Woodwind.OrgThe Clarinet BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard Equipment Study Resources Music General    
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 
 What is wrong with my clarinet?
Author: iplaytheclarinet 
Date:   2018-08-17 03:29

I'm a high school student. I've had my clarinet for 4 years, and I've had absolutely no problems with it. I'm pretty sure it's a plastic Bundy student clarinet.

Last week at marching band practice, I had my clarinet set up on the ground and someone accidentally kind of kicked it. No big deal. However, when i tried to play it again it did not play right. Notes played on the upper body of my clarinet will barely come out. I have to strain myself to get something out, and that something is usually a squeak. Notes played on the lower body of my clarinet sometimes play like I'm holding down the register key, even when I'm not.

The weird part is my clarinet will play correctly for like 5 minutes or so, but then 5 minutes later it will go back to having problems. It's a cycle basically.

Initially, I thought that my mouthpiece was cracked on the inside from when the person kicked it. I bought a new mouthpiece, but my clarinet is still doing the same thing. I had my band director and the first chair clarinet player check my clarinet out, but they both said that they couldn't find anything wrong with it.

Do any of you know what's wrong with it and how I can potentially fix it? Or should I just take it in to be repaired? If you guys need more details about my problem I can tell you.



Reply To Message
 
 Re: What is wrong with my clarinet?
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2018-08-17 03:39




Clearly some key or keys have been bent. A competent repair person (that is someone that does repair all the time) will be able to find and repair the issue. Take it in to get it fixed.



............Paul Aviles



Reply To Message
 
 Re: What is wrong with my clarinet?
Author: Wicked Good 2017
Date:   2018-08-18 01:17

"I had my clarinet set up on the ground and someone accidentally kind of kicked it. No big deal."

Say what? That's a big deal, I would say.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: What is wrong with my clarinet?
Author: nellsonic 
Date:   2018-08-18 01:35

Sadly, this kind of thing happens often in some marching bands. Don't get me started.

I've often seen and heard about instruments laid directly on the grass with band members running over and around them. Sometimes that is just how things are done in a particular program. Keeping instruments safe is not always given the priority it should be. Financial responsibility for repairs SHOULD be distributed accordingly but rarely is.

Perhaps I only hear about about the bad stuff.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: What is wrong with my clarinet?
Author: Paul Aviles 
Date:   2018-08-18 02:03




I was involved in witnessing a marching band drill just a few years ago in a typical setting. The students must learn complex moves and line up in precise positions, and oh by the way, play their memorized parts too. So in the middle of a session, the members had to ground their instruments to concentrate on the moves. It must happen ALL the time.





.............Paul Aviles



Reply To Message
 
 Re: What is wrong with my clarinet?
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2018-08-18 04:34

Band directors and first chair players aren't repairers, so they won't know what's wrong with it if it isn't patently obvious to them.

Take it straight to a competent repairer who should be able to diagnose and repair it for you - make an appointment with them if you can so they can work on it while you wait and they may want you there to be sure it's playing as it should do for you once it's done.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

Reply To Message
 Avail. Forums  |  Threaded View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 


 Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here 
 User Login
 User Name:
 Password:
 Remember my login:
   
 Forgot Your Password?
Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org