 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William Hughes
Date: 2002-01-25 02:32
Tonight I played clarinet in a concert band for the first time since the American presidency of Lyndon Baines Johnson. (It was 1966.) It was a tremendous experience. I would not have done this but for you folks.
Special thanks to David Spiegelthal for his technical wizardry. Thanks also to those who have shared their special expertise in the contra class of clarinets on these pages. Thanks to Mark Charette for his gracious hosting of the board. There is no other place, virtual or otherwise, I could have learned so much, so quickly, about the clarinet in general and my EEb contra alto in particular.
I learned that I've got some catching up to do; I also learned not to sit in front of the trumpets.
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-01-25 03:26
Better trumpets than trombones!
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Author: William
Date: 2002-01-25 14:36
Or to the right of your piccolo player. Or on either side of your Eb clarinetist. Seriously, for those of us that need to sit occassionally "in front of the trumpets, trombones, drums or amplifiers, it is wise and healthful practice to use some kind of ear protection. The consequences of a lifetime of exposure to extra loud sounds is subtile and relentless damage to the inner ear which, in latter life, may result in constant ringing, buzzing, clicking or worse--for musicians especially--deafness. It is highly recemmended ( I speak from personal experiance) to use some kind of ear protection in loud noise (and music) situations BEFORE you develope symptoms of hearing loss. Once the tinnitus begins, it is too late and irreversable. Ginko Biloba does not work!!!!! Ear plugs are the answer--in my case, custom fitted insertable noise reduction devices for musicians, that reduce loud music levels by 15 or 30 decibels (depending on which insert you use) and still allow you to hear what you are playing. These custom ear plugs have given me relief from loud instruments, amplifiers and other environmental hazzardous noise levels and still allow me to hear tone quality and balance in performance as well as conversation in bars, where the music is often way too loud. I use the 15 decible insert, and seem to be maintaining my hearing. Bottom Line--WISH I WOULD HAVE STARTED USING EAR PLUGS THIRTY YEARS AGO, BEFORE THE RINGING BEGAN. Good Clarineting!!!!!--and hearring.
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Author: LynnB
Date: 2002-01-25 16:43
William Hughes -
Welcome back to playing. Isn't this the best site? It's been very motivational for me as well.
William - Those earplugs sounds great. Where do you get 'em?
LynnB
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2002-01-25 18:46
You should be able to buy the small soft poly ones in any firearms shop. They're very cheap and will possibly come in packs of 2-3 pairs.
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Author: LynnB
Date: 2002-01-25 20:47
I have the custom ear plugs for shooting. But they are a neon color (very noticable) and just cut down on noise. I wonder if the ones for musician's work any differently??
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Author: jcannon
Date: 2002-01-25 23:40
have sat in front of trumpets and trombones for 6 years= its a wonder i can hear anymore!
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Author: Jim E.
Date: 2002-01-26 04:30
Actually my comment about trombones was as much to the danger of getting wacked with the slide as it was to the sound. Sneakers, you're right about percussion as well, 2 weeks ago I was in the audience for my son playing in the regional honor band. The head flew off a mallet and squarely struck a bassonist in the head. It made quite a finale to the piece!
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-01-29 16:04
Three cheers for Mark C. for hosting this site....Of special benefit is the diversity of opinions and experience, much more that you can get anywhere else. I'm always surprised when I mention the site to other clarinet players who have yet to discover it.
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