 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Sneakers
Date: 2002-02-04 04:07
I am trying to come up with some ideas about what kind of problems to look for in reeds that may be causing problems in a person's playing. For example, a chipped reed may cause squeaks, or a hard reed may cause the player to play too sharp. I want to use this information to help me in recognizing problems that students may be having. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-04 04:44
Playing, with the reed upside down will produce no sound...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dan Borlawsky
Date: 2002-02-04 12:47
A true story: years ago, when I was warming up and tuning my clarinet section, as I came around to each player, two of my girls just sat there with big smiles on their faces as I asked them - repeatedly - to play. They continued to smile, and then finally reminded me that it was April Fools' Day and they had NO reeds on their mouthpieces!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2002-02-04 14:45
As far as I know, playing sharp is not the major disadvantage of a "too hard" reed. A reed that is too hard will cause the player to exert too much pressure with the embouchure resulting in fatigue and limited endurance. The tone will be breathy and it will be impossible to play at softer volumes thereby limiting musical expression. Articulation will also be a problem as the too hard reed will not respond well except when played loud, if then. A chipped corner will not necessarily cause the reed to chirp--that is a result of an improperly balanced reed that is way too soft on one or both of it's wings (sides of the tip). A chip will let more air escape throught the tip resulting in a thin sound that also thends to buzz a little.
Other problems in reeds to watch for: cracks or splits; too soft; set too low or too high on the mpc; set off to one side and not centered (although this is sometimes a rememdy for an unbalanced reed); too dry; warping of the tip area; reed left on mpc between rehearsals (student too much in a rush too get to next class to properly clean instrument and put reed in case--or just lazy); using wrong reed--this is rare but I have discovered that some music stores will actually sell a clarinet student soprano sax, alto sax or Eb clarinet reeds instead of Bb clarinet reeds (this is more often a problem with students buying--or being sold--the wrong sax reed) broken or bent ligiture as well as lig being set too high or too low on the reed;
Hope you find something of use here--Good Clarineting to you and your students.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-04 18:03
Here are a few reed playing characteristics and their possible causes:
1. reed plays sharp - vamp is too short / too much material at the shoulders
2. reed plays flat - vamp is too long / not enough material at the shoulders
3. reed squeeks (all registers) - entire reed out of balance / one corner may be too thin
4. reed squeeks (low register) - reed is too hard / back may be warped / tip out of balance
5. reed squeeks (middle register) - side rails too thick/ heart too thick
6. reed has difficult attack - tip too hard / heart too weak / entire reed out of balance
7. reed has edgy sound - sides have too much material / too much material on heart (near the tip)
8. reed is thin and bright - reed is too soft
9. reed has buzz in low register - too much material at bottom of heart
10. reed has buzz (fuzziness) in middle register - too much material on middle edges of heart
Those are just 10 possible problems and their probable cause. Be aware that none of these are hard and fast rules - just areas to check more carefully. Of course there are many other (some very obvious) problems that I've omitted.
Everyone has their own methods for detecting and trying to remedy reed woes. No 2 people do it the same. However, the more you experiment and see the result of making minute adjustments, the more the "mystery" in reeds is revealed...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-02-04 21:07
Sneakers -
Some quick things to check
-- Make sure the mouthpiece bore is free of crud and the facing is clean. This is the most frequent problem with elementary school and junior high students.
-- Check for damage to the mouthpiece, particularly at the corners. Even a little bump against a wall or a stand can open up a leak, with disastrous results. Keep one or two new Yamaha plastic mouthpieces in your repair kit. They're only around $20, and very good at the price.
-- Make sure the reed is positioned so it seals all the way around the rails and tip, particularly at the corners. Any leak is sure to cause whistles and squeaks.
-- Conversely, make sure the reed doesn't overlap the edge of one of the rails. This kills the response.
-- Check for splits in the tip of the reed.
-- Hold the reed up to a strong light and check for evenness and balance. If it's extremely dirty, tell the student to take it home, put it flat on a counter and scrub it with a toothbrush and a little toothpaste. In the end, it may be time for a new reed, even if it's not split.
-- Have the student twist the mouthpiece in his/her embouchure as far as possible to one side and then the other to check for balance. This is the introduction to reed adjustment.
Of course this is only the beginning of reed work, but it's enough to start.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2002-02-05 04:20
Setting aside reed causes for sharpness, there are two other causes:
1)Playing softly makes tones sharp and loudly flat.
Flute has reverse tendency. This is well known.
2)Long lay and small tip clearance mouthpiece tends to emit sharper tones.
This is my personal opinion.
By the way if a reed is used for very long period, the flat side of the reed has a cocaveness 'printed' by the mouthpiece window. This will cause a problem and needs flattening again or throwing it away.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sneakers
Date: 2002-02-05 04:37
Thank you all very much for your ideas! I will be sure to watch for those upside down and absent reeds, along with everything else.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob
Date: 2002-02-05 13:33
Where else could you get such great free advice?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
