Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-09-27 23:55
Now...teach me, tell me...I'm a rather simply-knitted amateur concert band player.
First thing I learned there is to tune in with the orchestra. Not just pitch wise but also acoustically. The raw tuning would tell you whether you're sharp or flat, pull/push the barrel as needed (or buy a longer/shorter one if your instrument is from the wrong side of the ocean). But then, to blend in acoustically, one uses the mouth cavity, breath support, articulation. Make it mellow, make it viperish. It's not about buying the right equipment and all that will magically fall into place. In all the recent concerts I've learned to be more ears than mouth, listen to each other just as much as play, and play so that you can't hear yourself. There is a lot of open ears and open mind involved, but it is very rewarding and a skill much sought, at least for us humble non-solo chairs.
Now, to the core of the claim that an E11 (or any other reasonably well-built instrument) will hinder your progress...I hear that all the time; I've tried quite a number of instruments, including my bandmates', and haven't found a definite answer. I mean, either the instrument makes 'click' when you have it in your hands and behaves like a part of your body, or it doesn't. This is not necessarily a function of the 'class' of an instrument, but composed of a zillion factors, at least in the nether meadows where I am grazing. What exactly would hamper my progress? Is it the keywork, the bore, the tone, ...? I've asked a number of people, and no one could give me a satisfying answer. (I don't mean to say there aren't hundred good reasons to upgrade, but none so far appeared to be compelling). For me, it boils down to ergonomics (mostly) and tone, if there weren't the mouthpiece and reed factors to consider, but not necessarily on the make, model number or price.
I don't think that Benny Goodman or Naftule Brandwein or any other 'way past' players had instruments so refined as ours, so there must be some attribution to the skill, not the material.
In a nutshell, Sarah, borrow some barrels, and maybe a mouthpiece or two and see how you're faring at the next rehearsal.
(You see that I somehow don't buy the idea that the instrument is the 'core' culprit)
--
Ben
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The Clarinet BBoard
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