I'd like to see it again....... H&P
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2008-12-24 13:11
Youtube clarinet lesson tone....... Mitch Kaplan. Mitch is "off the cuff" and manages to verbally mangle the most simple topic. He really doesn't have a way with words. To me it is funny as he reminds me of a "jobbing musician of days gone past" who has never tried to express to others what he does and doesn't bother to prepare. He tries to make it very simple and easy to understand but in doing so totally loses himself from the beginning of a sentence to the end. As a friend of mine said..."Mitch comes down to a level that no one can understand". I love Mitch. He talks from the heart. I make fun of him but there is a little Mitch in everyone. (We're all experts) Merry xmas
Freelance woodwind performer
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