 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-08-01 21:04
It's 3 weeks and counting until I go to college, and I'm about ready to tear my hair out. I audition for the concert bands (in which i'll be playing bass clarinet) at the U of Iowa the first week of the semester, after a week of marching band camp (in which i'll be playing alto sax). The bass is fine, but its the clarinet that i'm having problems with. My sound is consistantly stuffy, I hate my ligature and clarinet, and my reeds arent sounding good any more. I have a Rovner, which i've been playing on backwards (screw facing me) so the reed vibrates more, that sounds a little better. However I cant do anything about my setup yet, I have absolutely no money. As soon as I start getting money in a few months, I'll go to the music store and see what they can do about getting me a better clarinet. And ligature.
The setup's pretty hopeless for now (and I really just have to wow them w/ my bass, as for clarinet just prove that I can play it) and I'm worrying about the music. Playing the 3rd mvt of the Mozart concerto... I've got the fingers for the most part, I'm just having little miscellaneous problems.......like I can't tongue light enough, my fingers dont all come up at the same time, I'm STILL taking too much mouthpiece, my technique is bad, my embouchure is bad, among other things. Basically that I'll never be able to play clarinet decently, ever. (that reminded me of a scene in the movie Centar Stage - know where i'm talking about?).
Anyway, um, if anyone has any advice for me, whether it be about the Mozart, my sound being crappy at the moment, experiences or stories to tell that might make me less stressed, or just in general about me completley freaking out and second guessing everything I've ever learned in the past 9 years, let me know. Thanks for letting me vent before I go insane here....
~Ashley~
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-08-01 21:34
The only thing I can say is that your frustration is a good sign.
It means you are becoming a better player as you can hear all the little details that do not please about your sound and playing.
All players face this, ask any professional, and you'll realize that they are all unhappy with their sound, always looking for that magical mouthpiece, striving for a lighter and more elegant staccato, a better sound, faster fingers. I dont know a single player who is completely satisfied with his/her playing.
My advice to you is to work on one thing at a time. Try to improve one aspect of your playing, instead of deciding that you suck at everything. It'll be hard work but there is no reason why you should not succeed.
I can't help you for the embouchure I would have to see you to give any sort of feed back, but I know playing bass clarinet is not a very good thing if your Bb embouchure is not strongly set.
Fingers: Baerman book 3. Do those scales and arpeggios, practise slow concentrate on evenness in rythm and sound, within a few weeks you will see dramatic improvement in your technique.
Tonguing: search this BBoard and site and check Bonade's compendium on clarinet. He has a section about tonguing which is very good. The key to a good staccato is to use as little tongue as possible on as little reed as possible with a very light touch. Articulation is a very difficult aspect of clarinet playing but don't give up!
Best of luck to you, we all went through and will go through frustrating periods, but if you persevere you'll get better it's 100% sure you will!
-S
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ~jerry
Date: 2001-08-01 22:16
You might try barrowing a ligature to see if that helps, before you buy one. Or, you could try a shoe string, that's not too expensive -- at least it would give you something to experiment with to maybe eliminate the ligature as a problem.
Also, try relaxing more -- don't be so violent. You cannot eat the elephant in one bite -- take it one bite at a time over several days.
GL
~ jerry
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Pam
Date: 2001-08-01 22:55
My teacher has told me that when you first audition for college they don't expect you to have already "arrived" as a musician, but as someone who can grow from the experience. While you want so much to do well, you also need to relax and remember to enjoy the music. You're going to college to learn something. So, yes, practice and continue working on the things that need work, but try not to beat yourself up too badly.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-08-02 00:18
I, too, am stressing over college auditions. The best thing I've done is just ignore my instruments for 2 days. It's amazing how much "better" you sound after the break. I doubt that I'm actually any better, but I can enjoy practicing more when I don't wall test every reed that isn't concert quality right off the bat.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ~jerry
Date: 2001-08-02 00:29
Francesca,
"...when I don't wall test every reed that isn't concert quality...."
Does this mean what I think it means (i.e., if they don't play, bounce them off the wall) or is this a new term for me?
~ jerry
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-08-02 00:43
haha, i'm a big fan of the wall test myself...its when you take a reed that sucks and smash it tip-first into a wall/stand/other flat surface. I've got an Altoids tin in my bass clarinet case that I put old reeds into to wall test in moments of frusteration
~Ashley!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: HAT
Date: 2001-08-02 01:16
If you are having all these problems, why are you playing sax in marching band? Or playing in marching band at all? It makes no sense. Quit marching band immediately if you are at all serious about being a clarinet player. It's not high school any more. You're not at college to have fun.
My advice would be to concentrate on the b-flat clarinet only, play it indoors only and get your act together. Then you can consider doing all these other things.
Blaming your equipment for your problems is a waste of time. Playing is 98% you, 2% your equipment.
Slow scales are an excellent suggestion. 60 minutes a day minimum in all keys.
Bonade's compendium for articulation also an excellent idea. Read it carefully.
Good Luck.
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-02 01:30
Ashley, I believe David (normally) charges a kot for thatg type of information. Take the ME to heart. Don't worry too much about Reeds in the middle of Summer, we are all struglling to some degree with them ... consciously or not. Listen to what Sylvain said, he was right, too! Best of luck with your college journey. mw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-08-02 01:42
I wouldnt be in marching band if i didnt have to be. Its a requirement for one year for ALL music ed majors. If it was my choice I wouldnt be in it. Believe me, I'd rather have the extra 2 hours a day to practice. I hate marching band.
And it's kind of difficult to play on a setup when you know you CAN sound better, but your setup won't let you. I played my directors Yamaha for a concert when I had to accompany a vocalist, and i sounded sooooo much better. I just know that I CAN sound better than I do, but I simply dont have the funds.
~Ashley~
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2001-08-02 02:06
Go to college and have fun. Yes, study hard and take your work seriously, but do not forget to have fun.
Sylvain, Jerry (re: eating elephants), Pam & Francesca offer wonderful advice. Give it a try!
And, did I mention--
HAVE FUN! (which were my dad's parting words to me when getting dropped off freshman year. I did, and never have regretted it.)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: HAT
Date: 2001-08-02 02:27
Marching Band a requirement? What is the world coming to? They should PAY you to do it. Tough it out!
Good Luck,
David Hattner, NYC
I didn't mean to imply that college shouldn't be fun. . .but it's not what college is for.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jim
Date: 2001-08-02 03:50
Have fun in college, AND have fun with your music! The day it is no longer fun, go to the registar and change your major to business or pre-law or something and go for the bucks. Not to imply that MBAs and lawyers can't have fun in their professions... but music needs to be special! Remember the sacrifice in time and effort you've made/ will make and the ecconomic realities of making a career in the arts. The joy of music is the payback.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Suzanne
Date: 2001-08-02 04:02
I was feeling just like you the past couple of weeks--I have a big audition coming up on Sunday, for a person that I was caring too much about what he thought of me, and it was making me anxious.
Try bit by bit to see if you can eliminate the negative things that are going through your head. Stop negative thoughts as soon as they start--consciously DON'T let yourself think them. What good does it do? A great deal of auditioning is mental--how you perceive yourself will come across. The mature musician will present his or her self with confidence. The mature musician will not let the panel know that he is nervous (even if he is).
Yes, reeds suck, is there ever really a time when they don't suck? See if, for the time leading up to your audition at least, you can play on a reed that makes you sound as good as possible. It will build your confidence. Saving a "best" reed for an audition and practicing on crappy ones makes for frustrating practice times, and besides, that "best" reed often will go south just in time for the day of your audition.
College educators look for potential and are excited about the student who is eager to learn and has talent. You seem eager, so use that energy to play expressively despite whether or not you think your tone sucks. I have heard clarinetists with maybe not the most pristine tone, who are so musical, you can't take your ears off them.
I got over my own pre-audition anxiety by praying about it (seriously), and deciding that if this person that I was so scared about didn't like my playing, (pardon my French), screw him. I'm good. Look for your own good qualities and, for the present, focus on those. The time to focus on your weaknesses will come, when you start studying with a new teacher in college.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kim
Date: 2001-08-02 05:01
When I first auditioned in front of college music faculty I sucked. I had terrible tone quality, couldn't tongue, had no technique, and no sense of musicality. Also, I had a terrible clarinet! Now, I am entering my senior year and I have improved so much that I even surprise myself.
You shouldn't expect yourself to be the best right when you enter college. I wasn't since the other professors didn't even think that I could succeed in their department. However, I have proved them wrong and am quite the musician at the moment and I'm happy.
Also, remember that being first chair isn't everything. Last year I made that my goal. Boy, was that a mistake! In college, we are all pretty equal in ability and nobody should have to go on an ego trip. It isn't fair to the others in the section --or the band. Now, all I care about is my personal success. For example, just in the past few days, I have learned to tongue. It is quite an accomplishment for me.
As for reeds and everything, your teacher will probably criticize your embouchure, clarinet, and set up right away as mine did. College teachers want their students to strive for perfection. It makes it harder, but hey, we all like a challenge.
Since you are criticizing your tone quality, reeds, and ligature, it means you are becoming more interested in playing well. I do this all the time. It drives me crazy, but being critical of our own playing is the only way that we will improve.
When you audition for the faculty, relax. They are not there to hear Stoltzman or something. They are there to hear a work in progress. You are developing into something that will eventually be much better than you are now--just wait and see. They are also rooting for you to do well because they want you to succeed. Give it your all.
To make yourself less stressed take a day off. Play on the computer, don't practice, do something else to take your mind off the situation at hand. College is difficult so just take a day and give it to yourself. Even stay up late and watch tv and laugh your head off. It helps me. Not practicing for a day can also be the best thing in the world for you, especially after huge things like auditions or juries. I know exactly how you feel, I've been there. I am a college student myself and go back in a month.
Good luck and have fun,
Kim
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2001-08-02 11:46
Ashley:
We play music because we love it and it makes us happy. Accept the equipment and make it sound as good as you can - take it as your challenge to make it sing - until you can upgrade. To paraphrase Lance Armstrong, "It's not about the clarinet." Relax, take some breaths of fresh air. Don't kick yourself, you only hurt yourself that way.
I asked a very driven friend of mine where she got her energy, drive, and spirit. She said that she didn't feel like she had anymore than anyone else. She was just doing what she enjoyed. That's the secret. Enjoy your music.
MOO,
Matt
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Forest Aten
Date: 2001-08-02 17:00
Ashley,
What is your musical objective in college? Performance, music education....or just play in the band?
F. Aten
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-08-03 00:38
I read an article in the Clarinet MasterClass booklet published by WindPlayer that a famous jazz player looks at a junk bin everytime he visits a music store. He writes they do not know the values of those 'junk' ligatures such as old Harrison or old perforated Selmer. It only costs below one dollar at most.
To make stuffy sounds more brilliant, a B&G super revelation will work without doubt. Your Rovner might be changed to a B&G look-alike by patching a thin wavy plate. Trying a string is another way without any investment:This may need a nuck of how to change its strength for each part of reed. I just thought.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2001-08-04 21:38
Hi Ashley,
Take heart. I have come to find over the years that, when I have been practicing regularly, really frustrating practice sessions where I sound out of focus, my fingers feel like they're mired in molasses, my tongue feels like a sponge, I make stupid mistakes and ... well, you get the picture, almost always are followed by a small but distinct elevation in my overall level of playing. Tape yourself. You may find you don't sound nearly as bad as you think you do.
About the Rovner. When was the last time you took it apart and cleaned the grease (I use cork grease) or oil off the threads (inside and outside) and replaced it? It makes no sense to me that this should make any difference (or that any grease should be necessary in the first place), but Rovner says you should and, on more than one occasion, when I couldn't find a reed that felt good, the grease was old and black. After cleaning up the ligature and putting on fresh grease, the problems have disappeared. It's a mystery.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
