 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kawallace91
Date: 2010-06-12 02:04
I've had my new Buffet R-13 for almost 3 weeks now (the first 1 1/2 weeks I was trying it out with another R-13). My professor said for the first 2-4 weeks, I shouldn't play it for the full amount of time I would normally practice. She said at first to play it only 10 minutes a day and gave me a whole routine of swabbing it at certain intervals during that 10 minutes. I've been doing that until today, when I played it for about 15 minutes. I'm thinking of just gradually adding to the amount of time over the next week, and I'll probably try to play it more than once a day.
This probably sounds crazy to some people (I know it did to me since I didn't break in my E-11 at all when I got it a few years ago!), but my professor admits that she's overly cautious with this kind of thing. I want to be careful about it too since this was a huge investment, and I'd hate to see something horrible (like a crack!) happen to it! Does anyone have any advice or strategies for breaking in a new horn? I think the hardest thing has just been being patient! I just really want to be at the point where I can focus on my practicing without worrying about it!
I usually practice in two 20-30 minute chunks with a 5 minute break in between, and I try to do that 2 or 3 times a day (it's been much harder to discipline myself to do that since school's been out!). Is it reasonable to think that I could work my way up to practicing solely on the R-13 within this next week? Or at least half of every session? What about rehearsals? I play in a community band, and our rehearsals are 2 hours long. I feel like they might be too intense for the new horn right now, but maybe towards the end of the summer (have to get it used to rehearsals eventually!).
Maybe this was more of a venting session than a post, but if anyone does have any input, I'd really appreciate it! I'm hoping to meet with my professor again later this month to check in on everything, so I'll definitely know by then what to do.
Post Edited (2010-06-12 02:04)
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Author: William
Date: 2010-06-12 03:23
Any new Buffet, Leblanc, Selmer or Yamaha clarinet that I have ever bought I just started playing full-time from the start. No fancy breaking in period. I always am careful to swab the instrument after EVERY use and wipe dry the joint sockets. Also, care is taken to avoid rapid temperature change, especially after playing. In all, I have about 8 pro-level A, Bb, C, Eb and low C bass clarinets, and none have ever cracked or become unplayable in any way. I do not oil the bores, either. Just treat them with tender, loving care and play away.
I would just like to add that I live in Wisconsin where temps and humidity are constant variables. I play my pro instruments indoors and out, however, I am always careful of the "conditions" and never play in rain, sleet, snow or, in general, temps where I would have to wear a coat. However, Ed P has it absolutely right (as usual) in that if a clarinet is destined to crack, it will do just that regardless of how careful you are.
Remember, it's more "in the wood" than how you *would* take care of it. [disclaimer--just trying a bit of morning humor here]
Post Edited (2010-06-12 14:45)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-06-12 03:44
This subject has been discussed on the board many time before and you will always get a variety of opinions on this subject. It's much less likey to have a problem with a new clarinet when the weather is warm than cold because the bore will remain more stable. You're not taking it from one extreme to another or have the heat on in your house drying out the already dry air. I suppose it's better to be over cautions then not enough but in my opinion you don't have to go overboard. I've always felt that unless you do something stupid like keep the clarinet by a radiator or put it in the trunk of your car in the winter after playing it for several hours or playing a cold clarinet without allowing it to become close to room temperature first I think you can't prevent a clarinet from cracking if it's going t crack. I've known people that have done everything right and their clarinet have cracked, even more then once, and those that really didn't do anything special, like myself, and never had a crack. So don't blame me if something happens but I don't think you have to be over cautious. I really don't think that playing it for 15 minute a day the first week and then a half an hour each day the next few weeks and then going to an hour or more in about a month will do any harm as long as you swab it out regularly and keep it in a steady climate for a few months. When I bought a new clarinet 3 years ago I did that for about 6 weeks and then I played it on a regular basis on the job, no problem at all. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: kimber
Date: 2010-06-12 12:58
I would say go ahead and play it, but be smart about it. Be careful about extreme humidity and temperature changes (i.e. don't play it for an hour if you're sitting right over the air conditioner vent...don't play it in an outdoor concert in dripping humidity and then back into the cool house with no humistat...etc.) If the wood is prone to cracking, it will, and better that it happen early than after the warranty expires. I have lived through two new oboes and neither have cracked using just common sense care.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-06-12 13:59
There is a good article on maintining your clarinet and proper break-in at this site:
http://www.taplin-weir.com/care_maintenance.php
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2010-06-12 13:59)
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Author: djphay
Date: 2010-06-12 23:44
Peter Eaton has a good breaking-in section in his 'Clarinet Care' page in his website
http://www.eatonclarinets.freeserve.co.uk/
He took time with me (perhaps cautious of my amateurness) to go through the whole swabbing routine, and also said that for the first 6 weeks to not play for more than an hour, and to always warm the top joint in your hands before playing. The first winter a clarinet is played through is also a time to keep an eye on sudden exposure to different temperatures.
David
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Author: ddavani
Date: 2010-06-13 00:54
I really feel that when you're breaking in a clarinet, that can go for a year. Play full time, all of the time, that's what's important. The goal is to try to get the wood used to a your amount of air going through it to make the best sound as possible. David Sapadin once told me a good way to break in a new instrument. For about 30 seconds daily before you start to practice, blow as many loud low E's into your clarinet as possible while still making a good tone (you don't want to rip the wood off of the bore). What's also important is to go for a tune up once every six months to a year to someone very qualified.
-Dave Davani
http://allclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2010-06-13 04:01
"you don't want to rip the wood off of the bore"
I would personally love to see someone play loud enough to rip the wood off of the bore.
To the point at hand I agree with the common sense points above. My clarinets are as well taken care of as knowledge and common sense can provide: I've had some crack, and others haven't.
James
Gnothi Seauton
Post Edited (2010-06-13 04:02)
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Author: Phat Cat
Date: 2010-06-13 15:42
Here are the top ten tips for not stressing out your new instrument.
(1) Don't play louder than mf
(2) Don't use a reed strength greater than 3
(3) Don't play faster then quarter note = 100. Don't maintain a constant tempo. Avoid quick accelerandos.
(4) Take it to the shop after 12,000 notes to have the mechanicals checked out.
(5) Avoid heavily articulated passages.
(6) Avoid pitch leaps greater than an octave. Absolutely no glissandos.
(7) Don't play in key signatures with more than three sharps or flats. Avoid minor modes for more than a few measures.
(8) Use the altisssimo sparingly, and never longer that a quarter note duration.
(9) Don't play in ensembles requiring proximity to brass instruments.
(10) Don't play anything composed after 1900.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2010-06-13 19:07
I guess I would then love to see someone play obnoxious enough to rip the wood off of the bore?
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: justme
Date: 2010-06-14 06:40
Phat Cat said: " (9) Don't play in ensembles requiring proximity to brass instruments."...
I would think that sitting in front of a piccolo trumpet playing fff would be a proper way to break in that new clarinet! ![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif)
Justme
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