 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Rosemary
Date: 2002-03-25 14:38
My daughter, who is in high school, is having problems with playing flat on her LeBlanc L7 clarinet. We have had it for a couple of years, and she doesn't think she had this problem originally. When her band director tunes her, she is a little flat, even when her clarinet is completely "pushed in." She has worked with her teacher on it a little, but it is a little flat even when he plays on it, although not as much as when she plays it.
She is using the traditional Vandoren 3 1/2 and 5RVLyre mouthpiece with a "mouthpiece saver" which is a little clear "patch" that adheres to the mouthpiece and gives her teeth something more to grip. With the traditional reeds, she says she tends to be "airy" -although sometimes she finds some reeds that work better than the others in the same box. When she uses the Vandoren V-12 #3 reeds with the same mouthpiece, she gets a good sound, but it is a little flat.
Her clarinet is a LeBlanc L7. The barrel does have Lelanc embossed on it, so could be the original barrel. It is 66.25 mm long measured from one end to the other using a vernier caliper.
Late summer and fall she plays in the marching band, and for that she has a Vito clarinet. In August, we purchased a Legere reed (3 1/2, I think) for her to use during marching band. Although it took her a while to get used to it, she eventually came to really like it. We live in Oklahoma, where temps are about 100 deg when they start marching in August and it is a challenge to keep her mouth and reeds hydrated enough during practices- so the Legere was great from that viewpoint. Her teacher was amazed at how good her sound was with the plastic clarinet and the Legere reed.
The tuning problem with the L7 began when she switched back to her concert instrument/reeds after marching band season was over. Could her embouchure have been affected by using the different setup during marching band?
Her teacher suggested trying other barrels or considering a click barrel. We've talked to our local music/instrument repair shop and they advise aginst click barrels - and we got the same advice from another woodwind repair we've talked to.
I've lurked on this bulletin board from time to time and learned a lot - I am not a clarinetist. So I thought I would see if anybody has any feedback that might help my daughter. Sorry for the length of this post!
Rosemary
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2002-03-25 15:24
if you have a 66 mm barrel...why don't you just have her switch to a 65 mm barrel...they're shorter and will help your daughter play a little higher in pitch.
In marching band people are taught to play loud...maybe by doing that, she got into the habit of not supporting the reed enough w/ the embochure, and learning to just play loud and flat? When she's in concert band, she has to remember that there's more control involved in playing. make sure her embochure is correct and it supports her air and reed.
I'd check to see if there's something wrong w/ the clarinet too...
good luck!!
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Author: Corey
Date: 2002-03-25 17:39
I had the same problem a few weeks ago. I took it to my local repair shop swearing up and down something was wrong with the clarinet and not me! Come to find I wasn't the problem, my clarinet wasn't the problem but my Charles bay mouthpiece was the problem! I mean this affected the entire range of the clarinet. The worst thing about this? I now have a $180 mouthpiece that is non-returnable.
---Corey
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-03-25 19:32
Mouthpieces do not all play at the same pitch with the same barrel. Perhaps a new barrel will straighten things out. If you're sounding flat, do try a shorter barrel first before buying one or throwing away the mouthpiece.
Regards,
John
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Author: Corey
Date: 2002-03-25 20:11
Well my barrel is already 64.5 mm less than the "standard" and I had it pushed all the way in. The weird thing is, my hite preimere(sp?) makes me play quite sharp (which is normal for my instrument as it is in A442) but doesn't compare in tone! ( to the Bay) but maybe I will try a shorter barrel. thanks!
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-03-25 23:59
Try different mouthpieces and a shorter barrel in different combinations. You can go to a good local store for that or mail order a barrel and some mouthpieces. CAREFUL! The mouthpieces cannot have teeth marks or scratches on them to be returnable. Is there a local clarinet teacher that you can consult?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-03-26 01:49
My two L7 [ser # 43xxx] barrels are 64 and 66 mm's. I have always used the 64 and, like last Sunday, had to pull about 1/2 mm to match my friend's Selmer's pitch while using my VD 11.6 mp [which matches the bore very well]. I believe our orch's pitch is prob. about 442 and on trying the 66 [also a longer barrel for my Selmer CT] find I'm just a bit flat on both cls. Check repair shops for used LeBlanc barrels of that vintage [may be inexpensive] BUT measure or feel [little finger] the bore match of barrel to the U J and to the mp, should be very close. LeB made pro cls ranging from 14.8 to 15.0 mm [U J] in the 70-80's. Luck, Don
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Author: Forest Aten
Date: 2002-03-26 03:26
Rosemary,
Does your daughter practice "real music" on her "good" instrument during marching season? If not, why not?
A player will tend to adjust to whatever instrument they are currently working on. If the Vito is the "norm" she will settle on this system and find the pitch center using this setup. The Vito's that I have played on over the years play "sharp"....in almost every case. I know, as I consulted for Leblanc on the V-40, Vito instrument project in the 1980's, working with Elmer Aiello, their head acoustician at the time.
Several issues for you in solving this problem:
1 if during marching season, little or no formal practice occures, your daughters fundimental skills will suffer. Embouchure will weaken...as well as the problem of chasing a clarinet around the marching field (keeping the thumb pressure up and into the embouchure). Keep your daughter practicing her "good" instrument during marching season....and not just on marching music! If you are going to use two instruments...you must practice both each day. Maintance is critical to being able to perform on whatever equipment you use.
2 if you can't encourage real practice during the marching season, the change in equipment will require a slow but sure adjustment. A temporary solution may include the purchase of a shorter barrel until embouchure and thumb come back into play correctly.
Good luck,
F. Aten
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Author: allencole@jamschool.net
Date: 2002-03-26 09:54
In the short term, this could be a good application for the Click Barrel. (http://www.clickbarrel.com) The barrel is adjustable over a range of 7mm and can help your daughter track her pitch if it is varying. I use one when doubling sax to subtract about 2mm of length in compensation for my more open embouchure.
The mouthpiece patch (sounds like a clear Runyon) should have very little effect. One of the black patches would be thick enough to cause trouble, though.
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Author: George
Date: 2002-03-28 15:29
"The mouthpiece patch (sounds like a clear Runyon) should have very little effect. One of the
black patches would be thick enough to cause trouble, though."
Could you expand on this - what trouble? I (and many others) have used these for years.
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Author: Rosemary
Date: 2002-03-28 22:35
Thanks to all who have posted with suggestions. My daughter's problem is improved. On close inspection of her mouthpiece, her teacher noticed the the clear mouthpiece patch had crept up a little too far, so they replaced it, moving it down lower on the mouthpiece. That alone made a difference.
We also discovered that we live in the same town as Don Berger. He graciously spent some time with my daughter the other afternoon discussing mouthpiece/barrel combinations, reed placement, reed preparation, and other topics. He did lend us a shorter mouthpiece/barrel combination for her to try. Many thanks to you Don, for your efforts on the part of young clarinetists such as my daughter!
I think the problem is quite improved... but time will tell.
Thanks again!
Rosemary
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