 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Richard
Date: 2001-12-23 20:05
Hi,
Does anyone ever feel like they're just not getting anywhere on the clarinet? I'm 16, and recently officially passed grade 8, missed distinction by two marks (sorry this won't men much to people outside the UK - I suppose it means I'm a good standard - playing music like he Weber/Mozart concertos etc.). I just feel sort of held back and a bit bored to be honest; my teacher isn't technically great - really nice, but he never talks about things like breath support or what my embouchre's like, or tonguing(I've questioned him on all these and he doesn't relly know what to say) - I've figured most of that out through trial, error and books. So I don't feel like I'm improving much technically. Second, I'm still playing on the plastic instrument I began on - is there a point where I just can't improve my tone on this instrument?
Third the ensembles I play in - one terrible school wind band, solo clarinet in a medium standard regional band. Our school just doesn't provide decent music facilities or ensembles (I've tried starting my own eg. clarinet choirs - their aren't enough players who want to/are good enough to join in). I just need to know what other people might do in this situation - I feel kind of helpless. I really want to get better and get involved in some good bands or orchestras but don't seem to be getting there.
Thanks for listening anyway,
Richard
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Author: IHL
Date: 2001-12-23 20:58
You should probably find yourself another teacher, because those things like breath control are quite important.
As other people have discussed several times before in this board, the actual instrument isn't the most important thing, its the player him/herself, and the mouthpiece/embouchure. With enough skill, you can make a plastic horn sound like a dream.
however, if you are going in to serious playing, like an orchestra or jazz band, you would want the best sound possible so you would go for a pro horn in such a case.
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Author: clarinet713
Date: 2001-12-23 21:04
Get a scale book and do all the scale exercises. I don't care who you are, scales are always a great thing to play. You will find that if you get a good instrument, that a lot of things will improve, including your tone. If I were you, I would also find a new teacher. There comes a time when your old teacher can't offer you any more about the clarinet and you need someone new. Someone new will present you will new challenges, and perhaps even a whole new love for the clarinet. Are there any youth orchestras in your area? You could try finding some. There are always competitions for high school students-look it up on the web. And it's never too early to start with some college audition music, if you are planning on continuing. And there's a ton of orchestral music for clarinet to learn, you could get a good set of orchestral excerpt books. I don't know what to reccommend, I have the ones published by International but don't know how good they are. If you are bored, try a new style of music (jazz clarinet?!) I don't know, these are just suggestions. And just to comfort you, I think everyone has a time in their musical development where they feel like they aren't getting anywhere. You will get over that. Listen to some of the "masters" of clarinet playing. Learn some music theory and ear training stuff. Read some books on clarinet.....there's a ton of things you can do. Good luck!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-12-23 21:11
Richard...In reading your post, it seems as if you have already answered your own question about your private teacher. Having taught in the public schools for many years, I've seen my share of unmotivated, uninvolved, and (sadly) incompetant instructors. Fortunately, the majority of teachers fall in the opposite category.
As crude as it sounds, your private teacher is YOUR EMPLOYEE. You are paying, and should expect a reasonable service in return. If the service rendered is not satisfactory, it is time to "fire" your teacher. (I know this sounds terrible...sorry)
As for motivation, this has been discussed here before. Of course, a new instructor, with a new outlook will certainly help. Also, look into what we call (in the US) community bands. You will find many players of varying ages and abilities, along with some challenging music.
Another idea - how about planning a solo recital for yourself? A little publicity, a central location (church, community center, etc...) and a little (a lot) of practice, and you are all set.
I am sure there are many more ideas that others will post - stick with it, and be determined...GBK
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Author: Emms
Date: 2001-12-23 23:16
Richard, it is time to change your teacher. Is your teacher from school or private?He/she should understand you want to move on. Go to your local music shop - they should have a list of music teachers, or get in touch with your local music association. Shop around and find a teacher who will be of use to you. Experienced teachers will know of other bands or orchestras you can play in. Is your current band one of students your age, or are they adults? It may be time to move.Ask the conductor there if he knows of other bands. Basically you need to do a lot of research and ask lots of questions for yourself, and you will find something. Where are you?
Personally, I would try a wooden clarinet. Again go to a music shop and try some. I know professionals can get good sounds out of plastic instruments, but most people I've heard have sounded better on wooden instruments. Note I say try - you may not be able to hear any difference, and if so, it may not be worth spending the money on one.
Schools do not often offer the best orchestras or bands - you may need to go further afield.
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-12-24 02:36
There will be times you will reach "plateaus", where you may think you are stuck and can go no further. I've been there and it can be discouraging. Just keep plodding along and every now and then pick out some old piece you played before and you might find you can actually play it easier and better. A good guage that you are making progress. Just keep on plodding!
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Author: Stephanie
Date: 2001-12-24 03:50
Richard,
I know exactly how you feel. I was just thinking that yesterday when I played one line of an exercise for an hour over and over and over, and I'm still playing on my plastic clarinet too, con't feel too bad. But if at all possible, by a wooden clarinet and find a new teacher; believe me, I would if I could. And For me, I seem to improve technique and all by practicing harder music like All State tryouts and all, and I"m sure there are some competitions over there that you can participate in. I get discouraged all the time, but I just have to keep pusohing myself to improve, ya know? I just wanted to let you know that you are definitely not alone. Good luck! 
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Author: eilidh
Date: 2001-12-24 16:26
After I did grade eight my teacher said ok now you know how to play the right notes in the right place at the right time......thats a beginning lol! And I thought it was great that I had done grade eight........anyway he then said I had to concentrate on performance aspects and further technical work.......I started off with the JeanJean vade-mecum studies, kell staccato studies etc and also did as much performance work as possible. I would agree with what others here are saying.......it's probably time to change your teacher, he has possibly taken you as far as he can and to progress further you will need someone who can discuss technique etc with you.
All the best
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-12-25 06:33
Another thing you can try is to read a theory book specialized on clarinet playing.
I found one of Sponcer Van cot page has now many interesting books available.
http://www.vcisinc.com/
I am personally interested in Clarinet Doctor by professor Klug of Indianna university and Jack Brymer's book.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-12-26 20:39
Richard -
For what it's worth, you're not alone. Everybody goes through times when, no matter what you do, you don't seem to improve.
While you wait for overall improvement (which, believe me, will happen after awhile), here are some smaller things you can do, which will give you a quick sense of accomplishment:
1. Play some simple music you love, as beautifully as you know how. This morning, I took 5 minutes before leaving for work for "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."
2. Pick a scale and practice it *really* slowly -- so that you can think about, prepare for and get each change *exactly* right, without even a slight "blip" between notes. 60 or even 40 on the metronome is not too slow. Work particularly hard on the changes that involve contrary finger motion and/or fingers on both hands (for example, low B to low C#). Give yourself a pat on the back when you get to where you can do a single tough change perfectly 10 times in a row. Next, work on the same kinds of problems in the context of music (for example, the opening few bars of the slow movement of the Brahms Quintet).
3. Play "Some Enchanted Evening" as beautifully as possible.
4. Do some breathing exercises. One of the best I've found appeared in Bell (the Leblanc magazine) a year or so back. Stuff a handkerchief or a cloth swab up the bell tight, finger middle B and blow hard. What will come out is a strangled 4th space Eb. Take more mouthpiece, relax your embouchure and blow like the wind to make a solid Eb. From there, it's not hard to get the next 3 or 4 higher overtones. Learn to move up and down from one overtone to another. Then, pull the cloth out of the bell and blow the same way. You'll find yourself playing twice as free and four times as loud as you ever thought possible.
5. Play "The Worms Crawled In, The Worms Crawled Out" as beautifully as possible.
6. Start to play bass clarinet. The difference in blowing will quickly make a big improvement in your Bb playing, letting you put more air through the Bb with less tension. The opening up you get from the previous exercise will be very useful.
7. Play "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" as beautifully as possible.
8. Learn to transpose. The basic transposition is reading up a whole step, to do C clarinet parts, or flute or oboe parts. This is frustrating at first, but you can see quick progress once you get down and work on it. Go back to beginning band and play the oboe or second flute parts if you have to. Nothing gives you more satisfaction than getting a new and useful skill into your fingers. (After you're comfortable reading up a step, learn to read down 1/2 step, to play A clarinet parts. Then it's child's play to learn up 1/2 step and down a whole step.)
9. Play "Chopsticks" as beautifully as possible.
10. Learn to read bass clef. Again, it's frustrating for a while, but then it "clicks in." This lets you play viola parts by pretending that the alto clef part is in bass clef. Once you're comfortable in bass clef, take the bass clarinet and learn to read up a step by playing bassoon parts. (For some show-off stuff, start reading alto, tenor, soprano and mezzo-soprano clefs, too. Believe me, sooner or later, someone will ask you go jump in on a horn part, and learning clefs will let you do it easily.)
11. Play "How Much Is That Doggie In the Window" (including the sound effects) as beautifully as possible.
12. Go back to your scales and work them out in pairs and quadrulplets of notes. I posted a method for doing this at http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=24907&t=24731 . Once you learn to do this, you can work out any difficult passage at all.
13. Play "Silent Night" as beautifully as possible.
14. Now, set yourself a 1-year project of doing the previous exercise for the entire Baermann Part 3. Work on just one exercise, for no more than 10-15 minutes at a time. Even on this monster project, you can see progress from day to day. The first time you try to play the D# minor scale in thirds, you'll be lucky if you can get through it at 40 on the metronome. (I certainly didn't.) But within a single 15 minute session, you can get at least to the point where you can play it without having to stop.
15. Play "Teddy Bears' Picnic" as beautifully as possible.
Play duets, trios, quartets and quintets. Play every size of clarinet and saxophone. Play music all the time.
Have fun all the time.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2001-12-27 12:59
Ditto on employing a new private teacher. You can find like-minded others to meet and read chamber music to keep your interest and expand your musicality. A local pianist may find it fun to play some clarinet/piano pieces with you or find other wind players. Check the local universities for information and talk with people at your local music stores. Find the local professional clarinet repair people and find out who has clarinets repaired and contact them. Network with others to find like-minded people who perform and teach. Good luck!
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