 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Susie
Date: 2001-08-03 18:20
I've just started to play the clarinet again after about 18-20 years "off".. I played through junior high school and high school and for a few years in college but then stopped. Recently a friend offered to lend me her old student clarinet ( a c. 18 yr. old Normandy with a stock mouthpiece) and I started to play again. It is of course, amazing how much you forget, but it's also amazing, how quickly some of it comes back. It will be some time before I'll regain some of what I had in the way of skill and style but I'm having a lot of fun with it.
I'm beginning to think about what to do about getting my own instrument. My friend isn't in a hurry to get hers back... she wasn't playing it at all. I used to have a wood Buffet, but it was sold. I know I really need a new mouthpiece, even before I buy my own instrument but I could use advice... on mouthpieces and ligatures; on instructional material, and ultimately on instruments, type, used vs. new, etc. I'd like to ultimately play for fun, play for informal gatherings, church, with groups of friends, etc. I have no professional aspirations... :-)
I know this seems like a tall order... but I've been reading some of the postings on this board and been impressed with folks' willingness to try to be helpful. I'd appreciate your thoughts and advice.
thanks,
Susie
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-08-03 18:49
Hi, Susie!
Welcome back to Clarinetland :]
You'll find lots of company here. Great bunch of clarinet-minded, wonderful people. I, like you, started playing again three years ago after a thirty year 'vacation'. The advice and information you can find here is, in my opinion, the best you'll find anywhere in the world. Many of us BB'ers aspirations are about the same as yours, small informal - church, friends, just for fun.
If I may, I'd suggest that you play for a while with what you have, then try some different mouthpieces, reeds and stuff. Maybe later you'll want to get your own horn but for now what you have is pretty good if it's in working order. There's nothing that'll frustrate your efforts more than leaky pads and/or worn out corks. You might want to get the instrument checked out to make sure it's working okay just to make sure.
Glad you're joining in and having fun. That's what it's all about 
- ron b -
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Author: Susie
Date: 2001-08-03 19:18
Actually the cork was replaced 2 years ago and I just had the clarinet checked for leaks and a number of the pads replaced.
I really think it would help to get a new mouthpiece fairly soon... otherwise I'm in no great hurry.
A friend suggested I take some private lessons again, and I'm looking into options in my area. I imagine that'll also help when it comes time to think about buying a horn.
susie
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Author: Sue B
Date: 2001-08-03 19:48
Your local music store should be able to tell you where you can get a teacher. If that doesn't work try local college music department they probably have students that will do lessons.
Back after over 20 years myself...
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-08-03 20:10
My advice for a decent starting mouthpiece, reed, lig setup.
Go for a moderately open mouthpiece with a medium facing:
Vandoren 5RV Lyre or M13 Lyre, but try a few before buying they tend to be inconsistent.
I would recommend Vandoren reeds strength 3 (or anything equivalent)
For the ligature try a few, if you like a dark sound you should look into the Rovener fabric ligs, for a brighter sound get something in metal like a bonade lig or if you have money to spend the BG super revelation, or Vandoren optimum.
Bring a good reed with you and try different configurations in the shop. It;'s also good to bring somebody with good ears with you.
Good luck and welcome back ;->
-S
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Author: Jerry McD.
Date: 2001-08-03 20:45
Susie
Welcome back! I too took about 10 years off of playing and I am very glad I am playing again. The above posts are exactly right about people on this BB who are willing to give good solid and FREE advice. For what it's worth here are my $.02. You have a good horn to start to get your chops back. I'm assuming that since you are older you have a little more freedom in your pocketbook. Many adults will splurge on a top of the line pro model horn just because they can (and I am completely jealous of them). I think a solid recommendation would be a good used pro horn, and there are many people here on sneezy that can probably hook you up with one of these. As for mouthpieces I second the recommendation for the M13 Lyre. Definitely go through at LEAST a half dozen or so, and you should be able to find a good one. Ligature, nothing wrong (and a lot of things right) with the Bonade, I prefer the inverted. As for reeds, I would recommend that you don't get too uptight about them. If you read many of these posts a lot of people are frustrated with their reeds, including me. Buy your reeds in complete boxes. Vandoren 3's would be good, and play all 10, keep the ones that play easily and sound good, and throw out the rest. Before everyone jumps on this, I say that because when you are just starting again as an adult you don't need complications from your reeds, not only are your chops rusty, but so is reed adjustment technique. When I was a poor college student I spent hours trying to make every single reed play, because I couldn't afford not to. Now that I am older and have a little more spendable income, I can stress a little less. As your playing rounds back into form, you can begin to work on adjusting your reeds so more of them play. Good luck and welcome back!
Jerry McD.
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Author: Beth
Date: 2001-08-03 21:56
Wow Susie! You could have been telling my story! We are in just about exactly the same boat. I've been away from serious clarinet playing for over 20 years myself. But I'm very excited starting again. Luckly for me though, I haven't been away from making music all this time. My passion has been my piano for several years, and it has kept my brain sharp when it comes to theory.
I got out my big pile of old clarinet music and thought "Wow...I used to be able to play this? Will it ever be possible again?" It's overwhelming at first. And probably like many others here, I've got a lot of old emotions issues tied up in playing the clarinet. I think we tend to be a neurotic bunch...particularly when it comes to reeds. (I remember have HUNDREDS of different reeds spread out over a table in a desperate frenzy to find the "perfect" reed for a performance.)
The BIG difference for me now is that I'm no longer in competition with anyone else. I'm free to just go at my own pace, play what I like, and please only myself. I'm loving this. And I'm so glad to have found this group! I have lots of questions I want to ask people, but I still feel a little shy around all these experts. (I've already found a few "favorite" authors, whose posts I give priority reading.)
As far as set up goes, I just recently bought a Vandoren 5RV-lyre and like it a lot. I tried the Vandoren Optimum ligature and thought that was mighty nifty too. But because my embouchure is still quite weak, I need a soft reed (Vandoren V12, 2 1/2). I tone is a little harder to control with that soft of a reed though, so I'm hoping to move up to a harder reed very soon. (I have a huge box- over 200- of Vandoren #4.5 that are 20+ years old. Do you think I should trash them?)
I'm also looking to buy a nice clarinet for myself in the near future. I've tried out the pro lines of Selmer, Yamaha, and Leblanc, but I haven't gotten my hands on a Buffet yet. Have you tried any of them yourself yet?
I'm thrilled to not be the only one here coming back to the clarinet after such a long absence. I look forward to hearing how you progress.
Warm regards~
Beth
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Author: Sarah
Date: 2001-08-03 22:34
Everyone has such fantastic stories. Its great that people get back into it with such enthusiasm!
I played on a Vandoren 5RV lyre mp for a long time and thought it was great for what I needed then so you'll just have to have a go really and see whether it suits you.
Good luck and happy clarinetting!
Sarah
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Author: Susie
Date: 2001-08-04 03:34
I really appreciate all the words of support and suggestions.
You're right Jerry, I probably do have less of a tight budget than I had 18 years ago, but I'm also starting to go back to graduate school. Between that and general lifestyle choices, I don't think I want to spend thousands of $s on an instrument. So... we'll see. I've actually been pretty impressed with some of the prices of horns like the Buffet R13. I don't know how "safe" it is to get a used one but... those prices are even better!
And Beth... it was reading postings from people like you on this BB which gave me the courage to post in the first place... I'm also really glad I'm not the only one who has taken a major hiatus! What made you decide to start and how are you going about regaining your skills?
My latest problem is that the clarinet I'm playing sounds chronically out of tune to me...Maybe it's me...I've tried to follow some of the suggestions made on tuning in a previous posting...I don't have a tuner so I've been using a pitch fork but I guess I'm going to have to invest in a tuner. I don't have access to a piano...
What do most people, who aren't professional players, use?
thanks,
Susie
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Author: Jim
Date: 2001-08-04 03:53
Try the Korg CA20, less than $20 mail order. Search for a number of posts on tuners on this board.
Welcome back! I've been playing 10 years after a 18 year break.
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Author: Beth R.
Date: 2001-08-04 04:27
I noticed that there is another Beth that posts here. So I'll sign any future posts as...
Beth R. (I'm sorry if I've confused anyone)
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-08-04 12:50
Here's from another 25yr layoff player: WELCOME BACK!!. It can be more fun now than it ever was before. It has been for me. Now your questions:
The horn and mp depend on your budget. For $2000-3000, you could get set up really fine . . . but for me that would not be an option. You could do really well for $500-600 on the right used equipment. There are some sponsors on this bb that sell excellent used horns and are players themselves. Click the box at the top of this screen where it says Go To . . . and select Sponsors. Several sponsors offer used instruments and will be very honest in their appraisal. Most of all, the horns will be in excellent condition when you receive them. There is also a classified section accessed from the same top right box.
There are several other individuals that sell used clarinets that aren't sponsors. They too know their instruments. Drop me an email if you want their names. And no . . . I'm not one of them. (Since you're just coming back, you might not realize that people will not chime in on the bb and say they have this or that horn for sale. The postings are all non-commercial unless they are put in the Classifieds. But there are some very excellent sellers that post here regularly.)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-08-04 15:11
Let me add my congrats to the above posts, Susie. Sue 's, Beth 's, Jim's, Fred's etc [what a good group!] comments cover mine also. I have had the good fortune of not missing many years in my engineering-musical career, our Calif. son recently gave me a license-plate frame saying 70 Years of Woodwinds, I plead guilty to 72 now! My $.03 worth briefly is a used [but good] pro clarinet [prob. wont crack], a med-long lay mp med-open tip [for a high degree of reed-compatibility, VanDoren or Woodwind descriptions will help in this "jungle"], I like med/med-soft reeds like LaVoz/M Lurie {2 1/2 / 3's} and Luyben/Bonade ligs, somewhat dependent on type of playing, Comm. Band / small groups like a church orch etc. Welcome back, Don
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-08-04 15:33
Congrats on coming back! I wanted to share that I found a Buffet (however you want to pronounce it) R-13 at a pawn shop for only $399. They are out there, if you know what questions to ask and what to look for. Definitely start with a used one, fix it up and get a few years of playing out of it. Later you can sell it and add a few more dollars and buy a brand new one, if that's what you're looking for. I did and I just LOVE my Buffet Festival.
(Doesn't "Buffet Festival" sound like a Restaurant Expo?) 8>)
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-04 15:40
Hite Premier mouthpeices work very nicely for ameteurs IMHO. Welcome back!!
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Author: Pam
Date: 2001-08-04 15:57
May I add a welcome back as well?! I have a similar story, played all through school, 20 year hiatus and now back at it for about 2 years. I am having a blast. I love music and clarineting. Best wishes to you.
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2001-08-05 19:57
While you're trying out mps and ligs, don't forget to try the Rovner lig. I thought they were ugly as sin when I first saw them after my hiatus from playing. But I gave one a try when getting a new setup for my cheapo student clarinet from 5th grade. I bought it and liked it so much now have Rovner ligs for my bass clarinet and alto as well. (Both alto & bass are fairly new additions to my growing clarinet collection.)
And Beth -- don't throw away those (unused) old reeds! They're cured up really good now. Search the BB for stories about 20+ year old reeds...
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