 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: curlyev
Date: 2013-05-08 21:01
I read somewhere that a student was concerned because they only had a plastic clarinet and wanted to try out for All State on that clarinet. She was told that no one could make All State with a plastic clarinet. I beg to differ, because I did! Granted, it was 1997, but still. I was also 1st chair, and the director was completely shocked, so if you can get a wooden clarinet DO IT, but don't NOT try out because you don't have one. If you can make your plastic clarinet "sing" in that special way, the judges will notice! That's what my band director told me, and I'm so glad I listened.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-05-08 21:47
"She was told that no one could make All State with a plastic clarinet."
That is absolute crap! If they're a good player, it doesn't matter what their clarinet is made from and no-one should begrudge them their goal if they so happen to play a plastic clarinet and play it well. If anything, it's probably better in a lot of ways if they have a plastic clarinet if they do a lot of outdoors playing. The merits lie with the player, their musicality and their command of their instrument and definitely not the make nor model of the instrument.
Wood doesn't always mean good.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-05-08 22:04
Btw, what are the grade levels for performing players in the US system?
In the UK we have Grade 1 to 8 (ABRSM, Trinity and Guildhall syllabus), then the diploma after that.
Here's the syllabus: http://ca.abrsm.org/en/our-exams/woodwind-exams/clarinet-exams/
Back on topic, when I was at college there was a clarinettist in the year above me who had done all her ABRSM grades on a plastic Artley (and she got an R13 the following year). I used her Artley for my first exam (Grade 4) as my throat G# spring broke before my exam and she was kind enough to get me out of a scrape. I got a distinction, so can't complain about that, even if it was a plastic clarinet that was very different to my wooden B&H 2-20.
There was also a girl while I was at school who had done all her grades on a plastic Yamaha YCL-26.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-05-08 22:05)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-05-08 23:53
The best flutist in my high school band won first-chair all-state on her entry-level Gemeinhardt. Everyone she beat out had a Haynes.
With a hand-made mouthpiece, listeners can't tell a plastic Yamaha clarinet from an R13. Even with a plastic Yamaha mouthpiece, a good player can make it sound beautiful.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-05-09 00:03
Ok, I agree with the whole "musicians can make MUSIC on anything" assertion. I also don't believe there is "line-in-the-sand" concerning plastic horns. HOWEVER, less expensive horns are less expensive because no one bothered to ensure that they PLAY IN TUNE !!!!!! By 'in tune' I mean one note flat the next hideously sharp, etc.
An instrument of poor quality will hold back someone who may otherwise be able to make greater strides with a horn that has no 'threshold.'
So let's not let everyone think that having a $100.00 wonder is a GREAT idea.....it just doesn't necessarily make you less of a musician.
.................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-05-09 00:05
While the instrument can make a difference, it shouldn't be the determining factor in any audition.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2013-05-09 00:41
Quote:
With a hand-made mouthpiece, listeners can't tell a plastic Yamaha clarinet from an R13. Even with a plastic Yamaha mouthpiece, a good player can make it sound beautiful. I agree. I believe tone is a product of mouthpiece and barrel. Where the clarinet comes into play is resistance from note to note, between registers, and tuning. And that's not due to material, but design. It's just that a plastic clarinet TENDS not to be designed and machined as strictly as top level clarinets.
I can slap my mouthpiece and barrel on anything and sound like me. But it might be more of a bear to tune it and to play an even sounding scale. But a clarinet is a clarinet. You use the same fingers to play the same notes, regardless of what it's made of.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-05-09 01:20
1978 All State. Band Virginia, I was the only Clarinetist in the section who had a plastic (bundy) Clarinet. I had only played for 2 years, so hadn't gotten to the point where it seemed warranted yet.
The R-13 that replaced it that following summer played a whole lot better.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: curlyev
Date: 2013-05-09 06:23
I had a Vito Resotone 3 with a Vandoren 2RV mouthpiece, and it served me very well. I still use a plastic clarinet for some outdoor activities, but I am thankful to have a wooden one now.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-05-09 06:45
What exactly is All State?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2013-05-09 07:03
I passed Grade 8 (playing Finzi 5 bags and Mozart concerto) aged 14 playing a Buescher Aristrocrat plastic clarinet. dn
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: curlyev
Date: 2013-05-09 07:41
Chris, All-State is when players from all over a particular state compete to play together (the best of the best). It's like an honor band only on a larger scale. It is a very big deal (I'm in Oklahoma, but I'm sure it is in other states too), and it looks great on college apps.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: curlyev
Date: 2013-05-09 07:45
It's extremely hard to get selected, but it is so much fun when you do! I don't know if they do it differently now than they did in the late 90s.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-05-09 09:02
Do you have a similar grading system (like the ABRSM one) for players in the US?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2013-05-09 11:38
In a word: no.
State to state requirements and expectations are all over the map. New York has the most comprehensive system that I know of, similar in concept to ABRSM -- GBK and others can speak more accurately on that count.
Where I am (Virginia) we has nothing similar.
James
PS: Chris: A unified music development structure would be a gross expansion of Federal regulation likely designed to infringe on state's rights and stifle musical development and small business. ![[hot]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/hot.gif)
PPS: First emoticon used ever. Ever. Perhaps the last.
Gnothi Seauton
Post Edited (2013-05-09 11:40)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2013-05-09 13:39
Being chosen for one of the NYS All State groups (orchestra, band, wind ensemble, jazz band, etc...) is based on your individual Grade 6 NYSSMA solo score.
For the most part, the score must be 100%, although on the less common instruments (EX: baritone sax) it may be slightly less.
Competition, as expected, is fierce, especially on clarinet, flute, trumpet, with many students who have perfect scores, not being chosen.
It's a nice weekend experience playing in an elite group with a noted guest conductor.
...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
