 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Amanda Limoges
Date: 1999-06-30 19:23
Hi! Normally I use Rico Royal number 4 clarinet reeds. One time however, I purchased a different brand. (I don't remember the brand name, only that it was some French brand.) Usually, I can break in a reed in a couple of days. This reed, however, seemed to be a reed from hell. I played w/ it for WEEKS and still it produced an airy sound and was difficult to play. I walked around the house w/ it in my mouth,for the better part of an hour and a half, thinking that perhaps I had not fully saturated it. It still would not play. Finally, I got angry, and threw it, and the rest of it's kind, away. Does anyone know a logical reason why this particular brand of reed would not work for me?
Also, I am in need of some CHALLENGING clainet solos. We have Distric Music Contest every spring, and I always do a solo. My instructor, however, finds me rather simple pieces that I can learn in a couple of weeks. I want something that is going to make me work HARD to learn it. (Something that I can start practicing now, and have ready by April!)
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
~Amanda
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Author: Stephanie aka Benny
Date: 1999-06-30 19:30
i really like the Stravinsky 3 pieces for solo clarinet. plus it is just for you so that you don't have to get an acompanist. hope i could help
keep swinging,
benny =0)
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-06-30 20:47
No two reed brands will have the same strength or stiffness for the same number. So if you buy a different brand then you are used to, you need to consult a reed conversion chart.
I am betting that you bought Vandoren reeds that time. They run far stiffer than Rico Royals and many other brands. Vandorens are wonderful reeds BUT if you are playing a 4 in the Rico Royal, you should have gotten either a 3.5 or 3 in the Vandoren brand.
The Woodwind and Brasswind catalog has such a reed conversion chart in it.
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Author: William Fuller
Date: 1999-06-30 22:05
VanDorens are probably the commercial reed of choice for most clarinetists not making their own (start with fours and work them down). Recently, however, I switched over to Marco reeds and am having good results. They are more consistant than VDs and most are playable with a bit of "tweeking". Again, I start with fours. Good luck!!!!!!
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Author: WindDances
Date: 1999-07-01 05:07
reeds: i recently began playing on grand concert select reeds made by rico. i used to play on vandoren 3.5, but have found that grand concert selects are much more consistant. i started having problems with vandoren reeds about a year ago, but had not found anything worth switching to. these are the best i have found. i am,however, going to try out some of those marca reeds.
music: i would wait a while before touching the stravinsky. it is a very advanced piece that really should not be played before getting to college. i think you should play an accompanied piece. it will help you become a better musician by using your ear more (tuning, etc.). performing with an accompanist is always challenging. tell your director that you want to be challenged and maybe he can help you find something. good luck.
benny: i feel that you prescribe the stravinsky 3 pieces way too freely. it might help to ask what level the person is at and what piece they worked on last. maybe then you will have an idea on how to advise the person.
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Author: Kylene
Date: 1999-07-01 15:34
I think, that if Stephanie wants to suggest the Stravinsky, then why not? Let her suggest it. Im sure, that if the person looking for ideas pulls it out, and sees its level of difficulty, then they will know if they are capable of it themselves. Maybe they are looking for a challenge. I think she was just giving an honest opinion of one of her favorite pieces. I think that is what we <I> should </I> do when people ask for advice on music selection. Benny, keep up the posting.
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Author: Lelia
Date: 1999-07-01 16:07
Next time you get an unplayable reed in a box of an unfamiliar brand, try more than one reed in the box before you ditch them all. Vandoren "blue box" reeds, especially, are variable, with more than one strength in the box. Also, if those reeds just aren't for you, maybe you could give or trade the unopened ones to a friend in the band. With the price of reeds as high as it is, it seems a shame to waste them if someone could use them.
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Author: Stephanie aka Benny
Date: 1999-07-01 20:26
Kylene,
you're right!! i love the 3 pieces...and i was just trying to help with a suggestion. thanx for the support =0)
WindDances,
a person never knows what they are capable of until they try. i agree that this piece is difficult ....but can't one look at it? She could also get a recording of the piece just to see how it sounds. If you never take a chance....where's the fun?? i was just trying to be helpful. my teacher did this piece when he was a Jr. in college <i think> and he advised me to have his guidence on it. Especially the 3rd one...but the first two aren't that bad.
Amanda,
i think that you should at least get a recording of the stravinsky. the 3 pieces is VERY different. and they are not for everyone. You might even read up on the composor....that is what i do when i play a new piece...i read up on the person who composed it and i usually learn a lot. Stravinsky when he wrote this piece used jazz methods and changing meters....Eric Walter White wrote a very good Bio on him called "Stravinsky"....WindDances is right by saying that they are hard. and i would recommend that you have a teacher help you with them. But if you can master something that people don't think you can....well believe me....that is a wonderful feeling. just remember you can do anything you put your mind to.
good luck....and i hope that i could help
Keep Swinging,
Benny =0)
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Author: Stephanie aka Benny
Date: 1999-07-01 20:33
Amanda Limoges wrote:
-------------------------------
Also, I am in need of some CHALLENGING clainet solos. We have Distric Music Contest every spring, and I always do a solo. My instructor, however, finds me rather simple pieces that I can learn in a couple of weeks. I want something that is going to make me work HARD to learn it. (Something that I can start practicing now, and have ready by April!)
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
~Amanda
Stravinsky 3 pieces for Solo Clarinet.
You would need to start working on them now. This would be challenging. You would have to work hard to learn them. Might i add that they show off for college auditions. If you are close to gratuating though you might want to put a little Mozart or something with them!! --steph =0)
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