 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jacob R
Date: 2024-01-12 08:33
So, today, I had an all-region band rehearsal today. I was just playing when needed to, but when they isolated the top three clarinet chairs, they had to play and their tone was so immaculate. To say the least, their tone sounded bright, rich, clean. After I heard them play, I compared their tone to my tone, which from comparing, my tone has a more dull and somewhat airy tone. I just wanted ANY advice on how I can improve it and if you guys have any questions, please let me know!!!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2024-01-12 16:43
For me the best way to improve sound is to consciously use more air. By that I mean that there is always a balance of embouchure engagement (more or less energy within the lip/cheeks) and the amount of air you push for a given note at a given dynamic. If you increase the amount of air you actively push within that equation you immediately increase resonance and projection. One indicator that you are on the right track is when you feel the clarinet vibrating under your fingers all the time (even in the upper clarion at lower dynamics).
Also keep in mind that the even those folks you reference will sound a bit less spectacular sitting right next to them with no other sound going on. The sound that is so amazing is what carries across more space and the sounds of others as the ensemble is playing.
..........Paul Aviles
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2024-01-12 17:25
3 things that come to mind:
1 Voicing, ie shape of oral cavity and tongue position: https://www.dansr.com/resources/what-a-difference-a-vowel-makes-focus-and-tuning-for-clarinetists
2. Air support and "cold air". (well discussed on this bboard, see also T. Ridenour "Educator's guide to clarinet & several other authorative texts on the subject)
3. equipment choices (here be dragons, watch out for rabbit holes!) and make sure whatever you're using is in good condition, including key/pad heights etc
good luck
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2024-01-12 18:58
Perhaps try putting a little more of the mouthpiece and reed into your mouth?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2024-01-12 19:05
ACCA wrote:
> 3. equipment choices (here be dragons, watch out for rabbit
> holes!) and make sure whatever you're using is in good
> condition, including key/pad heights etc
>
And, above all, make sure you're choosing the right reeds for your mouthpiece and that, among those, you're choosing the best-sounding ones from the box.
I found through years of giving private lessons that the easiest improvement to make for any student coming for his first lesson was to the sound. Students would try to play on reeds that were too hard (usually on instructions from their trumpet-major band director), too unbalanced (because they didn't know any better) or missing chunks of their tips (because they didn't want to throw broken reeds away).
Assuming you buy your reeds by the box, try the other reeds first. If they all play dull and airy, invest in a box of the next strength down and see what you find. Dull and airy can have lots of causes (including the ones in Paul's and ACCA's posts), but reeds are always a prime suspect.
Karl
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2024-01-13 00:29
Damn!.... when I saw the topic title I was hoping it was a new " self help" book just come out. ( sigh!)
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2024-01-13 03:37
A video link about your playing and a detailed description of your current equipment could be useful. Many people have teaching experience on this BBoard, and I'm sure you would get more specific pieces of advice that you could use to improve in the way you wish.
Mark
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