 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Andy
Date: 2001-12-18 07:34
Hello all,
I'm a self-trained student clarinetist and have encountered some problems recently....
First, I found my tone rather dull and there's lack of colours that I want. My band conductor has taught me to think dark in order to produce a dark sound, instead of getting darker only, my tone also gets quite dull. The sound is not sweet at all...is this considered as a dark tone? My set-up is Morgan mouthpiece, pyne string lig, pyne moenig barrel and buffet RC. Is there a problem with my set-up?
Second, I have considered 2 mouthpieces to purchase - one is Vandoren M-15 and the other is Morgan RM15. As I'm not very rich, I am unable to buy both mouthpieces and have to choose one between them. Does the "duck-billed" shape of the Morgan RM15 aids tonguing better than normal traditional mouthpieces?
Are all Morgan mouthpieces in 440 pitch? I would appreciate if anyone who has experience playing both mouthpieces could give me some advices. Thank you!!
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Author: Josh Schultze
Date: 2001-12-18 14:59
Andy,
I have been playing only 4 years so you know what kind of advice you're getting.
I play a Morgan RM-06 mouthpiece on a R13. Sometimes my ligature is BG revelation but most often I use a rubberized canvas single screw ligature. (I forgot its name but it has a similar sound to the shoestring method that the germans and austrians use. It's like the BG lig but without the metal insert.)
In answer to the first question. The mouthpiece is sharp. On my tuner it is tuned to A 441. Also according to Guy Chadash who sold me one of his barrels he said, "so if you use a Morgan mouthpiece you need a 670mm barrel". This is ten millimeters longer than the standard 660mm barrel. So with a standard 660mm barrel and the Morgan mouthpiece, my concert A, is about 15 cents sharp. However I can pull out the barrel and be in tune with an A440 instrument very easily. In fact I don't often use my Chadash barrel unless I am playing with someone who I knows plays exactly at A440 because with the longer 670mm barrel I don't have the flexibility to go much sharper. So with this regard you can keep your 660mm barrel and just pull it out as needed.
With regards to the duck bill shape. One advantage is that you can get more of the mouthpiece in your mouth. This allows a longer portion of the reed to vibrate. When I see my fellow clarinetists playing, even my more technically gifted players, it looks like they are only putting the very tip of the mouthpiece in their mouths. In contrast when I look at myself in the mirror my lips are covering a much greater portion of the mouthpiece, (and I have very skinny lips.) Also to get the higher notes one has to "Push the clarinet against the upper teeth," I find that I have to do this less than on my Vandoren B45 mouthpiece.
About a year ago I went shopping at the woodwind store in Manhattan. I spent a whole summer afternoon with my teacher trying different mouthpieces. I tried all the Vandorens, the Crystal Pomarico, and many others that the sales assistant and my teacher had recommended. What I noticed immediately is that there was much less air behind the sound. When you blow gently into the mouthpiece without trying to make a tone there is the sound of air. Some mouthpieces have alot of this airy sound, which I detest, and some like the Morgan have much less air. In this regard I belive the Morgan helps me to achieve a good tone. My strongest point is not my technical playing but my tone. I have many friends who are professional musicians and they do say often, "you have a wonderful tone." My playing really excels when I play long melodic phrasing where dynamic expression is paramount.
As for tonguing I have noticed no real differences.
But what I would recommend is that you go to a store that has a good selection of mouthpieces or get them mail order, and try out and record yourself with as many mouthpieces as possible. I would not have been able to make a decision unless I had many, many choices to choose from. And if possible I would suggest you allow yourself to try as many different mouthpieces as possible.
Josh
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-12-18 15:08
Josh, just to set the record straight, the barrel lengths are 66.0 and 67.0mm.
660 millimeters is a little over two feet - which would overcompensate for the Morgan mouthpiece a bit too much.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-12-18 15:15
"Dark" and "dull" are often confused when discussing tone qulities. I like to describe a "dark" sound as "chocolate" which, for me (in my own mind) conveys a highly condensed flowing substance of warmth and tantalizing flavor--dark, but full of "spark." But definately, not dull or dead. Your set-up sounds very good and it may not be necessary to invest in a new mouthpiece just now. First, try using a metal ligiture of the Bonade-reversed variety. I use the VanDoren Optimum with its parallel rails option, but a much cheaper Bonade is just as good. It will put more "ring" in your sound than the string lig. Also, try using a slightly softer reed and practice a little using a double-lip embouchre to get your upper lip more envolved in supporting your sound. If you feel a new mouthpiece is still the answer, I then would recommend consul with Gregory Smith, master mouthpiece maker and member of the wonderful Chicago Symphony Orchestra clarinet section. He is producing some of the best custom made mouthpieces (in the styles of the mpc masters, Chedeville and Kaspar) currently available and will work with you to help you achieve the sound that you are looking for. I speak from personal, and satisfied, experiance. But, in all faifness, my orchestral partner uses a Morgan and, aside from some minor tuning problems, she sound great--and she uses a Bonade lig. and practices (but does not use) a double-lip embouchure. So, good luck, and if all else fails, then go Gregory!! Good Clarineting and Happy Holidays!!!!!
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Author: Ed
Date: 2001-12-18 17:10
I don't generally think of 441 as sharp. Most set ups are better off there, since you won't find many groups that are at 440 (and stay there) Also, it gives you some room, especially if your horn is a little cold.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2001-12-18 20:18
You could simply try a harder reed, which allows you to blow harder and get more sound (in every respect). This is the first point to experiment.
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Author: diz
Date: 2001-12-18 20:48
Hi - my two cent's worth. I admire your ability to teach yourself a musical instrument - it's a great achievement. I play clarinet, viola and piano (out of those, I "taught myself" the piano). Might I recommend you take a few lessons from a pro-clarinetist? I'm sure they would be able to give you some sage advice about your tone production. Also, the honking like a goose sound (often, but not always, produced by students) miraculously disappears one day and you begin to sound "beautiful and effortless". Keep up the good work
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Author: howard miner
Date: 2001-12-19 00:32
I would also like to try out a Vandoren M15, however the local music store (American Music) does not have this model in their "mouthpiece tryout kit" so you would have to purchase it to try it. Any ideas?
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2001-12-19 01:39
Andy, quite a few people get kicks out of arguing over the controversy of dark v. dull v. bright v. brilliant. When I think dark, I think Karl Leister. To me, dull is just a small sound that does not project. I am sorry that I cannot explain it any better than that! I would say that most American orchestral clarinetists today have a brilliant sound. As far as your problem goes, I would almost venture to say it is because you do not have the correct embouchure. Please, as I do not know you personally, I can only guess that this may be the cause. It sounds as if you have too much bottom lip against the reed. You may also be playing on too hard of a reed. The sound may not be supported. One of the most important things of playing clarinet is to support the sound. About six months ago I was visiting Carmine Campione, who teaches at CCM, and he shared with me his paper on the clarinet embouchure. Check out www.clarinet-saxophone.asn.au/articles/campione.html. I hope this is the correct site. If it is not, you can find it through a search engine. I hope this helps. If anyone can help you out with this problem, I bet his paper can!
Brandon
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