 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-05-19 11:00
Well after nearly eight months on the clarinet I am back to squeaks. I squeaked very little when I first started playing and the teacher at that time thought that I sounded very good for a beginner. However, I have lost something somewhere. Some days I practice with hardly a squeak. On other days I practice for a short time, start squeaking and no matter what I do, including changing reeds and mouth pieces, nothing works. When that happens I abuse the horn (verbally) and put it away and go down stairs -- good night horn!
The exasperating part is that my teacher cannot tell me what I am doing wrong and appologizes for being unable to do so. The only thing he suggests is that I am dropping the back of my tongue. I try raising it to the point of feeling contorted (like a golfer teeing off) and this only makes things worse.
Any of this ever happen to anyone - suggestions?
BTW this happens mostly at the top of the chalemeau, "B", "A", "G", etc. AND, I am covering all the tone holes - I try to pay attention to that. I also raise the bell end of th CL slightly (which helps lots of times) -- this is how my first teacher would stop me from squeaking; just reached over and put his finger under the bell and lifted, squeak gone. But none of this seams to work when the squeak gremlin gets loose in this Vito:>(
Thanks.
~ jerry
Still in Clarinet Boot Camp
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Author: LIZZIE
Date: 2001-05-19 13:37
wow i have never heard of a clarinet boot camp......
but maybe it is your ambesure that is trubeling you.. Chin down,tongues @ the tip of the reed..Bell out.....sit strait....and dont sit back put your rear on the very end of da' seat....and....maybe try looking & seeing if any of your fingers are not completly covering the hole of the notes that you are squeeking on and no i have not had this problem but yes every clarinet player squeeks now and then..Good-Luck and i hope you fix your problemo!
~lizze~
p.s- what is clarinet boot camp?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-05-19 13:43
Based on your description, I would guess (and it is just a guess) that you may be "pinching," have too much mouthpiece in your mouth, have too much or too little lower lip over your teeth, or maybe your chin is starting to bunch up.
I really don't think it is the position of your tongue at all. It really sounds like it is the lips and muscles around the mouth (i.e. embouchure) or position of the mouthpiece (either angle, amount or both) relative to the embouchure.
Just try relaxing. You may be trying too hard. This causes tension and tension leads to random squeaking.
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-05-19 14:37
Jerry:
start with the C scale and play one note at a time, nice and easy. Don't force anything. Work your way up and up and if you squeak back off and go again. You are making progress and thats the important thing.
Bob
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-05-20 13:22
Just for grins, I wonder if the topmost pads are still sealing?
If the pads beneath the 'A' key (Left hand, first finger) don't hold pressure, it is a losing battle.
Also, if you have any condensation beneath the reed when it gets wild, the table of your mouthpiece may no longer be flat (but also applicable on the A clarinet ;] )
I have the Legere reed as a backup for humid days.
Innit great to have so many sources to chase down?
anji
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-05-20 17:35
Anji,
You may have hit on part of it because any time I get saliva beneath the reed (I always do) I have a problem squeaking and rattling. But cleaning it (with coffee filter paper - unused) does not always help. I'll follow up on this one.
Dee,
You too may be on to something because with this latest teacher, at his request, I am to take in more of the MP than I used to. He said that I should get used to this and to keep the back of my tongue raised (like a cat "hissing") so that I will have fewer problems when we get to the clarion notes and above (?).
I have a feeling that my jaw muscles get tired and lose strength in the embouchure. But I cannot be sure. I usually practice no longer than 45 m. (who has time?) and I use a 2-1/3 reed.
I will certainly pay closer attention to what you are suggesting though. There sure is a lot to keep track of. The old gray cells are not replacing themselves fast enough these days to keep track of all this stuff. Wonder if I would be any good at one hand clapping.
CU later.
~ jerry
Still in Clarinet Boot Camp
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-05-20 20:10
That's a # 2-1/2.................my tri-focals must have slipped.
~ jerry
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-05-20 22:11
Remember, Drinking only kills the weak ones.
If you are taking in more mouthpiece, no wonder the reed is a little wild.
So much mouthpiece as you can still control...
I wonder if trimming the reed a bit might help some, too?
Could be you're just ready to get a beefier reed on the table.
anji
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Author: Cyril
Date: 2001-05-21 09:00
Have you tried using a *very* much softer reed. Blow very gently and gradually increase the lip tension on your mouth piece, until the sound appears.
This was some excellent advice I got from my clarinet repair man. It certainly worked for my alto clarinet, on which I suddenly began squeaking. I moved down from an VanDoren 2.5 to a Ricoh 1.5 and hey presto, sound and music!
Try it.
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