The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

RE: Info?

Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-08-09 22:07

Alit wrote:
-------------------------------
I have researched both instruments, and I was wondering if if you played or had contact to a recorder would that help in learning the clarinet? thanks

Alit -

I play _lots_ of recorder - probably as much as clarinet. It's an ideal companion instrument to clarinet, because the various size instruments alternate between playing in C (soprano, tenor) and playing in F (alto, bass). This matches the clarion and chalumeau fingerings on clarinet, so it's easy for a clarinetist to learn.

One problem is that most inexpensive recorders are garbage. The wood ones are worse than the plastics, and even the decent plastics (like the Dolmetsch Nova series) tend to clog up with condensation.

Stay far away from eBay for recorders. All the recorders there are the bottom of the barrel, and priced at double what they're worth. Instead, go to the von Huene Workshop website, www.vonhuene.com. They make wonderful professional instruments, for which there is a years-long waiting list and for which they charge as much as a Buffet R-13, but the also have a good stock of student-level and intermediate instruments at good prices. They're also completely honest and interested in helping you find what you need.

Recorder playing relaxes me wonderfully. There's no reed or embouchure to worry about, and no keys to get in the way. The air pressure is low, and, if you stay away from the soprano, the instruments are sweet and soft. Also, you get to play renaissance and baroque music, from the time before the clarinet was invented.

You should probably start off with an alto (in F), which has almost all the solo literature. Everyone gets a soprano, so you should too, but I don't like to play it much. It's the same pitch as the piccolo, and it shrieks too much. If you can afford a tenor, and your hands are big enough to play it, you should get one. (My wife and I have recorders in 7 different sizes.)

Playing early music gives you a background for later music, which most clarinetists don't have. This will definitely improve your clarinet playing. Also, playing an instrument that is rather soft teaches you how to make music without being able to punch out the notes, and this is also good for you.

Finally, there are lots of recorder people around, and they love to play in groups. You will almost certainly find that your clarinet background makes you the best player in any group.

And you can play late at night and not bother anybody too much.

There's a whole world of early music out there. Recorder is an easy way to gain access.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics