 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nelson
Date: 2000-11-21 00:29
ok, I have several questions.
1. what is the highest note that can be played on the clarinet, and what is the fingering?
2. What is the best piece of music for clarinet composed by Mozart?(just wondering)
3. What can I do about performance anxiety, I had a real problem with it at region contest?
4. Where could I view or buy a colored clarinet(wood preferebly)?
Thanks for listening, thats about all the questions I can think of for now.
Nelson
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-11-21 02:03
Nelson wrote:
>
> ok, I have several questions.
>
> 1. what is the highest note that can be played on the clarinet,
> and what is the fingering?
Theoretically there really is no limit. However there are what might be referred to as practical boundaries. An advanced student should be able to play the G that is the 4th ledger line above the staff with ease. Very advanced players and pros should be able to play to the C above that. A very few players can go higher but it's not worthwhile as there's no way to make the notes sound really good.
There's a fingering chart here on the sneezy site.
> 2. What is the best piece of music for clarinet composed by
> Mozart?(just wondering)
IMHO His clarinet concerto. His other works are quite good but simply don't reach the beauty of the concerto.
> 3. What can I do about performance anxiety, I had a real
> problem with it at region contest?
Can't help here.
> 4. Where could I view or buy a colored clarinet(wood
> preferebly)?
Wood clarinets come in either the natural colors of the woods, dark brown to black for the woods used these days, or are stained black. Leblanc makes their student line plastic Vitos available in a number of colors (red, yellow, blue, green, and white). Why would you want a colored one anyway?
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Author: Lindsay
Date: 2000-11-21 02:14
Ok I think I can answer those (to the best of my humble ability) for ya.
As for #1.....the most recognized "highest note" on the clarinet is what I call Super C. It is an octave above the C just above the staff. I finger it first finger on both hands, register, thumb, and either of the C#/F# pinky keys. It's kinda hard to hit at first....but once you get it it has a bad habit of not wanting to go away, ;-).
As for #2.....I think that the most well-known (and my personal favorite...there really is no best, lol Mozart was a master) piece for Clarinet is Mozart's Clarinet Concerto.
As for #3.....I have the same trouble, and I'm a college musician with many solo and audition performances under my belt. All I can recommend is play the music so much that you can't possibly miss anything no matter how nervous you get. Also, just play through the first few bars in your mind before starting, and take a deep breath and just play. (All easier said than done, I know.)
And finally as for #4.....as for colored wood clarinets, the only one I can think of that is different than the natural grenadilla wood is a rosewood clarinet. They have a reddish brown color, and I think they are very pretty. Very expensive, but I hear that the tone color is also wonderful on them.
I hope this helps! If you ever have any other questions, just let me know...my email is princess202020@hotmail.com !
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Author: Nate Zeien
Date: 2000-11-21 02:26
Let's see if I can answer some of your questions...
1. - In all practicality, high C is a reasonable upper limit. I just went a bit more in depth into that subject in a recent post of mine. You can got to http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=31105&t=31105. Just scroll down a little, and you'll see it there. If after reading that, you are still interested, let me know, and I'd be happy to discuss it further.
3. - What I have found to be the best way to lessen performance anxiety is - performance. I found that playing solos in public, such as church, really helps to get used to the nervousness and anxiety. You get used to it, and it helps build confidence.
4. - Go to LeBlanc's website. You can get pictures from their catalogue there. The Vito Dazzlers LeBlanc make come in red, blue, green, yellow, white, and black if I remember correctly. I would stay away from anything but the white and black. Other colors may clash and make you regret your decision. Better yet, if you want to personalize your instrument with color, wind colored thread in the grooves of the tenon rings or such things. Don't do this with the keys, though. The thread would tangle up in the pivot and cause the key to stick or freeze. You can always think of creative ways to personalize your instrument. If you are not completely sure that it is safe to do to the instrument, seek the advice of a qualified repair tech. There are obvious things to stay away from, like stickers, paint, etc. Remember that these things may be fun, but make a bad impression upon you in things like contest and such. Some band directors might even disallow it completely. Whatever you choose to do, don't buy a clarinet or accessories just because of the "look". It's a waste of money. Rainbow colored clarinets are, for the most part, a gimmick. Nothing more. -- Nate Zeien
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2000-11-21 04:37
1. No upper limit. I have a friend who can play some four octave scales. He says there are three things that matter - reed strength, air speed, and lip strength. Personally I can get up to a high C. That's all you'll ever need, even if you're a serious player.
2. Mozart Clarinet Quintet. Wonderful piece - a joy to play. More intimate than the concerto. Make friends with some good string players and you might be able to get a quartet to play with you. All parts are great - everyone is an equal. Even the viola has a variation all to itself in the last movement.
3. For anxiety - eat bananas. If it's really bad, you might talk to a doctor about beta blockers, but you need to be careful. That said, I know someone who used them and won an audition.
4. All clarinets are coloured. Mine is black and made of wood.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2000-11-21 08:42
The Vito clarinets (coloured or black) break in half reasonably easily at the centre tenon or socket. A repairer can easily match black but on a coloured instrument.
In a few months or years you may see your interest in coloured instrumets as a tacky passing fad.
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Author: DLE
Date: 2000-11-21 09:25
Mmmmm....
#1 - probably the top C, although if you're a pro, then it would be the E above that if you're really good(David Campbell can play that note at any volume).
#2 - To everyone: I've always thought that the Concerto was a wonderful piece, but after having played it, it is now near the bottom of my list. It's interesting Jessica should mention the Quintet, 'cause that is what I was going to say.
#3 - Don't let others intimidate you. If you know you can play the piece, then just play it and be confident. Say to yourself that you are brilliant, you have permission to be a little bit selfish at these occasions. Don't take much notice of what the audience thinks, even though you're playing to them, and you should be fine.
#4 - No help there yet I'm afraid.
Good Luck.
DLE.
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Author: Natalie
Date: 2000-11-21 12:15
1. what is the highest note that can be played on the clarinet, and what is the fingering?
Artie Shaw famuosly found the top top top C. It's a hugely high harmonic which you can get by over blowing top C, it's about two harmonics up I think.
2. What is the best piece of music for clarinet composed by Mozart?(just wondering)
The most famous is the Mozart Clarinet Concerto. I love that piece!
3. What can I do about performance anxiety, I had a real problem with it at region contest?
Have you heard of the herbal remedy 'Rescue Remedy'? I don't know if you can get in America, but here in England it's available anywhere. You put 4 drops on your tongue or in water and it calms your nerves. I take it before all performances and exams!!
4. Where could I view or buy a colored clarinet(wood preferebly)?
Rosewood clarinets are made from...rosewood!! They're dark red but they're also REALLY expensive though. But they make a gorgeous sound!
Hope I was a help!
Natalie
England
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2000-11-21 13:57
Have you heard of the herbal remedy 'Rescue Remedy'?
We use this with our horses to try and calm them down prior to loading.
Never heard it being used on humans.
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Author: Pam
Date: 2000-11-21 19:59
Seeing how everyone else answered your questions so well, I will just say that my current favorite Mozart piece is the Clarinet Concerto. I know he wrote some other beautiful pieces as well though.
As for performance anxiety I would say to perform as much as possible! Learn to enjoy what you can do with your horn.
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Author: The Jester
Date: 2000-11-22 00:24
An easy way to cheat and get some super-high notes is to bite on the reed. Using your bottom teeth, about halfway or more down the playable part of the reed, you can lightly bite down and get a very high and particularly disgusting D which is nearly impossible to keep in tune for extended periods of time.
Also, if you need some Motzart to play in an audition, I would strongly recomend the Concerto for Clarinet. We use it all the time, it's moderately intricate, and it's not the toughest thing you'll ever play.
Sincerely
The Jester
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Author: Karel V.
Date: 2000-11-22 01:53
Buffet Greenline is made of a composition of wood chips and a resin base, is supposed to be "crack-proof", is a professional standard instrument, and is bright green.
Karel.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-11-22 03:10
Just in case - for some of you who don't have access to large stores ... Karel's pulling you leg on the color :^)
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Author: DLE
Date: 2000-11-22 10:00
To Bob gardener: Actually, I have a friend who uses rescue remedy alot before performing, but having said that, it still didn't give her much help in a particular concert that i remember........
I personally don't like the idea of performing, whilst I'm on any kind of drugs or medicine. "I think music should be as natural as one can make it."
Now, there's a contraversial comment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Francesca
Date: 2000-11-22 17:53
Several publishers have transposed the Mozart Bassoon Concerto k191 for clarinet and bass clarinet. It's a beautiful, but challenging piece.
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Author: Qhartb
Date: 2000-11-23 03:47
Don't have a lot of time, so I'll just address question 1.
I just started clarinet about a year ago, but I'm familiar with acoustics of musical instruments. All definite pitched instruments sound harmonics of the base pitch (ie. sounding an A220 also sounds A440, E660, A880, C#1100, etc.). The clarinet is a freak instrument in that, for some reason I have yet to discover, it only sounds every other harmonic (ie. A220, E660, C#1100), which is why it overblows to those pitches (either purposely squeak, add the register key or open the first hole).
In overblowing like this, the intervals get smaller and smaller, the first being a 12th, then a 6th, then a tritone, etc. So, while you can continue to get higher indefinately, the amount by which you go each time gets smaller.
So the range is theoretically unlimited, but each given interval need twice the amount of overblows from the previous one, limiting practical range.
I also have a hunch that the real world would limit these theoretical results, in that no instrument/reed/etc. is absolutely perfect in every way.
Hope you didn't find this boring or annoying, and with any luck it was informative and interesting.
-Qhartb
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Author: DLE
Date: 2000-11-23 11:59
I apologise for the lack of knowledge I so obviously possessssssssss...........(sp)
Apparentely, as I should have remembered, the rescue remedy is a herbal remedy, not a drug, or medicine. Sorry!
DLE, hiding in shame.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-11-23 13:43
Qhartb wrote:
>
> ... The clarinet
> is a freak instrument in that, for some reason I have yet to
> discover, it only sounds every other harmonic (ie. A220, E660,
> C#1100), which is why it overblows to those pitches (either
> purposely squeak, add the register key or open the first hole).
The reason is that the clarinet acts like a cylinder closed at one end. This means that odd number partials are the ones that are the only ones accessible when overblowing to the other registers. It is also the reason why we can play such low notes on our instrument. The clarinet is very close to the same length as the flute but the clarinet's lowest note (fingered E, concert D) is almost an octave lower than the lowest note on the standard flute. There are books on acoustics in general that explain this and even a book specifically on clarinet acoustics.
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