 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-01-17 19:33
The title says it all. A coiuple of months ago, I was handed the Community Band's only Alto Clarinet, a used Vito.
At first, it was a real chore to play. Bad mouthpiece, and the clarinet was out of adjustment and leaky. After getting everything set straight on the instrument, I ordered an alto mouthpiece from Walter Grabner. Things started to get better. Now, every week I play the instrument, my playing becomes better and more musical. Who knows, I might even start having a little fun, soon!
I know. Some of you warned me this might happen! ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-17 19:39
I recently bought a Pomarico crystal alto mouthpiece for use on both my alto and basset horn, so now have crystals from Eb down to bass.
I haven't yet played alto in a wind band setting, but have played through some of the standard clarinet repertoire on it which is fun. Problem is, I'm always being asked to play oboe/cor even though clarinet is th only instrument I studied.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-01-17 19:55)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-01-17 19:45
So far, my experience is with our band's clarinet choir. We added a BBb contra last night to the mix. That was impressive!
BTW....Walter makes a GREAT alto mouthpiece. Usiual disclaimers apply. I have no commercial affiliation with Walter Grabner or clarinetxpress.com. I am just a satisfied customer. 
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Bobby McClellan
Date: 2013-01-18 01:19
I agree with Jeff. Walter makes great mouthpieces, I have them on Bass, contra and Sop.
I currently use the Hite mouthpiece on my alto and Basset horns.
I love alto clarinet (and Basset) but alas I usually end up on Bass ot Contra. Lucky for me the Clarinet choir I play with allows several of us to swap to 2nd or 3rd horns. 2 of us are on contra ad swap back to bass and basset, one of the other bass players swaps to alto. works out goo and we get to play the other horns that we like to play.
Bobby
Bobby M. McClellan
Flowood, MS
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Author: pewd
Date: 2013-01-18 02:59
Welcome to the dark side of the force
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: alto gether
Date: 2013-01-18 03:41
What's not to enjoy? Alto is my favorite size of clarinet, altho I just got a Fobes Nova mouthpiece for my contra alto and with a Legere bari sax reed it blows better than the Yamaha 4C mpc/vanDoren 2.5 reeds on my alto.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-01-18 17:41
Hopefully you'll get over it. If not, see a Certified Clarinet Mental Health Specialist (CCMHS).
Or watch a dozen hours of Spongebob cartoons, focusing on Squidward's clarinet playing, which sound is representative of what most alto clarinetists (sorry to say) sound like.
Alto clarinet is fun to play, I admit, but before you start feeling too good about yourself, ask some audience members how much they like the sound of alto clarinets. You might not want to hear the answers. And then try to find a musical group in "need" of an alto clarinet. Best of luck to you.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2013-01-18 19:36
Don't be so negative, David. Every Jazz band tired of their capricious alto sax soloist would welcome a replacement with extended range but without the urge to wear shades and a silly hat. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
--
Ben
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-01-18 20:26
I have been having fun with the instrument since it got regulated and fixed. Before that, I had named it "Gilbert" as in Gottfried.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-01-18 20:48
Ah, Gilbert Gottfried ---- very appropriate! One of the most amusingly annoying voices in the TV and film world. Nasal to the max.....
Now Ben, on this side of the Pond we stopped wearing shades and silly hats in jazz band 3 years, five months and twelve days ago......
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2013-01-19 11:29
This might be off topic but I've also started to play on my band's alto clarinet and everything seems to work fine except I have a really hard time playing middle B. The E down below works fine but I really have to open my throat and blow down to get any tone from B. Any advice on this matter would be great.
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-01-19 11:57
Make sure the register tube is not dirty. Other wise it could be leak somewhere. If it only has 1 register vent, then the middle B will always be at least a little stuffy.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2013-01-19 12:16
Thanks this did help a bit but it's still difficult to play this note. I doubt it's a leak because all other notes play perfectly.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2013-01-19 13:12
> I doubt it's a leak because all other notes play perfectly. >
If there's a tiny leak getting started in one of the keys played by the little finger of the right hand, then the B at the middle of the staff is the first note to go. The first symptoms are difficulty in blowing the note and stuffy, weak tone. Then it might start to balk completely or squeak. The clarion C just above that B usually goes bad next. Meanwhile the same fingerings on the chalumeau sound fine.
One way to test: For each key that normally stays closed until you press a key to open it, take a thin piece of paper (cigarette paper or camera lens-cleaning paper are perfect), open the key, set the paper over the hole and close the pad over the paper. Now, with the key still closed, gently slide the paper out. Try the same thing with the keys that are open until you close them. Close the key normally, then hold it closed (normally, as if you were playing, not with the gorilla fist) and then pull the paper out, or have a friend help. If it's easier to pull the paper out from one or two of those keys than from the others, then that key has a small pad leak getting started.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-01-19 13:31
Check the speaker mechanism and make sure it's regulated properly with the thumb plate (or throat A key depending on the model).
When the speaker key is held down and the thumb is off the thumb plate (or the throat A key is held down), the lower vent should open only. When the thumb is placed on the thumbplate (or the throat A key is released) the upper vent should open and the lower vent should close. So check the closure of the thumb pad with the closure of the lower vent so they're both equal and adjust if needed.
While holding the speaker key down, switch between both speaker vents by opening and closing the thumb plate (or the throat A key) and check the pressure on both vent pads to be sure they're the same, so neither are open at the same time.
It is a bit of a task as you're going round in circles, but you have to check and double check to be sure the speaker mechanism os working properly otherwise the upper register will suffer if both vents are open at the same time or the thumb pad isn't closing fully if it's over regulated.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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