 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: jan
Date: 2001-05-21 16:46
hi guys,
i just got a new student...very young. started her first lesson with just the mouthpiece and barrel. learning how to put the reed on ..blow thru the mouthpiece...had her practice in a mirror doing that for her next lesson.
next lesson was fine and she even played a few notes...open G, and E on the clarinet.
3rd lesson, yesterday...she couldnt get a single sound out of just the mouthpiece and barrel. i repositioned the reed several times. tried it myself (no problem).
what could be going on?
jan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: spencer
Date: 2001-05-21 18:10
mabye the reed is A) too stiff and she cant get out a adequate vibration or B)the reed is too soft and she is pinching the reed to the mouthpiece.
Spencer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2001-05-21 21:22
Jan, hmmm : Looks like you're doing everything right. Started with basics -
You blow it, it works. Your student blows, nothing. Is she getting air to go through the mpc?
That's an odd one. If air's going through it's gotta make *some* sound.
Is she 'playing tricks' ? :]
Otherwise ...?
- ron b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jerry
Date: 2001-05-22 00:52
Is she blowing from the diaphram or with just a mouth full of air? Souds like breath control (rather lack there of) to me but I'm still learning how to breathe myself. Funny thing, breathing -- and after 60+ years of it and only recently did I find that I didn't know how. Dardest things you find out once you pick up the "licorice stick".
~ jerry
Still in Clarinet Boot Camp
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jan
Date: 2001-05-22 00:54
i could hear the air moving thru ..but no tone. she was able to produce a tone the previous week and her mother said she got a sound out when she practiced. maybe the reed is too hard. its only a 1 1/2. i could try sanding it a bit next time.is it possible she was trying too hard?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sara
Date: 2001-05-22 01:06
Maybeis the exact opposite of what yout hink, it seems to me that maybe its too soft for her, I always start my students on nothing less than a three. I believe you should start with a strong embouchure right from the get go. Makes strengthening the embouchure down the road a good deal easier for bothe the student and the teacher.
Sara
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eoin McAuley
Date: 2001-05-22 07:30
If the air is going through, then the reed is not too soft. It is too hard. But since you can't get much softer than a 1.5, she'll have to learn to press harder with her lip. The Rico 1.5 is slightly softer than the Vandoren so try them. If the reed is not pressed against her lip properly, it won't sound. (At least at this stage where she is not tonguing). I would not recommend using a 3 at the start, because this is far too hard.
A player should not progress to a 3 until they are well able to play, after a few years. Many professionals never go beyond a 2.5 or 3.
Americans, on the other hand, seem to be obsessed with using reeds which I consider far too hard. Maybe this is from the marching band tradition, where they have to compete for volume with far louder instruments.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jan
Date: 2001-05-22 10:45
i agree considering i use a 3 ..sometimes 2.5 myself. ive got her on rico 1 1/2. they also make a 1. i started her sister on a 1 about 2 months ago and she now uses 1 1/2. since there was practically a full box there i thot id try em before getting the 1's. i wil let y'all know what happens next week. thanks for the ideas.
jan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-05-22 19:05
Jan -
Is your student laying her tongue on the reed, maybe to keep it from tickling her lips?
You started with just the mouthpiece and barrel. It's almost impossible *not* to make a sound that way. Just start over with the mouthpiece and barrel and have her take another run at it.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jan
Date: 2001-05-22 19:23
OK, i'll check that out ken.
despite this little bump in the road im loving this teaching stuff. I cant wait to meet with my student next week to give this another try!
jan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Meri
Date: 2001-05-23 01:42
Have you considered checking the mouthpiece to see if it is badly warped?
Meri
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
