 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Lori M
Date: 2002-05-16 18:23
Hello,
I've been back to playing for 3 or 4 months now after a 25 year lapse. Pretty consistently, I've devoted min 1-2 hours/day and am relatively pleased at my progress. Still, there are a few stumbling blocks I can't seem to overcome. First and foremost: I feel like I need to swallow a hurricane in order to get enough air thru the horn and when I do, it's LOUD! The ability to play at softer dynamics, just doesn't seem to be available to me. I've been reading and searching this board for solutions around breath support. As a result, have been working on long tones, and applied (Ken Shaw's?) ideas to improve thinness in the upper clarion and altissimo - slurring from a1 to e2 to c#3. Think this cured my newly acquired tendency to bite but I continue to be consistently winded. Second, I seem to live exclusively in reed hell. I know finding the ultimate reed is like finding the winning lottery ticket, but SOME should work, right? I've been staying with the Vandorens - traditional 3's are too soft (very limited altissimo, although no matter the reed, I never know what's going to happen up there), v12 3 1/2's just buzz, especially at the lower end and the trad 3 1/2's seem the least problematic, but tend to being too resistant. Fussing with reeds seems to take up an inordinate amount of time, detracting from what I can devote to playing. I've been paying attention to the info here and am polishing / sealing / adjusting to beat the band - now I wonder if I'm just making problems for myself. Once upon a time, I sifted thru 3 or 4 and found something decent in short order. It was never such an issue.
My goal is to regain the effortless, beautiful tone I once had - but has become so elusive. Tone always set me apart from the rest, and right now, mine is nothing special. My R-13 (circa 1965) has been checked out by an independent repair tech who was recommended by 2 different sources. I wanted to overhaul it, but he didn't seem to think it was necessary. I suggested repadding, but he inspected the pads, found no leaks and asked "what for?" Been replacing the odd pad, worn cork and that's about it (he's a clarinetist.) Is it a cop out to suspect the mouthpiece? When I first started up again, I bought a Vandoren B45 (without trying it - just so I'd have a middle of the road mpc to play on). The Portnoy BP02 I used to play on, seemed to be warped, consistently squeaking. I'm not looking for a mouthpiece recommendation. Rather, some thoughts on when I should stop suspecting my playing as the source of my problems and give some thought to equipment.
Thanks in advance for your help. This board is awesome...
Lori M
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-05-16 19:00
I would suspect the mouthpiece. When I started back up after longer time than you I also bought a B45. I got to the point where you are and bought a 5VLyre and the world opened up. I never use the B45 anymore. My gut feel is that you are using too hard a reed on the wrong mouthpiece....just my opinion based on my similar experience
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Author: RogerWM
Date: 2002-05-16 19:22
Lori,
I agree with Bob's recommendations to try some more mouthpieces. I laid off for about the same amount of time as you, and I have also started playing again about 4 months ago. But right now I feel that my tone is as good as, and in some ways even better than it was 24 yrs ago. I've found that my m/p requirements have changed. I was having alot of difficulties with my old Selmer HS**. Now I've settled on a V13, and the difference is awesome. Now I can concentrate on regaining my technique.
Good luck,
Roger
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Author: Dee
Date: 2002-05-16 19:25
I suspect one or more of the following problems that may be occuring in combination.
1. A leak that the repair tech did not find. Leaks make horns very hard to blow and you can only play loud.
2. Quite possibly you are still biting more than you realize. Three to four months is really only a very short time. You will get the same result as in #1.
3. This individual mouthpiece (not the brand or model) may have a problem. The B45 is generally quite good and I use one when I need lower blowing resistance, such as when I have a cold.
4. Reed tip is a little curled after soaking. Try pressing the tip flat on a hard surface before putting it one the mouthpiece.
5. You may not yet be ready for reeds of this strength. Try a 2.5 Vandoren. It should NOT be limiting your altissimo. You should be able to go to an altissimo G cleanly and clearly at a variety of dynamic levels on a Vandoren 2.5 If it does not, there may be another problem such as leaks in the horn or incorrect breath support or embouchure issues or a combination.
6. You may need to experiment with how the reeds are located on the mouthpiece. Each reed is different and may need to go a little higher or lower on the mouthpiece or the ligature may need to be a little higher or lower. By changing the reed or ligature position (very slightly), I get 8 to 10 good reeds out of a box of 10. The tip of the reed can vary in location from very slightly above the tip of the mouthpiece to very slightly below the tip of the mouthpiece.
As far as reed strength matching mouthpieces, for the B45, Vandoren recommends a traditional Vandoren 2.5 to 3.5 (or equivalent). For the 5RV, they recommend a traditional 3 to 4 (or equivalent).
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2002-05-16 20:26
I switched recently from a b-45 to an 5RV lyre. Ah, heaven.
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Author: Pam
Date: 2002-05-17 03:26
I think that time will help your problems with dynamics. I noticed the same problem when I picked up my horn again after a 20 year break. Over a period of time, some of the old skills will come back. I'm enjoying private lessons now too, which I never had in high school so I know that helps as well.
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2002-05-17 14:30
I think you should try different mouthpieces. When I got back into it after a three decade layoff, I was having problems similar to yours.
I tried several brands and styles of mouthpieces and found huge differences in how they played for me. In my case using a mouthpiece
protector also helps. My top teeth had shifted and become uneven, and the slight cushioning effect of the protector helps to even out the pressure exerted by my top teeth. Good luck in your quest for excellence.
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Author: C@p
Date: 2002-05-31 14:18
Is the 5RV lyre a Van Doren mouthpiece?
c@p
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