Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-08-05 05:49
Karel,
Definately at 6-months, you are using reeds that are too stiff, but it isn't the emboucher that is the main problem, it's breath support. You need to train yourself to use a stiffer reed by playing on it, but you also need the experinece of how to properly send a smaller amount of air at the same speed to play softer. Very hard to learn on a stiff reed. So you have two choices, go to a lower rating of reed or continue to play on the stiff reed and put up with the hiss until your breath support improves. It's a physical exercise. You might play your lessons on a 2-1/2 reed then play ff long tones on the 3 or 3-1/2 until you're blue inthe face before you are finished for the day. It will wear you out.
Secondly, Vandoren reeds are notorious for inconsistency. In fact, they even bragg about it, with the argument going something like We vary the reed strengths so that every player will find at least one playable reed in every box. Well, I personally like to find ten playable reeds in a box, so I play on Rico Royals. (I must confess, however, that I am not as picky about my reeds as most players are.) My first instructor played on the same, 2-1/2 strength, about a 2 for Vandoren, for 50 years. Never saw any reason to change.
|
|
The Clarinet BBoard
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
