 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Shelly
Date: 2001-04-19 01:29
Well, I finally got my clarinet today. I sold my clarinet 10 years ago and haven't played since. I was really proud of myself that I remember all of the note fingerings BUT I have absolutely no stamina! It was all I could do to play a short piece without gasping for air! How long will it take for me to get my old lungs back? Gee whizz! I can feel it in my cheeks too. It's a strain trying to keep my cheeks in. I was playing out of my daughter's piano book. I can handle reading the music and playing the notes but I just don't have enough air
Can anyone suggest how I can build up my strength? Should I be practicing scales I wonder? Should I get a clarinet book and start from the beginning and work my way up? Any advice?
shelly
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-04-19 01:54
Notes from a beginner:
Practice for short periods (maybe only 5-10 minutes) at a time. With an hour or two break (minimum). Do this every day until the strength of the embouchure develops. Even if I rest for a couple of days, I can feel the loss of strength in the lips and cheeks - amazing, huh?
Also, I carry the MP and barrel, reed attached, with me and practice holding l-o-n-g notes while I'm stoped at a light or when traffic refuses to move. This helps with the emouchure and breathing. I keep the car windows up!
I'm still trying to get more "breath" capacity, after six months.
Good luck.
~ jerry
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Author: Pam
Date: 2001-04-19 02:16
Playing long tones will help. Just pick a scale and play each note for a count of maybe 10, then rest for 5 and on to the next note. Gradually increase the time as you are able to.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2001-04-19 02:40
After not playing mine for 20 yrs, I had the same experience. It will come back, it just takes some plating time. Last year I went almost 6 months of playing a contra only. When I got the "little" horn out again, I noticed I had lost some of my my enbouchure for the soprano again.
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Author: Mike Irish
Date: 2001-04-19 11:50
Shellly,
I know the feeling......I had layd off clarinet and oboe since 1977, and well picked up my clarinet again a few years later.... played off and on, and few years ago, started playing in church... but last fall, I bought my oboe, and I have yet to be able to play an hour with out pooping out....
my endurance has built up, the first week I had it, I couldnt even play a solid 5 min
on it...had not problem with breakin period hehehehehe, actually, it lasted about twice what was needed...
stay with it...
Mike
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-04-19 12:30
Start with slightly softer reeds than you were accustomed to playing when you stopped playing.
Also you will need to relearn to control the air stream. Right now it is probably uncontrolled, which will wear you out quite quickly. As the others have mentioned for embouchure, long tones will also help here.
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Author: Euryale
Date: 2001-04-19 12:48
I recently had the same problem. 15 years of not playing and then, pow, you are playing again. I just kept practicing until I couldn't. Then I would take a break and practice some more. It has only been 4 weeks but I have noticed a marked improvement. It comes back. I practiced every day, almost. Now I can play for about 2 hours without a problem. Short break in there. I couldn't remember what size reed I used before so I had a friend give me one from her box to try and then it was a trip to the music store to see what they had. I started practicing on a 2 and worked my way up to a 3 so far. Good luck.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-04-19 13:29
Shelly I wonder if you would consider naming your threads in a way that gives some indication of what your topic is. It helps readers to choose which ones they wish to visit.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-04-19 14:00
The barrel & mouthpiece in your car is exactly what my first teacher suggested.
This really works.
The softer reed, medium-open mouthpiece should be used for the first six months or so, you remember how hard this horn can be to play so why struggle?
My first three months of practice were interminable, with emphasis on whole note chromatic scale (both ways) metronome set to 60 BPM.
Dull as they are, facility really comes from drilling the scales.
My current teacher has me emphasize crossing both breaks.
anji
*****
As to naming the posts, it must be a trial to deal with the constant frustrations of dealing with people whose sole purpose should be making your life easier.
People with precious time don't visit bulletin boards. Go whinge elsewhere.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-04-19 17:48
Shelly,
I've always had the best lungs in any band. When we had little contests to see who could play a note the longest in high school, I always won.
So, how did I get there? I think I've just got a big mouth.:) But actually, I experimented with a Houdini breathing technique. He would breathe completely in and exhale completely about 13-20 times before going into a barrel of water, etc. I did it a few times and was able to hold a note for 3 minutes on a bass clarinet! (Don't drive and do this. I guarantee you'll get light-headed!:))
Another idea is to change your mouthpiece. I used to play on a Vandoren B45 and switched to a M13. Now, when I picked up the B45, it takes ALL my energy to play on it! The M13 allows me to relax and focus more on playing music.
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Author: Cass
Date: 2001-04-20 13:07
I had the same experience of not enough air when I stopped playing to have babies. Both times I had to stop playing in about the 8'th month, then I was too busy to start up again until the baby was about 3 months. So it was almost half a year layoff both times and I was amazed how out of shape for clarinet I was, even though generally I was not in bad physcial condition or so I thought. It just took time and patience, going slowly at first with short practice periods and then building up.
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Author: Steve
Date: 2001-04-20 16:46
--Anji said:
"As to naming the posts, it must be a trial to deal with the constant frustrations of dealing with people whose sole purpose should be making your life easier.
People with precious time don't visit bulletin boards. Go whinge elsewhere."
Anji,
I thought Gordon gave constructive criticism as politely as possible. I too have noticed the "poor subject line" trend. Why would you take it as as a personal attack? It wasn't even directed to you,
but if the shoe fits...
Steve
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Author: Steve
Date: 2001-04-20 16:57
Shelly,
Something not mentioned yet here is one not directly related to music, but greatly related to your question.
If you want better lungs, get your running shoes on and hit the road!
Several wind and brass players I have talked to began running in their "later years" for reasons unrelated to music, and were very suprised at the benefits it gave them in this area too. Doesn't take the place of practice, but enhances it
FOR SURE!
Steve
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2001-04-20 17:15
Long tones until I run out of air seems to work for me--when I do it consistently (every day).
Aerobic exercise (running/jogging/walking) 20 minutes a day also helps (now if I'd just follow my own advice).
I like the idea of the mouthpiece/barrel/reed practice in the car; I've got a morning commute that would work in.
--------
Even though I tend to read just about everything on this BB (maybe I should be jogging instead), I realize that not everyone is willing to take the time or has the interest to do so. I agree with Gordon and Steve that more descriptive subject lines would be helpful.
Todd W
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2001-04-21 17:13
The moderator has done a great job at limiting what should be on the board.
Since so many kids post, he wisely has not been picky about headers,
spelling and grammer. I found the comment rude, bossy and inappropriate.
This sort of thing is up to Mark, who does a great job.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-04-22 12:36
It was meant as a polite, constructive suggestion with absolutely no element of bossiness or rudeness for the sake of forum efficiency for the many who have limited time to keep looking at posts which are not relevant to them.
By the way I did not assume Shelly is young. I am reluctant to make any assumptions about individuals.
Ginny why is it solely Mark's role to make sensible suggestions here? It seems to me he has his time cut out in attending to far more difficult and sensitive issues.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-04-22 15:23
All I'll say on the matter is that titles that accurately describe the content will probably have a greater chance of being answered ...
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