 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: mike
Date: 2001-01-20 07:34
I've just bought a clarinet [well my wife bought it for me actually], and to my horror it doesn't play just like my soprano sax. Which tutor books would you recomend - I can read music and I probably don't need pages and pages on embrouchure etc?
She's bought me a Yamaha 1400 by the way - is it any good? or is it the same as with sax's where Selmer make some good and some bad?
Thanks for any advice. Mike
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-01-20 11:53
Congratulations and welcome!
You do realize that you must be particularly nice to your wife, now. There is a very special place in heaven for family of clarinet players.
The Nilow Hovey series is very simple, but as a reed player you won't find the remedial lessons on recognizing notes helpful.
The David Hite "Melodiuos and Progressive Studies" series has some really good stuff. I especially like the Baermann shorts.
As an adult beginner, I would like to let you in on a couple quirks the horn has.
The mouthpiece is easily as important as any other component. It really must fit you well. The stock Yamahopper mouthpiece is tolerable, but only just.
Many of the local kids play the Hite premier, which is plastic, but is pretty good.
I like the Vandoren M13.
Reeds are a nightmare with the clarinet, try the Legere (#2 3/4 or #3) to start out.
best of luck!
anji
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-01-20 13:18
Actually most tutorial books say very little about embouchure. Since you already have experience on an instrument, it is the embouchure and breath support that are the critical elements in adding the clarinet to your abilities. I would recommend hopping down to your local band instrument store and just flipping through introductory method books until you find one that has good pictures that make it clear to you.
Normally I would recommend the Rubank series (beginner, intermediate, advanced 1 and advanced 2) but they have no pictures and no discussion of embouchure and breath support. They are really intended to be used with the guidance of an instructor.
Here's what I would suggest. Get the following three books.
1. Any good beginner book with plenty of pictures.
2. Daniel Bonade's "Clarinet Compendium". You will probably have to order this one either through your local store or somewhere on line.
3. Rubank Advanced Volume I. It has an excellent fingering chart and a programmed set of lessons that you can follow to that should be very helpful in getting used to the major differences between sax and clarinet.
Later you can get the Rubank Advanced Volume II.
It would be good to take lessons for a while just to be sure that you get the hand position correct and for guidance on embouchure. Note that if the hand position is incorrect, it can cause difficulty playing and in some people can cause physical problems.
And visit this board often for advice, support, and encouragement.
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Author: Daniel Bouwmeester
Date: 2001-01-20 14:02
Mike,
There are different methods that I can recommend :
- H. Klosé. Méthode complète de clarinette is very good BUT it's in french, and it's not very attractive (french are conservative). It's the best book I know.
- Jacques Lancelot : l'ABC de la clarinette (good french book too.. but much less complete than Klosé)
- I recommend books by John Davies /Paul Harris. There are many of them, and they are excellent. (I work with John Davies, and it's the best pedagogue I know)
- There's a good book I used when I was a kid. It was called, "Learn as you play the clarinet)
- Yamaha makes a pretty good book for beginner clarinetists.
Good luck and welcome to the Oh. So amazing clarinet community.
Best wishes
DAniel (Geneva Switzerland)
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-01-20 14:35
Daniel Bouwmeester wrote:
>
> - H. Klosé. Méthode complète de clarinette is very good BUT
> it's in french, and it's not very attractive (french are
> conservative). It's the best book I know.
The Klosé book is also available in English. Although it is very good, there is little discussion of embouchure, breath support, or correct hand positions. For someone new to the clarinet, it would need to be used in conjunction with lessons from a clarinet teacher.
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-01-20 14:41
Just be aware that you will be using a differant embouchure on the clarinet then you do on the sax. Also that your fingering will be differant. have fun we all love the CLARINET.
Bob
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Author: fdsa
Date: 2001-01-20 22:53
The Essential Elements books are the best!!! They're very colorful and teach you very basic theory, history, etc
also try the breeze-easy books
then you can try stuff that's a little bit harder like the Melodious and Progressive studies or somethign.
when you find something you like, there's usually a list of suggested books on the back cover.
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Author: mike
Date: 2001-01-21 09:07
anji
Thanks for your advise. I'm going to have to rethink my strategy. I play with a big band and when our altosax/clari player left I said Oh don't worry, I'll pick one up".
I was a little bit wrong, and so now I'm being very respectful to all clarinet players as well as being nice to my wife.
Thanks again - Mike
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Author: Rene
Date: 2001-01-22 05:44
I like to recommend Ruth Bonnetti's book "Enjoy playing the Clarinet" for a start. It has pictures and some discussion of emb. and breathing. It is not as boringly teaching you muscal stuff you know already as other methods.
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Author: Sara
Date: 2001-01-24 02:59
Rubank. Rubank is the best. I weent through the whole series, but I think it onlyworks best when your working in a small group or witha private teacher.
Sara lol
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