 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: reraom
Date: 2012-01-26 07:15
Hi everybody, I'm a complete beginner, my first lesson is next week, I'm trying to read as much about playing the clarinet as I possibly can.
As experienced clarinet players, what would you tell a beginner to look out for? Are there some common mistakes a beginner always make that if you tell him about might be easily avoided.
I play trumpet and there's this tricky part about it. If your embouchure isn't right from the beginning you're gonna have a lot of trouble trying to fix it later on.
Also, I live in an aprtment, is clarinet too loud for practicing at home for an hour or two a day?
I tried to get a sound out of my friend's clarinet and it was pretty quiet, but it was a low note.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-01-26 09:17
If you're already playing trumpet in your apartment you'll have no problem.
But.......
The lower lip of the clarinet embouchure sits inert between the reed/mouthpiece and the lower teeth. This will NOT be beneficial to your trumpet playing. There is a fairly common technique for clarinet embouchure known as 'double lip' that almost forces you to apply less pressure down below and (the bonus feature) more even support ALL AROUND THE MOUTHPIECE. Check with your professor to see if he is amenable to using this technique. You can also check out the Tom Ridenour videos of 'double lip' on YOUTUBE.
....................Paul Aviles
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2012-01-26 12:08
My top tips would be (in no particular order)
1) Don't put too much mouthpiece in your mouth - or too little.
2) Don't lift your fingers too high.
3) Don't let your thumbrest get too far towards the base of the right thumb.
4) Do learn the right way to use the throat keys when you are ready for them.
5) Do listen to some well-respected players (this board should give you some ideas).
5) Do have fun!
Good luck
Vanessa.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2012-01-26 14:05
Are you planning to keep playing trumpet? That may make leaning a clarinet embouchure trickier. If you're planning to play both instruments, let your clarinet teacher know.
As far as the embouchure's needing to be "right from the beginning" is concerned, I don't think it's all that critical for any instrument. For one thing, there's a whole range of embouchure shapes and muscular applications that can produce good results - the "right" embouchure depends a lot on individual physiognomy. For another, breaking habits, especially if they're long established, is harder than learning to do something in a productive way to begin with, but habits that interfere with good results *can* be replaced at any point in the learning process with better, more productive ones if the player puts in the needed effort. You're going to have to change several habits when the clarinet is in your mouth that you've developed over the time you've been playing trumpet.
There are certainly a number of "traditional" mistakes beginners often make. A few general ones are:
1. not listening to what's coming out of their instruments (many beginners don't learn to use their ears for a long time) - this shouldn't be a problem for you since you already play one instrument.
2. not moistening your reed before you play.
3. assuming that if it's hard to make a sound come out, it's because the clarinet must be hard to play. Lots of times, it's because either you've picked a bad reed or you're working/trying too hard or the clarinet has a mechanical problem. Sorting these out is one big reason for having an experienced teacher.
4. Obsessing too much (sometimes this is the teacher's doing more than the student's) on one feature of the instrument at the expense of other equally important (even inter-related) technical and musical areas. The clarinet is a tool for playing music, which is the ultimate goal some beginners (especially very young ones, which I don't think describes you) can easily forget.
There are other more specific technical ones, but nothing a teacher can't point out easily and you can't correct quickly when they come up.
Good luck!
Karl
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Author: William
Date: 2012-01-26 16:13
Just for fun, it may be comforting to know that B3 is fingered the same on both trumpet and clarinet :>)
My advice, just try to do what your teacher suggests and have fun. Don't expect to learn "everything" at your first lesson. Many of us *pros* are still trying to learn and refine technique after years of playing.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2012-01-26 16:19
Have your teacher play your clarinet and give you an opinion on its playability.
Be sure that you have a "friendly" mouthpiece.
Bob Phillips
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Author: reraom
Date: 2012-01-26 19:37
Thanks to everybody for your detailed instructions!
I don't know if I'm gonna continue playing trumpet actually, I really love it but lately I've been crazy about the way the clarinet is used in jazz.
Bob Phillips I actually don't own a clarinet yet, but my teacher is gonna let me use his for some time and I think it's a good idea since you never know if you're gonna stick to it.
Paul Aviles I never really play trumpet at home any more so as not to disturb my neigbours, it's just way too loud, is the clarinet much quiter than the trumpet?
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-01-26 22:04
The clarinet is a little softer than the trumpet but you might not get best experience out of starting off trying to be quiet all the time (I tell students it's ok to feel sorry for their neighbors but ultimately their misery is NOT your concern).
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: The Watcher
Date: 2012-01-28 08:18
I'm still a newbe myself. But, I recomend that you read two books while you are learning. "The Art of Clarinet Playing" by Kieth Stein. And, "The Clarinet and Clarinet Playing" by David Pino.
I found that by reading them while taking leasons it was like having a tutor as well as a teacher.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-01-28 12:06
Keith Stein ........... essential clarinet reading !!!!!
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Kaeren
Date: 2012-01-29 08:38
Yes, definitely pick up a copy of the Keith Stein book. He packs an incredible amount of information into a relatively small, very readable manual. It's the type of book that should be re-read several times as you progress, as some of what he's saying may not register until you've been playing for a while.
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Author: Maruja
Date: 2012-01-29 15:18
As a relative beginner, I would say not to use open G (no fingers) but to put down three fingers on the right hand from the start. It is much easier to get a good sound from the throat notes that way, but I am still tripping up on scales because I am now changing the fingering to incorporate these fingers and once you've learned it one way......
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Author: reraom
Date: 2012-02-03 11:43
Thanks everybody! Gonna get the book from the local library thanks once again.
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