 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ben
Date: 2002-12-24 18:29
hi! i have a big problem wiht my sound. it is terrible and i dont know how can i fix that. all my tones are listening @!#$. do you have some tipps to make the sound better. my clarinet is allright so its on me. sorry for my english i am german.
good new year,
ben
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-12-24 19:01
Happy Holidays to you ben. Do you have a teacher? Is it your teacher who thinks your sound is bad, or is it just yourself? Are you playing to records and/or comparing yourself to an "established" player? Do you have any musical friends for whom you could play? The reasons I ask this is because there is not a player alive who does not think his/her sound stinks (on occasion). If you are just playing for yourself it will be difficult to determine just what you do sound like. Ask your teacher/friend what they are hearing and have them evaluate it. Others may have a different opinion that you do.
(I have this problem also but I wear dual-hearing aids and I KNOW they sure don't hear what I hear).
Bob A
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Author: ben
Date: 2002-12-24 21:33
thanks bob!
excuse me what is a dual-hearing aids? yes i have a teacher and he and all the people i play with say i sound ok. but i think they just want to be friendly. sometimes i record my playing and i really hate it. it is arie and sharp. sometimes i think the acoustic in my room is bad but when i go to a shop in a special acoustic room its the same problem. ive tried so many things like other reeds or mouthpieces but its always the same. the middle regiester is really horible. are there any exercises for sound? thanks again.
greetings ben
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-12-25 01:09
Ben, dual hearing aids are hearing aids in each ear. What I hear is quite artificial and sounds bad to me. I have yet to get up enough nerve to have an evaluation by someone who knows. I have yet to find a teacher.
Bob A
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-12-25 17:17
Ben,
To improve your sound, practice scales for 20-25 minutes a day. Scale patterns like thirds, arpeggios, and basic scales. If you have the Baermann Div. 3 book, it's the best. (I'm not sure if they're sold in Germany though...)
You can also practice long tones, but I don't recommend them for more than a few minutes (i.e. 3-4) every day.
Practicing scales can really help improve your sound if you THINK about your sound when you practice them. Scales also help technique and musicality.
One thing you may want to think about is what (in English) is called "air support." If your sound is "airy" this may be the problem. Make sure you are pushing with your abdominal muscles to form a solid wall of support for your air stream.
Wenn Sie auf Deutsch schreiben will, bitte schreiben Sie mir auf e-mail. Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut, aber ich kann immer versuchen!
Katrina
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Author: Hans
Date: 2002-12-26 00:27
I posted some of this reply to another clarinet player with the same concern about tone quality so you may see it there as well.
Your airy sound may be caused by a clarinet that has a leak or is misaligned, OR you could try a softer reed and go back to a stiffer reed if that suits the characteristics of your mouthpiece and embouchure.
In addition to the excellent suggestions that have been offered by others; e.g., listening to those whose sound you admire (Shaw? Goodman?, Daniels?, Herman?, Defranco?, etc.) and experimenting with reeds (Zonda is my favourite, VanDoren is my least favourite), I have a few more.
First, practice at the extremes of the instrument; i.e., the highest and lowest notes. Second, try the VanDoren Optimum ligature. It contains three different interchangeable reed contact plates, each of which gives a slightly different sound and playing characteristics, and may help you get what you want. You should also practice good reed preparation procedure and make sure that your reed strength is properly matched to your mouthpiece. You could visit www.Selmer.com to look for more suggestions. If you are playing a large bore clarinet, you will likely be constrained to a different type of sound than if you were playing a small bore. I'm sure that others will be able to add to the list.
Best wishes,
HJ
P.S. I have no affiliation with brands I've mentioned. I play a Selmer Recital (small bore, nice tone) with the Optimum ligature and Zonda reeds. No one runs out of the room when I play.....
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-12-26 06:07
No one runs from the room when I play either, Hans. However, last time I played solo, I think I noticed a few folks shuffling toward the back edging nearer the exit...
Seriously, though, I believe not one of us ever gets as hot as we hope we're going to - or sounds as bad as we are almost certain we just did.
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Author: William
Date: 2002-12-26 15:27
I am a firm believer that we all have our individual sounds that are dictated and enhanced by our mental, internal concepts of tone quality and our state of physical conditioning (embouchure) that makes production of that sound a reality. I just watched and old video (10 yrs ago) of me playing the Artie Shaw Concerto with our local muni band and was amazed to realize that I sound the same today as I did in that video even though I am playing a completly different mouthpiece set-up and brand of clarinet. I think that the only value of "special" equipement is that certain pieces will allow you to achieve your expressive and tonal goals easier than will others, but your own sound will always prevail, no matter what. It is much more important to be able to play in tune with others and to develop musical style and expression in your performances. Quality of sound is of next (and possibly, least) importance.
So, listen to a lot of clarinetists, develop a mental concept of sound that you like, and practice to develop control of your breath, embouchure and technique so that your "natural" sound can be "all that it can be" and that you can use it to play absolutely in tune with impeccable musical expression.
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