 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Josh Schultze
Date: 2002-04-23 15:20
This past weekend I went with a cohort of mine to the music store. She has wanted to try out some flutes and needed an another ear. While she was sampling the flutes she showed me how to use one and then taught me the C major scale. Being a clarinetist I caught on quickly and after about an hour I was also figuring out the chromatic scale as well.
While it was fun exploring another instrument, I realized two things: the sound of the flute is not so overwhelmingly compelling to me that I would want to spend the time, money and energy necessary to learn it, and second, how much I love the sound of the clarinet. Even when my friend played her flute, the sound was beautiful and yet still metallic which gives it an unyielding quality which can sound monotonous. Because the clarinet reed and body are made from wood, there is a certain amount of tonal flexibility that broadens the tonal range. So my experimenting led me more convincingly to love my clarinet even more.
What instruments have you tried and how did your efforts change your attitude towards the clarinet? Do you use your second instrument to placate a different mood or to expand you repertoire?
Take care,
Josh
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Author: kenabbott
Date: 2002-04-23 16:07
The oboe has taught me humility.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-04-23 17:02
Hi, Josh
Although clarinet is my first love, I've never felt it or any other instrument to be 'superior' to another.
I've played 'at' other instruments; brass and strings and, as with Ken, that experience has given me much respect for those who play those other instruments well.
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Author: Linda
Date: 2002-04-23 18:14
I have been studying the clarinet for 6 years, the piano for 2 years. As an adult, I find the difference in the 2 instruments challenging!!!
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Author: Corey
Date: 2002-04-23 20:29
I tried the oboe to no avail(I sounded like a dying duck!). Trying the Oboe made me realize my love for clarinet was more than I had known. The Oboe's tone doesn't compare to the lush, velvety tone of the clarinet in anyway.I tried the Flute too and got a good tone and wouldn't mind doubling. The tone of the flute also doesn't compare to the clarinet's
---Corey
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Author: Heidi
Date: 2002-04-23 21:24
I took up the flute after my woodwind methods class...partly because I liked playing it and because I'm a bit of an overachiever. But I digress. I like the flute alot, the ensemble I play in alot of fun. I also find that it's a bit of an embouchure break after practicing alot on clarinet. I also play saxophone...which I'm not nearly as happy with. I can play it fine, I just don't like it (the sound, the handling, the fingerings..especially high ones). I think it's kind of a barbaric instrument, but that's just my opinion. I know it can be made to sound beautiful..just not by me.:)
Heidi
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Author: Mitch A
Date: 2002-04-23 21:33
Tenor and bari sax first, 4 years.
Clarinet second, four months.
Vibraphone for chord studies, six months.
Bassoon next, 'cause there is a need for players.
Mitch
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-04-23 22:33
Kenabbot's comment on oboe is great, AGREE, only a few playings made me happy, did like the E H tho. I did develop some sax facility, alto and bari good, tenor fair, soprano ugh! Attempted flute back in H S, am short on breath and emb. now, so will try to fill in some Fl parts in Music Man [Reed 4] on my C clar!! Made funny noises on bassoon, LOVE the bass cl!!, alto too [as long as I regard it as my Basset Horn !! ] Don
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-04-23 22:44
The only doublereed I ever played was the Krumhorn - it was hideous, really. Very noisy, very taxing to blow, and extraordinarily fractious when I comes to intonation
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Author: monica
Date: 2002-04-23 23:01
YES, I ALSO TRIED THE FLUTE ONCE AND I MOST CERTAINATELY DID NOT ENJOY IT. YOU MADE A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE SOUND. I LOVE MY CLARINET AND EVEN WANTED TO PLAY IT FOR MY JAZZ BAND , BUT MY DIRECTOR TOLD ME THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PIECES FOR IT AND EVEN SOME OF THOSE PIECES WOULD REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE CLARINET AND NO ONE ELSE WANTED TO DO IT.YOU KNOW... I WISH THAT SCHOOLS HAD A SWING BAND. THAT WOULD FUN. I LOVE SWING!VIVA LA CLARINET!!
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Author: Janey
Date: 2002-04-23 23:10
Yeah, I play bassoon...
and I don't know, It's kinda hard to tell which is better. In my opinion, the clarinet is a lot easier to play, but I don't wanna start an argument...
clarinet's got MUCH better tone though!
After playing clarinet for a while and then taking up saxophone I found that the sax was very easy to play! Very similar embouchure, although it's confusing trying to keep three completely different fingering systems straight in your head
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-04-23 23:34
I tried clarinet, it showed me desire
I tried flute, it showed me emotion.
I tried saxophone, it showed me boldness.
I tried bass clarinets, they showed me wonder.
I tried trumpet, it showed me humility.
I tried oboe, it showed me frustration.
I tried basoon, it showed me surprise.
I tried trombone, it showed me versitality.
I tried Euphonium, it showed me calm.
I tried tuba, it showed me patience.
I tried French Horn, it showed me love.
I tried violin, it showed m weakness.
I tried viola, it showed me awkwardness.
I tried cello, it showed me remorse.
I tried bass, it showed me sacrifice.
THEN I tried percussion, and all I was shown was monotony...
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-04-23 23:41
David Pegel wrote:
>
> THEN I tried percussion, and all I was shown was
> monotony...
You're not much of a percussionist, I gather ...
Listen to Evelyn Glennie someday ...
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-04-24 00:57
Rhythm was never my strong point. All *I* was shown was monotony.
Not that I don't like percussion...
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Author: Willie
Date: 2002-04-24 05:15
I can ditto Corey's post on the Oboe. Played right they CAN sound beautiful, but not with my chops. I have collected a menagerie of instruments here at "Enchanted Dump" to fiddle around with and get some familiarity with them. Mainly to help me do some arangements. It helps to know not just the range, but the practial range when jotting down the notes.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2002-04-24 12:10
One observation about different instruments -
I was pretty much a "band" player, having only served in an orchestra during high school - and that was spent transposing oboe parts on clarinet. Consequently, I was raised in a herd mentality - one of the many. The result was that my playing, while technically OK, lacked personality.
Now I play in a church orchestra. On about half of our numbers, there is only a rhythm chart to go by, and I'm free to play what I want . . . as expressively as I want. (No . . . it's not chaos; that is one incredible group of musicians.) What a difference!
All that to say this: Now when I pick up a flute or a sax, I do it to play expressively - not to join the herd. Just because you haven't played the instrument before doesn't mean you have to play like a beginner. I love picking up different instruments - and hope to someday get the time to become more technically competent in my diversions.
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Author: Gorodn (NZ)
Date: 2002-04-24 12:15
For stunning percussion playing listen to a top classical Indian exponent. Awesome!
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Author: William
Date: 2002-04-24 15:07
To David Peqel: That is why I really prefer the "baton" as a musical instrument--everyone else does all the real work, and I get all the applause. Good Music Making, Everyone!!!!!!!
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Author: Gayl
Date: 2002-04-24 18:43
Josh,
I also dislike the flute. I can sight reed ok on it, but uck I would never like practicing the damn thing. However I've been doubling on Bassoon and Clarinet and I really enjoy both. Except it's painful for me to read in tenor clef when the music is going by fast. Plus, the bassoon has opened up my ears alot to tuning, since it's hard to tune (If your reed is bad... everything sucks!). Same with playing trombone (been playing that one for 6 years now).
I think it is good to try other instruments once in awhile, it helps elaborate your understanding of them, which is good for ensemble playing. However, be careful not to get too caught up in them, lest your might digress in your clarinet playing.
Gayl
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Author: Lori
Date: 2002-04-24 21:59
I played trombone through high school and college in the marching and pep bands. After all, better to park and bark in the front of the field and be heard than to marathon run and not be able to play in the back of the field.
Nevertheless, clarinet is the instrument that I play out of love.
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Author: molly
Date: 2002-04-25 00:17
Josh,
To hear an auesome 12 year old play his clarinet go to:
www.alumni.indiana.edu/pubs/magazine.html
Molly
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Author: mark m
Date: 2002-04-25 01:07
played bassoon for awhile inschool and did OK. It was fun. Tried the alphorn and was able to play a few notes. The flute was most exasperating. After about an hr of effort, with no instruction, I was able to get a note out along with severe hyperventilation. I like messing around with ocarinas (professional models). I'm currently in China and just bought a Chinese Sheng. I'm going to have to spend some time here.
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Author: Gorodn (NZ)
Date: 2002-04-25 04:45
I play simple tunes very effectively blowing across my hands used as a Helmholtz resonator of adjustable capacity, hence pitch. Range is about an octave and a fifth.
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Author: Jim S.
Date: 2002-04-25 16:01
Never thought much of percussion. Then I heard Gail Kubik's
"Gerald McBoing Boing" performed by The Little Orchestra Society of New York (Music for Little People) I am converted...after all these years.
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Author: Bryan
Date: 2002-04-28 23:01
I have played the trumpet, oboe, flute, alto and tenor sax, percussion, piano, piccilo, trombone, violin, viola, and cello. most of that had to do with marching band (here is our web site if you would like to see it). One instrument i would like to take up is soprano sax. i love how it sounds!!
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Author: Herb Huey
Date: 2002-05-03 21:29
When I was in my teens, I had a 3-octave range using various hand combinations. Try blowing with three, two & one finger combinations. The challenge was to clap your hands together & get a few different tones.
Herb
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Author: Herb Huey
Date: 2002-05-03 21:34
In the 70s, to avoid the getting drafted into the Vietnam war, I learned to play eb, alto & bass clarinet, alto & tenor sax, oboe, bassoon & flute. Planned to join a military band if it looked like I would get drafted.
Today I play the recorder when I'm not playing clarinet.
Herb
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