 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matt Carlton
Date: 2002-09-05 23:04
I've recently wandered across this board and I wanted to say thank you for providing a very professionally run discussion. The sax board that I frequent (which shall remain nameless) tends to lead towards talking about "which metal mouthpiece to use" and "how to play better without practicing"...well, not to that extreme but close. Usually if I want a good interpretation about the classical side of playing saophone, I use this board as a reference point.
Once again, thanks!!!
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-09-06 00:16
Matt - discussions about what mouthpiece to use or what reed to use are so rare on this board as to be extraordinary.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2002-09-06 01:56
Yes . . . but the unnamed board at least has a very cool term to describe the aforementioned obsession with equipment. I haven't seen it here, and in case you haven't:
One is said to have GAS . . . aka Gear Acquisition Syndrome.
I feel it coming on . . .
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-09-06 02:25
I have no idea which sax board is being referred to but I'll bet a box of reeds that the it has a name, always had a name and always will have a name. So, how can it Remain nameless?
If it truly doesn't have a name is it asking for suggestions?
I mean, we usually don't pull any punches here - we're always willing to help a friend in distress. If you need any trouble just call someone
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Author: John Kelly - Australia
Date: 2002-09-06 07:00
Not only do we discuss clarinets, we also delve in to english syntax, psychological problems relating to music - remember "the drummer"- and various other musical minutiae too numerous to mention. This board is like a home away from home almost! Oh - by the way how does one play better without practicing? I think I'm missing out on some valuable advice.
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Author: Karel
Date: 2002-09-06 11:09
We will have to have a look at the sax' BB to find that out. If only we knew its name !!?
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Author: Brian
Date: 2002-09-06 11:41
Hey Matt clarinet players make better lovers too! LOL
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Author: tim k
Date: 2002-09-06 15:57
Matt can't be referring to saxontheweb.net. It's a great site. Contentious at times, but packed with good info.
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Author: Matt Carlton
Date: 2002-09-06 18:18
Well Tim, lately things have gotten semi-crazy. Of course the contirbutions made to the site itself are outstanding, but the forum has pretty much become an on-line port-a-potty. Say one bad thing about a Selmer and you'll be ostracized. The forum also lacks advice from classical instrumentalists to. Now I know the saxophone is not an orchestral instrument, but there are very many classical compositions and innovations that are never talked about. If I had a question about jazz mind you, I would be satisfied with the answers I get.
A big thing that bugs me is that a newcomer to the instrument would ask "what sort of mouthpiece should I try for classical" and of course the traditional answer is the Selmer C*, and I agree that is a good mouthpiece to start on, but then there are responses like "Meyer 6" and "Brilhart" and "Otto Link Metal". The classical side to saxophone is really lacking over there, and my point is that, even though this is a clarinet website, I can get EDUCATED and well thought out responses to questions I ask.
So in essence, saxontheweb.net is a good resource and info-base, but I never expect to get a decent answer to a serious question.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-09-06 20:33
They were the "highlight" of one of our local Symphony concerts, and were OUTSTANDING [IMHO as a sax doubler in years past]. They have a website www.prismquartet.com and a Google search will give you more! I made very pleasant acquaintance with Tim Reis, who tried out my altos,'60's Leblanc [model 100] and Mark VI [told him, sorry no sale!]. They played both classics and jazz very well, much beyond the alto solos in L'Arlesienne and Pics Exhibition. Don
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Author: ken
Date: 2002-09-06 21:11
Matt, "most" of us on the site welcome all sax players (even classical) and we're happy for you to visit and/or post at the pleasure of the webmaster. The board boasts a hearty cross-section of knowledgeable classical and jazz clarinet pickers. Most unique is the special talents and experiences each individual brings to the panel that make an excellent sum of the whole...amateur and professional alike. v/r
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-09-06 22:02
We even conjugate Latin verbs on occasion! Maybe we can find some rude expression that can be applied to Sax players ;-]
Bob A
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Author: tim k
Date: 2002-09-06 23:13
Good description, Super 20. Think this reflects on the personality types attracted to each instrument? Of course there's the obvious--Mark C. exercises a tighter hand than Harri.
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Author: Matt Carlton
Date: 2002-09-07 03:08
SOTW could be a really really good place! It has so much potential to be a great place for civilized saxophone discussion, but I believe that potential is nothing but wasted energy unless acted upon. Mark C. has really made this a great place.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-09-07 13:39
V T, Very true, Matt, We do thank Mark at irregular intervals, even respond $ - wise as needed. All of us have , at times, had a "courtesy" suggestion from him, it works. TKS, M C, Don
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Author: mike
Date: 2002-09-07 22:46
Matt: I don't think its quite so easy as you would like it to be. In many respects, I think Mark does LESS moderating than the folks at SOTW. Maybe people tend to conform (somewhat) to the culture of the boards when they post. I really don't know why. There have been some rather vitriolic exchanges here amongst world-class players.
And there could be something to the structure of the boards. Here, the discussions move down the stack and fall off the page. The particularly distasteful ones can then be ignored (its kinda hard to keep a brawl going if everyone moves on to something else.) At SOTW, posting to a discussion pops it to the top of the stack.
I think also that this board has been around a lot longer. The articles that many well-known artists have contributed go a long way towards providing the novice clarinetist many hours of reading (and many more years of practice) with answers to their questions on equipment and playing. SOTW is working towards building up such a database, but it takes time.
Of course a limiting factor there is that SOTW is hosted on commercial sites. I suspect there are space (and perhaps time) limits on discussions, so they eventually disappear for good (not to mention that the board was hacked a while back and a lot of stuff was deliberately deleted). Here, Mark owns the whole banana (for better or worse --- just what ARE you going to do with petabytes of clarinet lore when you retire, Mark?) and the archives go back almost to when dinosaurs played chalmeaus (possibly why they became extinct.) Not to mention the search feature in Phorum is also quite useful and something that Swirve is sadly lacking.
But Matt, you're pretty quick to dismiss the classical sax section of the SOTW board as being discussions of mouthpieces, etc. Yet the discussions started by you are on those topics! And I suspect that you haven't spent a whole lot of time over there, as your comment about being ostracized if you say something bad about a Selmer is not true; SOTW has one of the largest (and certainly the most vocal) contingent of vintage American sax lovers (and even Selmer bashers) that I've ever seen. So start discussions on topics you want discussed. Its not only about grazing though the fields of accumulated information (though that is certainly fun); sometimes you have to plow the field yourself and see what happens.
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Author: Matt Carlton
Date: 2002-09-08 00:56
Mike, I think you took my responses the wrong way. Let me just touch on a few things you have said...
"But Matt, you're pretty quick to dismiss the classical sax section of the SOTW board as being discussions of mouthpieces, etc. Yet the discussions started by you are on those topics!"
I never said I dismissed that certain section. I certainly do dismiss other secions because the talk about mouthpieces is pretty much oriented to "what mouthpiece will make this horn play better". This talk is mainly from the amateur saxophone player who wants to play like Charlie Parker, but not practice nearly as much. I am one of the few who are trying to keep the "Classical Saxophone" section lively. I guess the majority of people who visit SOTW are amateur jazz saxophone players, which tends to keep the classical players somewhat scared away. You will find most of my posts are in the "Classical Saxophone" section, and in turn I try to give the best advice to anyone that asks.
"And I suspect that you haven't spent a whole lot of time over there, as your comment about being ostracized if you say something bad about a Selmer is not true; SOTW has one of the largest (and certainly the most vocal) contingent of vintage American sax lovers (and even Selmer bashers) that I've ever seen."
Well all I have to say about that is look at any post Gordon(NZ) posts about his distaste of Selmer craftsmanship. I have seen those discussions get very heated, to the point of uncalled for comments towards Gordon's reputation. I do say that lately things have gotten much better...which must be due to the fact that the Selmer lovers have realized the Mark VI days are long gone. I have been posting at SOTW for about 3-4 years now, sporadically at times, due to my last job in the US Marine Band in Camp Lejeune, NC and my move up to Indiana University of PA as a full time student.
Mike, my comments I have made about this forum is about how well it is organized and the many contributions made by many professionals. A lot of the reputable people who used to post on SOTW have left due to the immature mudslinging that constantly occurs and the self-promotion from certain manufaturers that can be seen everywhere. My post here was definetly meant as a compliment.
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Author: mike
Date: 2002-09-11 15:53
Well, part of my point was that discussions fade away. Now we're only on about the middle of the second page, but we'll see how much action we get.
First, I don't recall seeing posts by the likes of Eugene Rouseau or Al Gallardo or Paul Brodie over at SOTW, so I think that the claim that many saxophone giants who either used to post there or who have looked at the board and didn't want to get dragged through the muck is somewhat overstated. (And I've been reading that board a long time.)
Second, this is dragging on too long in a non-clarinet vein. My e-mail address is in the header. I'll be happy to ramble on at any length (with the caveat that I will be out of town next week).
Finally, I do agree with you that this is a great board. And I listed some structural differences between the two boards. Although I suspect that the board is a labor of love for Mark, and his passion for this has driven its success.
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