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Re: New here / intro

Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-01-12 15:01

Hi Leslie!

Congrats on your successes with playing ethnic music! I've been at it for almost 10 years now, and won't ever stop. I was fortunate enough though to have studied clarinet all through high school and college, and I still play classical and teach, but the Bulgarian, Greek, and Albanian stuff has my heart, to say the least.

Some suggestions:

1. While I don't know the V360 mp myself, I'd suggest finding a place where you could sample a few others. The Bulgarians use Vandy 5JB's with 1.5-2 reeds. When I had a lesson with Ivo when he was here in town, I forgot to ask which specific reed he uses. The teacher I had in Bulgaria two years ago used Plasticover 1.5's, and a 5JB. Another mp to consider (IMO) are the Vandy B45DOT. I'm able to mimic the Bulgarian sound with that and a #3 Legere. The real Bulgarians can tell the diff, but if I have to play something Scandinavian right after a wild gankino or rachenitsa, it works for me.

2. Get some lessons now...it's never too late! You could find a teacher in your area to give you some basic technical pointers and equipment advice as well even if they don't understand Balkan stuff.

3. Go to Balkan Music/Dance camp! The website is: http://www.eefc.org and they put on two great weeks each year. I know Texas is a little out of the way from either Mass. or Mendocino, but if you can swing the trip it is definitely worth it.

4. As far as playing flat, the fix for that usually is to increase your wind speed. The most effective way to do this is to have the back of your tongue in an "eeee" position. Additionally, use abdominal pressure to give your tone good air support. See #2 above...

Katrina
p.s. Do you know the accordionist Shirley Johnson?

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