 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-05-01 12:43
I love reading this board - it is so imformative!
My question is this: at what point does a clarinet student begin thinking about changing equipment, such as getting better ligatures, barrels, bells, or anything else I see discussed here on the board?
We are now without a clarinet teacher (had a great one who moved away, and there are no real clarinet people within an hour of where I live, at least that I've been able to find), and my children's band teachers are brass and percussion guys.
How do you know when it is time to step up? (Aside from the obvious, which is the sound one gets is no longer satisfying?)
Many thanks -
Marge
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Author: dlloyd
Date: 2009-05-01 13:46
Definitely consider travelling for lessons. One lesson every couple of weeks from a proper clarinet teacher would be worth far more than a couple of lessons a week from a brass teacher.
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Author: William
Date: 2009-05-01 14:21
When I was in high school, my parents took me to a 30 minute lesson every week, a 45 minute trip each way on a two lane country road. That was 50 yrs ago and because of those once a week evening trips, I have enjoyed a lifetime of music--with a few years yet to come, I hope. Thanks, Mom & Dad.
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-05-01 15:16
Thanks for your comments. We had been traveling back and forth 40 minutes each way, for lessons with a wonderful fellow.
A little story here: when my oldest son was ready to begin clarinet (he originally wanted to play bassoon, but he was too little for the instrument. My bassoonist friends in NYC suggested that my son begin on clarinet, and if he still was interested in bassoon when he was a little older and bigger, he could switch over. Thus began a love affair with a wonderful instrument), I searched the area for a clarinet teacher.
There are many music studios with many "certified music teachers" who were willing to accept our money for weekly lessons. I had everything set up at one place but requested from the shop owner to speak with the teacher before our first lesson. The fellow was highly insulted when I asked what his main instrument was. His response to me was that he was a college trained and state certified music teacher, and since that was good enough for everyone else, it should be good enough for me. He said I had no business questioning his credentials (I wasn't - I simply asked him what his major instrument was - never got an answer to that!!) and that if I didn't trust him, he didn't want to teach my son. Well, how does one respond to that?
I called the shop owner and began to tell him that we needed to set up with a different teacher when the shop owner actually yelled and screamed at me on the phone that I had some nerve asking what instrument his teachers played (apparantly, the teacher had contacted the shop owner before I called him back) and he was not interested in anything I had to say.
All of this because I asked a simple question: what was you major instrument?
None of them knew that I, too, was a university trained, state-certified music teacher. My degree is in piano and voice, with a minor in flute. I am NOT a clarinetist, and would and could never pretend to be. I wanted a CLARINET teacher, not a band director, chorus teacher, general music teacher, percussion teacher, etc. - you get my point.
If I break my arm, I go to an orthopedist, not a dermatoligist. If I want instruction in clarinet, I go to a clarinet teacher. Seemed simple enough to me.
Well, we found a wonderful teacher we were with for 5 years. He moved last year and it was way too far for us to travel. I am looking for someone who is a good clarinet teacher, and have, truthfully, been a little lazy about it. I will have to travel about an hour, which really is no big deal, and it is time now to get cracking on this. Reading this board has inspired me again to stop procrastinating. I've been able to help my sons with reading notes and rhythms and all of that good stuff, but the real clarinet details are beyond me.
anyway, thanks for letting me share my little saga with you. BTW, I always advise anyone who asks me for a reference to music teachers to avoid that particular shop like the plague. Their whole attitude and demeanor to me after asking a very legitimate question was reprehensible, and still bugs me after all these years.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-05-01 15:47
I changed mouthpieces (and also ligatures) not too long after I started playing--something like 6 mos. or a year. My teacher had a big bag of different mouthpieces, and she had me try different ones until I found the one that worked the best for me. The new mouthpiece made a big difference. I definitely recommend that you find one that works for you.
On the other hand, aftermarket barrels and bells are more of a luxury, especially for students. Plenty of players, myself included, stick with the barrel and bell that came with the instrument and get good results that way. I have no plans of changing out my barrels or bells any time soon. Not to say that you shouldn't use aftermarket barrels and bells or that they make no difference--they do, and in certain cases, they can help to solve problems you may have with your instrument (like intonation difficulties). It's just that I consider them to be more of a optional, luxury item--and in some cases, you may actually be better off without them.
A good teacher can help tremendously with this sort of thing. I agree with the other posters that good teachers are worth driving out to see. (mine was, for certain!)
University/conservatory clarinet professors are often a good referral source if you are looking for a well qualified teacher for whom clarinet is their primary instrument. Oftentimes they will have current graduate students or former students who teach, whom they can refer you to (and some of them also teach younger students themselves).
Post Edited (2009-05-01 15:55)
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-05-01 17:39
"His response to me was that he was a college trained and state certified music teacher, and since that was good enough for everyone else, it should be good enough for me. He said I had no business questioning his credentials (I wasn't - I simply asked him what his major instrument was - never got an answer to that!!) and that if I didn't trust him, he didn't want to teach my son. Well, how does one respond to that?"
-----------------------------------------------------
Tell him to teach Chorus and leave......
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: William
Date: 2009-05-01 19:04
"Tell him to teach Chorus and leave......"
Sorry, but I think the more appropriate response would be to just leave. Choral students do not teachers like that, either.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2009-05-01 19:16
Or... just leave. There are already too many music teachers teaching chorus who don't know a thing about the voice or building choral sound.
Karl
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-05-01 20:41
"There are already too many music teachers teaching chorus who don't know a thing about the voice or building choral sound."
--------------------------------------
Lots and lots of them. Of course there are also really good ones who inspire, etc,
The shop owner sounds like a real idiot.
The guy was probably a brass player anyway......
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: justme
Date: 2009-05-01 21:40
David said:
The guy was probably a brass player anyway......
Be nice Dave,LOL. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-05-01 22:30
Dave WAS being nice. He could have implied that the guy was a DRUMMER, after all!
Jeff
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2009-05-02 03:52
NO, David, a sharp one is probably a fiddler wanting us all to tune to A=444
Bob Phillips
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Author: justme
Date: 2009-05-03 22:37
Bob Phillips said: " NO, David, a sharp one is probably a fiddler wanting us all to tune to A=444"...
Well, at least it's not a
piccolo player asking you to play in tune and "up high" with him! ![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif)
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Author: redwine
Date: 2009-05-04 01:17
Hello,
Your money will be much better spent on a teacher than in changing equipment. If an equipment change is in order, the teacher will be the best one to advise.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: oliver sudden
Date: 2009-05-04 09:56
To be fair, the fiddlers don't actually want us to tune to 444. They want us to tune to 440 and leave the lofty heights for them...
But yes, teacher first, equipment later, I'd say. Besides anything else, as has been mentioned elsewhere, it's not always the player who has the best idea how the gear sounds - often a pair of experienced ears attached to an experienced brain can best point out what you should be listening for in the first place.
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Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-06-15 18:17
Just to update everyone:
I want to thank all of you for putting up with my silly questions every now and then. You all have such wonderful advice to share.
Anyway, I've found a new teacher for my children who is about 50 minutes away from us. We are going to try a 1 hour lesson for each, every other week, throughout the summer.
Thank you for suggesting an option that I had not considered before!
chorusgirl
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