 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2009-01-10 01:02
I have a few completely unrelated questions. I'm not sure if they should be on separate threads- if they should be, just ask and I'll do it!
Alright, here goes:
1. About humidifiers. My dear darling clarinet cracked last week, and while it wasn't too serious and it was repaired, I would like to prevent it from happening again. It's been mentioned to me that I should get a humidifier for my case; but I don't know anything about it. How do they work? What do they do? Where could I get one? How much do they cost? Thanks in advance for enlightening me.
2. I am extremely shy. This includes clarinet-playing. And while I would love to pursue a career in professional performance, and have been told I have the talent to, I am terrified of making a fool of myself while playing. This means I'm also very quiet and reserved while playing. Has anyone encountered this before? Does anyone know how I might be able to get over it?
3. I'm in grade 11 now, and am planning to enter a music program in university the year after next. However, my clarinet is not a professional clarinet. It's not even new. It's a pre-1940s Conn, and while I am absolutely in love with everything about it, especially the sound, the tuning is not so great. While it's acceptable for my high school bands, I know it won't be in university, so I was planning on buying a new clarinet. However, after the recent crack scare I was forced to look at the possibility if not having my clarinet, and I did not like it at all. So I was thinking about getting a custom barrel and bell, and mouthpiece, and getting someone to adjust the tone holes, if it's possible, to fix the tuning. Does this sound like a viable route? If I did do the latter, I would probably take my precious to the Orsi and Weir workshop, which is conveniently located 2 hours from my house. I think they have a good reputation for that sort of thing, but could somebody confirm that?
Thank you for reading my long questions, and thanks in advance for any answers I might get.
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Author: Bluesparkle
Date: 2009-01-10 01:35
1. Clarinets crack, and if a humidifier has been suggested as a preventative, then get one. I don't use one in my clarinet case, but I have one for my grandmother's violin, which is quite valuable. The one I use isn't much more than an 8" flexible straw of green rubbery material with small holes down the side that I run under the faucet on occasion and leave in the case. Cost just a few bucks.
2. I feel the only way to combat shyness is to face it head on. You will be surprised at what you are capable of doing if you make yourself jump off the edge every now and then. I was very shy in high school, but the love of music and band pushed me into trying out for drum major, which turned out to be one of the most memorable, challenging, and satisfying years of my life. It gave me confidence that I didn't know I had, and that has taken me quite far in my career. Another suggestion is to get a part-time job as a waitress. Makes you talk to people, ask them questions, and just gives your "get up and go" a spark when things get busy and your customer's happiness is firmly on your shoulders. Finally, you need to play more, and not necessarily as a wallflower in your band's clarinet section. Check into a local community band, or if you go to church, see about scheduling a few solos.
3. Get a new clarinet. Take care of your old one, but for heaven's sake, if you want a career as a professional clarinetist, then you have to have the equipment to back up that claim. Ever heard the Sesame Street song, "Put down the duckie?" Basically a song about Ernie and his beloved rubber duck. Ernie wants to learn how to play the saxophone, but he keeps getting an awkward "squeak" whenever he tries. The muppet who plays sax tells him that it's the duck in his hand making the "squeak," and therefore is keeping him from moving forward with his sax playing. If he wants to learn how to do something new and exciting like playing the sax, he's going to have to put down the duckie (or put down those things from your past that keep you from performing at your potential).
Taking forward steps are very hard, but if you don't jump in with both feet towards what you want to accomplish in life, then you'll always have one foot stuck in your comfort zone, and only one foot poised to move yourself forward. That's exactly the picture that comes to my mind when I hear the phrase "on the fence." Decide which side you are on and commit with your whole self.
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Author: vials
Date: 2009-01-10 13:04
2. I have experienced the same shyness in my playing causing me to play quieter, and my best advice which has worked for me is to _practice_ loud. Even though you're just playing for yourself when you're practicing, the shyness you experience is probably (at least it was for me) apparent then too. So even if you're just practicing scales, remember to use your full breath support and force yourself to play forte. This has also helped me to not be as reserved when playing as I was before, because now I feel comfortable playing loudly and confidently.
Also, Bluesparkle's advice is of course excellent; you need to just do it. Take every opportunity that comes up to perform. Have your friends, parents, whoever, listen to you play.
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Author: William
Date: 2009-01-10 13:39
Don't worry, you will get over your shyness as you develop confidence in your playing and gain experience in various ensembles at your university.
As for picking out a new instrument, this can be a mind boggling process. I would recommend you check out Lisa's Canning's Clarinet Shop: http://www.lisasclarinetshop.com/. I bought a Buffet Prestige bass clarinet and a Buffet E11 C clarinet from her old store in Des Plaines, IL. The principal clarinetist of the orchestra which I also play with bought a set of R13s and they have a most beautiful sound. We are both pleased with the clarinets Lisa selected for us to try and I recommend her services without reservation.
Above all, just have fun playing clarinet. That's what this clarinetting business is all about (or should be).
Post Edited (2009-01-10 13:57)
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2009-01-10 18:08
Clarinets crack when stress caused by through-wood changes in humidity and/or temperature exceed the strength of the material.
Avoid these stresses by keeping the wood thoroughly humidified and at even temperature from the bore through to the outside.
The humidity of the bore gets very high when you play --probably to 100% and condensing water in the bore. The outside of the instrument is probably dry. Keep a substantial source of water vapor in the case with the instrument (and close the case). A cheap way to do this is to use a small plastic food bag (small parts like nuts and bolts often come in such small bags) with a wet sponge in it. Trim the bag so that it covers all but one face of the sponge. Make the whole thing of a size that will wedge into a nook/cranny of the case.
The high humidity in the case will help match the in-bore and exterior moisture in the wood.
To reduce thermal stresses, keep the instrument at room temperature as much as you can and be aware that your warm breath could expand the wood on the inside of the instrument enough to make it expand. That will tend to pull the cooler exterior fibers of the wood apart --causing it to crack.
Warm the instrument up slowly. On pro I know warms a cool clarinet in his armpits before playing it.
Bob Phillips
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Author: sdr
Date: 2009-01-10 19:31
For humidifying instruments:
There is a product called "Drymistat" made for cigar humidors. They sell for $7-8. It's a cigar-shaped and -sized plastic cylinder filled with a gelatin material and has a porous cap. As the humidity in the gel decreases, the gel chunks shrink. You can refill it with water as needed. It maintains a very constant 70% humidity in an instrument case. The cylinders are too big to fit inside clarinet joints but fit easily in bassoon joints. I keep one Drymistat in each clari case.
-sdr
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-01-10 22:43
Hi Anna....ALL Conns are old instruments and if you do some research you'll find that the wood ones were notorious for cracking. You are fortunate to have been able to escape the cracking problem as long as you have. Those instruments are fine for those who have the time and inclination to keep them in good repair....for sentimental reasons. But for someone thinking of embarking on a career in clarinetistry there are better options. Because you may be in an area that suffers from greater than normal swings in temp and humidity a non-wood clarinet may be a better step up for the time being.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Pilot
Date: 2009-01-11 09:08
1. Humidifiers are as simple as an empty pill bottle with holes and a damp sponge in it. I have used some form of the design throughout my clarinet days without any problems.
2. Practice playing in front of a live audience. In fact, I started out performing in front my pet budgies and gradually I started to play in front of a friend, three friends, four friends and a masterclass coming up to a big recital. I don't know if it will work for you but it did for me.
3. I'm about to enter 3rd year in music on clarinet. Just be cautious about the job market for performing clarinetists after university, always have a backup plan. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but no matter how good you are, there is always someone out there who is better. If the intonation on the clarinet is bad I suggest you invest in a better instrument with help from a well known teacher. The cost of the modifications and add ons to your Conn will surpass the cost of a new instrument altogether.
The most important factor regarding in sound and beauty of tone is the player and his or her ability to control the instrument. No matter what equipment one uses, he or she will eventually sound like him/herself again.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-01-11 19:23
You've already received good advise on a humidfier. You old clarinet is simply not worth the money to invest in. You need to get a new professional clarinet if you intend to persue music as a career. Make sure your teacher helps you choose one and try out many, with a tuner in tow. After warming up the ones you like, make sure the 12th are not to large and the throat tones are not flat. You could always get new bells and or barrels later once you feel comfortable with a new clarinet.
As far as being shy, you can overcome that. When I was your age I used to be a severe stutterer, that's the reason my parent had me take up an instrument in the first place. They were told to give me an outlet. Well, it took a long time but it worked. I used my clarinet to overcome my shyness because I wasn't shy to play, only to speak. Use your clarinet to express yourself and hopefully it will help you with you shyness. Don't be afraid of making a mistake, it happens to everyone. When I played some unaccompained Bach violin pieces in high school I squaked several times in the first piece and could hear some the the audience laughing at the assembly. By the time I finished the second piece, damn near perfect with no squaks, they gave me a standing ovation. That took some of my shyness away for sure. It took many more years to get over my stuttering though but I did get over it. Good luck, ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
PS. My first professional job was in the Halifax Symphony
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2009-01-11 19:24)
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Author: Sarah M
Date: 2009-01-11 19:37
There are several books as well on overcoming Performance Anxiety. Here are a few titles, just to name a few:
The Art of Practicing by Madeline Bruser
Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallaway
Inner Game of Music by Timothy Gallaway and Barry Green
Mastery of Music by Barry Green
For the most part, overcoming performance anxiety just means performing more. Often most people find that as they eliminate the division between "performance" and "practicing" both equally improve. Try practicing like you would perform, and try performing like you practiced. If you practice well then (hopefully) you should perform well. Give the book(s) above a read and that should really help. They've helped me, so I hope to pass on my wisdom.
-Sarah
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Author: Curinfinwe
Date: 2009-01-11 20:52
Wow, thanks for all the advice! I'll experiment with a few types of homemade humidifiers soon, but for now I'm using orange peels, which DO seem to work very well.
I've also made the decision to buy a professional-level clarinet soon, and I'm looking into places where I could try some. I'm thinking about R-13s, Orsi and Weir clarinets, and a few different Leblancs- does that sound about right?
As for shyness, I'm hoping to make a big leap with that with my RCM exam next week- performing in front of someone I've never met before. Gulp!
Thanks again for all the advice!
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Author: Aprilyn
Date: 2009-01-13 13:35
2.
Nerves are also to do with that little negative voice inside the head. If I was in the audience, would I be thinking of each wrong note the performer is playing? Most of the people in the audience (eg parents) wouldn't even know how to play an instrument, yet alone have the courage to perform themselves. They are going to be more encouraging and want a performer to do well (well, especially in a school type setting) than anything else. The only person who would really know the mistakes you will be playing is your teacher.
Most of the time, all those little mistakes played aren't even heard by the audience. If you pretend that every mistake that you play is meant to be there, there is a very likely chance that the audience wont pick it up. Its all about acting. It makes it worse trying to be sympathetic and is quite annoying when I see a performer saying sorry after each mistake.
My clarinet teacher use to say, "Every single practice should be as if you were performing." When the piece you are performing is at a certain level, try practicing through your pieces beginning to end without stopping. If you make a mistake, try not to make any gestures (e.g eye movement, shrugs, giggling...).
All my students get nervous when it comes to performing and in the weeks leading up to it, I ask random people (1 or 2) outside the practice room to come in an watch while my student plays each week. I also tell them to play really simple tunes they pretty much know by memory (songs from book 1) in front of their friends between lessons.
Maybe what you could do before a performance is, think about all the negative things that may happen and work out ways to solve it if it ever happens than on the stage. Also practice in the venue you will be performing in at least once to get the feel of the environment. Trying to memorise pieces and playing with the music on the night helps me. After performing in front of people for so long, I just forget they are there!
Another suggestion is to go and watch live performances or even performances on youtube. By watching other people perform, you will be able to pick up things that you want to do and not to do when performing.
Oh I agree with Sarah, I also recommend reading the Inner Game of Music. Fantastic book.
Sorry for the long comment, these are just things I have experienced and learnt from performing and I hope it helps you. Keep performing!
Aprilyn
Post Edited (2009-01-13 13:46)
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