 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Cindy
Date: 2002-08-23 05:49
I feel that I am a fairly good clarinetist, but now that I am getting into higher things (all state auditions, etc) I have discovered my huge weakness...I cannot play loud. That's not to say that I am perfect in every other way, but that is a big problem. Even in my section at school, which isn't all that great, anyone can play louder than me. What should I do to increase my volume? And, I don't want to start a huge thing about marching band contraversy, but what reed will make me the loudest on a marching field?
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Author: Jonathan
Date: 2002-08-23 08:33
I shared the same feeling when I was playing in school bands long time ago.
However, later I discovered that, to some extent, the volumn you can produce is very much depended on your instrument, mouthpiece, reed and other set up. For example, among all my clarinets including Selmer series 10S, Selmer Signature, Buffet RC and Buffet Festival, the latest can produce the loudest sound with the same mouthpiece and reed. When I was a teenager, I was using my Selmer series 10S which is the softest as compared with others.
Also, among all mouthpiece I have, I feel Larry Combs LC3 (which I have abaondoned for long time) can produce much lounder sound than my present favourite Vandoren M15 and M30.
Even if you cannot change your set up, I do not think it is anything wrong to play not loud enough. For example, I've never found that sound of K. Leister in Berlin Phil is strong and loud enough. But certainly, K. Leister is one of greatest masters in our time.
Don't worry about your volumn. There are many things which are important for us to look into.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2002-08-24 07:51
I have recently looked over the board to find answer to exactly that question. Maybe you do the same. Search for "projection".
The conclusion is not clear. Some argued that it is the tone quality that makes the clarinet project well, so concentrate on this. Others recommend exercises to develop a strong blow, and add that it may take years. Another argument was that you cannot judge your own projection and have to trust a second person, e.g. your teacher.
Of course, if you are playing on a close mouthpiece (like the M13), with a soft reed (like a 3), your tone will become worse if you try to play louder.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2002-08-24 09:19
Cindy, don't worry about it. The hardest thing is to play delicately and softly, and yet still keep a rich and beautiful tone. As others have said, projection is much more important than volume. My teacher studied with Jacques Lancelot, and says that up close he sounded very quiet, but that you could hear him easily from the last row of the concert hall. Also if you listen to CDs of clarinet performances that you like, you will hear the breathing and the click of the keys, which indicates that the players are not blowing their lungs out.Actually, I had the opposite problem. I started out loud, and it took me a long time (and a Charles Bay mouthpiece) before I could play softly. My wife likes me much better for it.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2002-08-25 12:49
I recently heard a preformance done by a 50 person or so brass band of high quality. They played all sorts of music, including film music like the "Star Wars" theme.
One thing was sure. The clarinet section was too soft. There were 16 players, about a quarter of them all. But they could not be heard. The conductor was many times desperately trying to make them play louder waging his hands.
But the single soprano sax outperformed them easily. It was a shame.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-08-25 23:50
Yes - that's what happens when you play with trumpets and trombones - they just have NO idea of the amount of noise they make.
I saw a recent production of "Soft Shoe Shuffle" and (due to the three trumpets) couldn't hear the saxophones very well and the pianoe (except in solos) was basically inaudible.
What was worse - the saxophones played in tune and the trumpets were so out of tune it was painful and this was due to them forcing their sound.
A thoroughly horrendous experience.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-08-26 14:52
When I was in the West Point Band, we had a big section of clarinetists, all of whom could play VERY loud. (At least two guys had a tone as much like a buzz saw cutting through sheet metal as a clarinet.)
Out of curiosity, I went to see a parade that I wasn't involved in. What surprised me most was that I couldn't hear the clarinets at all, even though I knew the parts and was listening for them. All that was audible in the grandstand were trumpets, trombones and drums. Not even any piccolos or saxes.
After that, I put on a 2-1/2 Rico and just played the notes, without the hope of making any difference. I noticed that the career men did the same.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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