 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: CarlT
Date: 2010-01-22 15:41
Well, after almost 2 years, I find that I still have a fairly weak clarinet embouchure. I do try to practice every day, but probably not enough (30 minutes to an hour). Even at my age (and retired at that), I have so many other activities that I just can't devote 2 to 3 hours a day practicing and improving my embouchure, and at age 72 it is harder to develop muscles.
Sooooo... I thought perhaps I should look into learning to play the sax. I have never even had one in my hands, but from what I can gather, embouchure development is not as hard with the sax as the clarinet, right?
I don't want to give up playing music altogether, for I truly do enjoy it (I've even toyed with taking up the piano, for I believe that what I've learned with the clarinet would help me in that endeavor also. I have had some piano lessons when I was much younger).
Maybe some of you folks can relate to what I'm talking about. I would appreciate any advice you can share.
Carl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bartmann
Date: 2010-01-22 17:05
Carl,
I know what you're talking about. Several years ago my long hours at my new job prevented me from practicing clarinet seven days a week like I had been; I could only practice Saturday and Sunday. Because I had a very resistant setup: hard reeds and mouthpiece with narrow tip opening, my embouchure quickly died from lack of practice. So I had to buy a whole new setup with an open mouthpiece and softer reeds. This was a tough thing to do because I never really loved the sound that I made from that set up. But even with a less resistant setup, I couldn't play very long.
During the time when I could only practice 30 to 40 minutes on the weekends with my clarinet I started the flute. At first the flute started as a side instrument. But I made such good progress that it quickly became my primary instrument. Even after 40 minutes of puffing away with a tired embouchure on my clarinet, I could pick up the flute and play it for five hours.
The clarinet embouchure is kind of like doing gymnastics: you have have the strength to do handstands, sommersaults, pommel horse, and rings. The flute embouchure is more like golf: control is very important. With the clarinet once your embouchure gets tired, you have to stop playing because you can't keep the seal around the mouthpiece. There have been rare times when after practicing the flute altissimo my embouchure did actually get tired. But even then I could switch to other music that was lower in the flute register and continue playing.
Recently I've been able to return to playing the clarinet every day and now my embouchure is strong enough for my old resistant setup.
Before you try the sax, which is also a single reed instrument, I would suggest you give the flute a try. There are no reeds to deal with so that is a major hassle that you avoid completely. I was surprised how easily I took to the flute. You will know pretty quickly if it is the instrument for you.
Bartmann
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-01-22 20:19
Sure, why not? Sax is fun, practical, challenging in its own ways, and (as you point out) requires a less "disciplined" embouchure to play at an acceptable level of musicality.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BartHx
Date: 2010-01-24 16:04
Not related to your topic, but to your title. I am using a laptop with a fairly small screen. Every time I scan the list of titles, I see yours as "Thinking of Changing to Sex". In an either/or situation, I doubt there would be much question. ;^)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2010-01-24 17:35
Do you have a teacher? I'm having trouble imagining why with 30 minutes to an hour a day of practice you'd be having "weak clarinet embouchure" problems unless there's something in your equipment or approach that's making it more strenuous than it needs to be. I'm 10 years short of your age and, admittedly, have been playing since I was 10, but I have certainly gone through periods during my teaching career (I, too, am now retired) when 30 minutes a night would have been a luxury. What seems to be the result of your embouchure "weakness?" Is it basically a feeling that you lack control or is it actually an endurance problem? If it's endurance, maybe you're dealing with a combination of unresponsive, hard to blow equipment (reed-mouthpiece-instrument) and trying to play too long without a rest. If it's a lack of control, it could again be something in your approach that is getting in your way. A teacher, even working with you for just a few lessons, might be able to make suggestions that would go a long way toward solving your clarinet problem without the need for you to start all over again with another instrument that may not turn out to be the answer.
Karl
Post Edited (2010-01-24 17:36)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2010-01-24 18:04
I'm retired also, and now have much more time to practice the clarinet. But, as far as the sax (I have an alto, a Spenser which is an off-brand, but with a Yani mouthpiece) and it plays like a dream. It is light, and easy for me to play. I play the sax once a month in a big band, and they were desperate when they hired me! I would say my sax playing is at the intermediate level, but it is very much fun. I may be improving as the others have stopped giving me the evil eye. And of course sax is not so tiring as playing the clarinet. I have a #2.5 reed on the clarinet and a Vandoren B45 m.p. which is pretty open. Good luck to you. Enjoyed reading about this.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: soybean
Date: 2010-01-25 08:10
The suggestion of a B45 mouthpiece and softer reeds is good. If you do go to sax, you might want to start with tenor, because it is the easiest embouchure of all the saxes (IMO). Flute may be easy for some, hard for others. I find it easy since i started on flute, but many sax players find it hard to get a decent sound.
~Dan
(Leblanc Bliss, Buffet R13 key of A, Yamaha 250 Bb)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2010-01-25 12:39
Hi Carl....good to hear from you. Well, you certainly gave it the old "college try" and I can sympathize with your frustration. Certainly the sax is a logical alternate...at least the Alto, however, the mechanisms are more complicated. The Soprano sax would probably give you similar problems as the clarinet. Maybe the flute, as Bartman suggested might be a first alternate.....especially as you can pick one up for less than an acceptable sax. Good Luck whatever you decide.
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2010-01-25 14:56
What about switching to bass clarinet? Large mouthpiece (and a large bore that takes a lot of air), and easier music to play in community bands. Fingering is the same as the clarinet you now have except that pads, not fingers, close the holes. If you get one with a floor peg, you do not have the weight of the instrument hanging from your neck.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CarlT
Date: 2010-01-25 15:00
BartHX said: "I see yours as "Thinking of Changing to Sex". In an either/or situation, I doubt there would be much question."
Very funny, BartHX. You're right, there'd be no question were that the case.
kdk: I understand what you're saying re the 30 mins to an hour a day. What gets me though, is that for at least my first year, I would practice one to two hours a day, and still would get tired. My teacher (at that time) advised me to practice 10 minutes, then stop for 10; practice 10 more, then stop, etc. I could do that then; however, my current time constraints prevent me from doing this, so I have to try to get in 30-60 minutes once a day (and occasionally I don't even get to do that). I know, it's a matter of priorities like everything else we do in life, so I'll have to decide what's more important.
Carol, without me doing a lot of research, about what would be a good ballpark figure for buying a Spenser sax?
Dan, I had a B45. Much too open for me, so I got an M-13 Lyre which helped a lot, but not to the extent of my being able to play long periods w/o tiring.
BobD...my old buddy...so good to hear from you, too. I will send you a PM soon. Good advice from you and Bartmann re the flute. Somehow, I never thought of myself as playing the flute (some of my "Good old boy", racquetball buddies here in East TN would probably laugh me down for that, but I'm at the age now that that wouldn't phase me, so I might give that a try also).
At any rate, I truly appreciate your responses, and thankfully, I don't HAVE to make an immediate decision, so I will keep practicing clarinet for as long as I can spare the time for awhile yet.
Carl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-01-25 16:08
For clarinet, I would suggest trying to get softer reeds and an easier playing mouthpiece, maybe 5RV???
As far as sax, not to be insulting and I don't know your health, but you might find that your back and neck can't take it. Sax players often have neck problems, and I can assume that at your age, you might be more prone to developing neck problems quickly. You are basically hanging about 8lbs from your neck with an alto sax and about 14lbs with tenor.
Bass clarinet is another option, this just stands on the floor so you don't have to worry about the weight.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
