 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-10-07 03:37
Ok, small problem.
One of the pads on my contralto fell off (Old Bundy Resonite with no altissimo vent, like it really needs one.) I just recently had a my band director, an Allstate trombonist who's so-so at clarinet repair, glue it back in and tweak it up, and now it plays, but I can't vent out anything higher than an altissimo C. I used to be able to whisper and vent out all the way up to an F# with some fancy contorting of the key mechanisms, but now I can't even play a three octave scale!! I getting annoyed.
I know that contraltos never play that high anyway, but it's like being able to play five octaves on a tuba: It's good for auditions and interesting solos.
A scholarship could depend on if I make Mid-State this year!! If somebody could please give me help on how to pop those notes out? If not, I'll live, but if so?
(Auditions are in December.)
Also, what nicknames are there out there for Contraltos?
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-10-07 04:33
I refer to mine as the contra contraption as the one I originally was using was an old dog on loan from the local high school and it was consantly needing something fixed or tweeked to keep on playing. I had to put saddle oil on the rock hard pads to get them to seal. I don't think there was a key or post on it anywhere that wasn't bent. I learned a lot from that contraption. Now I have my own "like new" Leblanc contra. Much nicer, all notes play without fighting anything. I play better now too as I can concentrate on the music rather than trying to get a certain note to play. Our conductor jokingly refers to it as "that plumbing lookin' thing" or the "EEb super flute". in the process of glueing that pad back in, I may be not quite sealing properly. If it has been on for a while in one position it has most likly seated against the tone port and getting it back in exactly the same position and heigth will be a miracle. It would be best to get a new pad so it can be seated anew. If you can play as high as you describe, you have a good horn with no leaks and good chops. Good luck and keep on honkin'.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-10-07 12:35
I agree that the pad probably isn't seating right. As a general thing, once a pad falls out or is loose, it should be replaced with a new one as the old will never seat quite the same again, especially on large pads. Putting the old back in should only be done as a temporary measure to get through the rest of a concert, etc.
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Author: Leanne
Date: 2001-10-07 22:22
I was lucky to get above a high Bb on a good day, but I have hit an F# before. Even with the "limited range" I did fine with honor bands, I made all-state my junior year...a rare a complishment for any instrument in these parts.
My contra was constantely referred to as "The Beast". I miss playing contra so much that I am considering investing in one, once I save up enough.
I think you just need to get a new pad---I agree with those who say it isn't seated right. That's cool that you can play so high!
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-10-09 02:55
Thanks!! I never really thought much about it.
BTW, my personal nickname is "The kitchen sink with a reed". The description almost fits.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-10-09 13:36
A couple of weeks ago at a wind ensemble rehearsal the conductor had all of us introduce ourselves and what instrument we were playing --- I'm playing bass and contra-alto clarinets and I said I played "kitchen plumbing". They all looked at me funny, I have no idea why...............
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Author: Leanne
Date: 2001-10-09 17:43
When I first started playing, everyone asked me what the heck I was playing. I said, "Can't you tell? It's a car muffler!"
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-10-09 18:55
"...kitchen plumbing." Good one, Dave.
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