 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-03-10 23:52
I must say i'm really scared to post this with so many outstanding clarinetists on this board, but too curious to know what you think, not to.
I love when someone posts themselves and states - I was just "fooling around" what do you think? - and its the most amazing thing ive ever heard. or i'm absolutely blown away. Sure wish I could say something like that but truth is - I practiced it A LOT. I am where I am and Though slightly embarrassed not ashamed. I try hard.
I played this piece for my recital in January. My Dad wished it had been recorded so I got back together with the pianist at my teachers studio and recorded it. I am giving it to him for Fathers Day.
I am not a music major - but do take playing the clarinet seriously.
I would like constructive criticism.....please be respectful. But please dont be brutal on me. (nor too kind cuz you know I suck) .......
I appreciate your input
Thank you, Janlynn
http://youtu.be/qVWzWp_q8lg sorry i dont know how to make the link clickable
Post Edited (2012-03-10 23:53)
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2012-03-11 02:05
What a wonderful Father's Day present. Your Dad should be proud. I like your sound.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2012-03-11 03:31
I didn't read the other posts yet, so here's my thoughts. First, you will make your dad very happy. I'm not a dad, but if I were I'd be excited to have this.
A few comments - Your sound is on the bright side, no problems there. Here's 2 suggestions that popped out at me. Your Rhythm was a bit shaky, but not bad. Your long notes didn't really go anywhere. For example, with long notes you can hit them at FF and then go softer, or the other way from PP to FF. You sometimes hit these notes with a very hard articulation, which is good, but sort of let your audience feel as whats going to happen next, based on how you play the long notes. Hope that makes sense.
Back in the days I remember getting yelled at a few times for playing a note and not doing anyhing with it! So my point is a lot of players do this too and after someone tells you this minor problem is gone for good.
Anyway, you did a really good job and I'd be really pleased that you posted your work. Well done and well played.
Standing is a good thing of course, but I can't due to medical issues with my weak right side.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2012-03-11 03:38)
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2012-03-11 15:20
Thanks for sharing with us janlynn. This piece is new to me and I know of at least one of my students who would love it, so I appreciate you playing it for us.
As far as brightness, I actually thought the piano sounded bright, too, so I wonder if that is more a function of the room in which you were playing than your basic sound quality. I thought you got a good, solid sound. Hard to tell exactly, but it seemed like you might be tonguing with a bit too much tongue on the reed. The times the sound kind of split towards the end of the piece when you were tonguing might be caused be that. Try a little less tongue on the reed. You might also experiment with how much mouthpiece you have in your mouth.
At about 3:35 I thought that could be softer and more melodic. At 4:18 or so, the Bb at the end of the phrase could benefit from a resonance fingering if you are not already using one. I use LH3, RH3 and the C key while playing the regular Bb.
Thanks again, janlynn.
John Gibson, Founder of JB Linear Music, www.music4woodwinds.com
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2012-03-11 16:57
It is quite an achievement just to record and post this. You have good endurance here as I'm sure many people would be winded after this piece.
From my perspective your performance is a bit unrelenting without enough contrast to give the listener a break. You could take a hint from the pianist who slows down a touch in several places purposely rather than just driving through to the end of the phrase. Perhaps just playing softer in the lyrical sections would help. Both the piano and you have to work together here for softness not just you. Somehow the two instruments have to blend more in spots. You have to get into the piano sound by dynamics and timbre. At the same time your sound which was clear and confident at the beginning wasn't warm enough for the lyrical....especially high notes. again just softer might help.
Playing with piano is very difficult pitch wise. Overall you are pleasant enough to listen to but there are many spots where you are sharp to the piano . Thankfully these spots are short in duration as you are changing notes.
In summary I think you should work with the pianist more rather than just fix what's wrong with your playing. It's more of how you are fitting with the piano. In very simple terms you must determine whether you are leading, following, or totally on equal terms. This changes throughout the piece. I find your playing in the video to be independent of the piano throughout....no interplay. I would suggest sitting much closer to the pianist during rehearsal.....so you can actually reach out and touch her(not that you need to) This is to unite both of you. Look at the piano part and see how it relates to your part. Make it a duet even if it's really not....it's good practice. It is easier to ignore the pianist than actually interact.
Summarizing the summary.....you should work on 1. variety of tone 2. work with a coach or pianist/coach regarding ensemble playing and interpretatiion. Good work, I enjoyed your video.
Freelance woodwind performer
Post Edited (2012-03-11 18:23)
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2012-03-11 23:31
I'm not going to comment on the problems, most of which you are already well aware of. What I will say with unqualified enthusiasm is that I enjoyed every minute of it. I had no temptation to turn it off and do something else. It was musical and well worked on with a nice joyful approach. I too prefer less attack on the high notes (sort not to make every high note seem like such an accomplishment but more of a normal expression). That will come in time too because you've already come nicely along. bravo!
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2012-03-11 23:50
Congrats on your first posting of a video! It's a great way to not only hear what you sound like, but see yourself and better yourself!
Arnoldstang pointed out things that will definitely help your next performance or practicing. One small thing (he mentioned it, but I'd like to reiterate) that makes a big difference is overexaggerating those dynamics! I can hear where you played a little softer, and little louder, but remember that the clarinet is two feet from your ears. So every subtly change in dynamics that YOU hear, someone ten, twenty, or fifty feet away may not hear it. So you have to make the difference more so EVERYONE hears the difference!
Congrats and keep up the practicing! Best part about a video like this too, is you can consider it a sort of "before" snapshot of your clarinet playing. And in a year, after you keep up your practicing and playing, you'll look at it and say, "Hey, I've gotten better!!! This practicing stuff works!!!"
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2012-03-12 00:40
Just out of curiosity, what instrument, what reed and what mouthpiece are you using? What method of practice are you employing and what are you currently focusing on improving?
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-03-12 12:48
Wow. Thank you for your comments everyone! And thank you for getting your points across while not being too harsh. Its just what I needed.
Your comments are very helpful in getting me to notice things I hadnt even considered, which is exactly what I wanted.
Garth: my set is Buffet R13, Vandoren 5RVLyre, Vandoren traditional 3 1/2. However that particular reed was a little on the thin side and i felt like it couldnt support the high notes as well as I would had liked. And Infact, my teacher asked me to play the ending again because I kept squeaking.
What I'm working on in Lessons: Just about completed the Rose 32 Etudes, and just started Voxman (dont know the exact name) working on minor scales out of Pares.
Focusing on....speed, LIGHT tongueing (tip to tip), making the line go somewhere (not so heavy on the down beat), Right hand position (curved fingers),Light touch (dont grip so hard), Musicality? (doing more than just playing the notes and the rhythm).
I also play 3rd part (out of 3 clarinetists) in a Wind Symphony, and play in a clarinet ensemble (5 people) where we get a mix of 1-4 parts.
currently working on the Krommer Concerto for 2 clarinets which will be played with my teach on June 25th...and I'm the one who picked it and I think I got in over my head but I am going to work hard at it.
Thank you again, I truly appreciate what you all had to say.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2012-03-12 23:26
Quote:
currently working on the Krommer Concerto for 2 clarinets which will be played with my teach on June 25th...and I'm the one who picked it and I think I got in over my head but I am going to work hard at it. Awesome! As much as I hate it being said to me by people who are much better, it's true that you have to challenge yourself in order to grow and get better. You can't get better if you can play it first time through. But if it's a piece you need to practice and work on and looks challenging, THAT'S the one that will ultimately make you a better player.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-03-13 14:47
janlynn -
It's nice to hear you at last. I like your sound, which is quite lively, and it's obvious that you're working really hard and making progress.
You're doing well. I have a couple of suggestions for things you might work on next.
1. Even though you use tip-to-tip tonguing, I thought the strokes were too percussive. Work on putting your tongue on the reed, bringing up the air pressure and gently removing your tongue from the reed tip. You "release" the sound without any effort.
2. I'd like to hear more phrasing of notes in groups. Right now, you play one note after another. The next step is binding groups of notes together so that they have a shape and move from the beginning to the end. For me, the musician who did this best was John McCormack. Go to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=john+mccormack&oq=john+mcco&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=1&gs_upl=8761l13772l0l18209l9l9l0l1l1l0l87l523l8l8l0. Begin with "Il Mio Tesoro" and notice how the music is always moving forward, even on long held notes.
Keep up the good work, and let us hear more of your playing as you progress.
Ken Shaw
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-03-13 16:49
Thanks Ken! YES! .....THATS what my teacher is trying to get me to do exactly ......play the notes more like groups rather than one after another.
Also...I understand what you mean about the "release" of sound rather than making an "attack" - now to do it physically.
I'll keep working hard
Thanks for listening!
Janlynn
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