 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sarah
Date: 2001-06-17 17:47
I have an overly reedy sound, and I am not sure how to fix. my setup is an E-11, a bay covered ligature, Vandoren V-12 3s, and a polycrystal mouthpiece. I am thinking that I brought this down on myself, because I played in NC for 4 years, and only recently moved to VA. The band down in Nc was rather bad, the first clarinets were playing the "Valdres march" and I was the only one who could actually play it correctly, so I tried to cut through the other clarinets sound as much as I could without getting louder. I know this sounds a bit egotistical, but it is true... any way, now I get reedy when I play in the clarion range. Ay suggestions?
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2001-06-18 00:24
I don't know what your problem is, but when I had a reedy sound I tried many different things but only one worked: air support. I did a few things that my teacher reccomended and they seemed to have helped: 1) I took a piece of paper and put it against a window then saw how long I could hold it up by just blowing on it--at first I couldn't hold it up at all, but with practice I got better; I believe the point of the exercise was to learn to focus your air. 2) I laid down on my back and played--it's rather odd to play like that and takes quite a bit more air support, so if you can sound good playing like that you'll sound really good when you stand/sit back up.
Just some suggestions, let me know if they work, your problem might be completely different from mine.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2001-06-18 05:35
Why not go to a shop and try another mouthpiece? Maybe yours is not flat at the tip. Also, why not try harder reeds (3.5)? I definitely would claim the equipment. I am very interested, if others have other ideas.
From your history, I doubt it is your air support.
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Author: graham
Date: 2001-06-18 11:33
My view of V12s is they can get very harsh when pushed hard. Try others like Zonda or Alexander Superial Classique.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-06-18 14:18
Try working with your embouchure and making sure you're doing what you are supposed to do in that area. Look at yourself in a mirror as you place the instrument into your mouth. You might go back to a different mouthpiece and different reed setup just to make sure you're breaking yourself from any bad habit you may have gotten while "breaking through" the sound of the other clarinets. Then be sure you break your bad "mental" habits as well. Stop thinking of "loud" and start thinking "pretty, full, round, warm, etc." Work with those long, boring whole note tones until you have the sound you want.
If you'll do all those things the reedy sound will go away. But, you might want to read up on proper embouchure again. There's a lot to read just here on Sneezy. Do a search for "embouchure" and see what you find. Probably some good advise.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2001-06-19 05:23
So here we have a discussion of "equipment versus player". I appreciate this. Though I do not really know what to believe.
Brenda, I agree with you that reediness is usually only heard and felt on loud tones. Soft tones (which are more as you say "pretty, round and warm") can be produced even then. The question is: Can you play forte with any equipment without starting to sound like a plastic harmonica?
Rene
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