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tone improvement

Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-05-03 19:04

I read the article Greg Smith recommended in one of the threads earlier today, and it is an excellent article. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's the interview with Robert Marcellus (go to Gregory Smith's topic and get the details to find it).

I was impressed with the master's feelings about today's clarinet tones. He said, "I wish we had more of the old recordings to listen to as far as clarinet sound is concerned. I think about clarinet sound today, the way I feel about orchestral performances today, and there are a lot of very fine performances, but not really great, great performances. I am inclined to feel that way about clarinet sound today. It seems to me to be coming a little bit off the wall and not as beautiful as it used to be."

Sadly, I never had the opportunity to hear any of those old masters, but I want to encourage all of us to spend more time listening and working toward better tones on our instruments. It doesn't just come suddenly one day when we get our new instruments and great mouthpieces--it comes from many hours of hard work and lots of listening. The instrument can be quite beautiful when played by someone who has spent hours upon hours alone in his/her studio practicing and striving for a great tone. Great technical skills are a must, but I stop and listen when I hear a truly beautiful tone!

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