 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Bartmann
Date: 2008-03-04 16:59
Friends,
After playing clarinet for over a decade, I gradually had to stop because of my work schedule. I could only play during the weekends and with time my embouchure died.
Then I started flute from scratch and, because the relaxed embouchure doesn't need the same daily practice as the clarinet to be maintained, I was able to play several hours on Saturday and Sunday.
Over the years I would pull out my clarinet to play it but my embouchure would die after 15 minutes.
So this past weekend I pulled out my Brannonized Buffet R13 and I could not play it at all! I had to think before every note and I couldn't focus air through my throat the way I used to. So I was a little shocked. Granted I hadn't played for a couple of years but I always thought I could play for fifteen minutes, at least.
If I hadn't learned the flute I would be seriously depressed. But the flute which is very hassle free (no reeds and their ongoing expense, idiosyncratic tuning tendencies, for example) has blended seamlessly into my musical world.
The most important thing I've learned is that I love to make music. And that love isn't particular to either the clarinet or the flute. For me I prefer the flute's vibrato and the wider range of sounds that is created exclusively through the embouchure. James Galway wrote something like: "Only singers have less apparatus between them and their sound generation." I also love this about the flute: that the sound generation is so immediate and perhaps more personal.
But now the question remains: what do I do with my clarinet? I refill the humidifiers (the clear plastic tube with brown ends) every other month or so. And I love the smell of the clarinet. But what do I do with the clarinet? I won't sell it because of all the effort it took to find and customize it. But can a clarinet stay in playable condition if all I do is refill the humidifiers? Once I retire in about 18 years I would like to have a working clarinet so that if I want to I can pick it up again.
Thanks,
Bartmann
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-03-04 17:22
Keep the clarinet going as much or as little as you can during the time you consider it to be on hold, even if it means picking it up once in a blue moon and only getting a few minutes worth of playing in as and when.
You never know when you might need to play it again, so don't give up on it completely as you'll only go 'I wish I blah blah blah...'
Maybe with a bit of a break and you come back to it later on, you may be surprised what you can still do, and with a bit of work you'll be able to sort out the stuff you can't do so well.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-03-04 17:47
I refill the humidifiers (the clear plastic tube with brown ends) every other month or so.
-----------------------------------
Either where you are pretty humid, or it isn't working right. You should have to fill it weekly if it's doing a good job. (you are in NY per your ISP)
The water should be changed weekly so as not to get stagnant.
Possibly your clarinet probably isn't getting enough moisture - put a humidity measuring device in your case to see that it is between 40-50 (max) %. Much lower than that and your rings could come loose, higher and your springs can rust.
And keep the instrument case off of the floor! (you could get pad mites eating your unplayed pads).
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: beejay
Date: 2008-03-04 19:46
Why not find an easy-blowing mouthpiece, get some softer reeds and try double-lip embouchure? The clarinet would not then, in theory, be any more difficult to play than the flute.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modernicus
Date: 2008-03-04 20:06
How unfortunate that you couldn't play at all anymore-are you sure you weren't just having a bad day? What kind of level were you playing at? I played 8 years, then took 12 off (maybe played 3 times during those years). A few weeks ago I started playing again. The first day it felt like I was back in grade school band, but after a few more practice sessions, I am very rapidly recovering my modest playing abilities. My wife says I am sounding dramatically better every day. I think since you have continued to play any instrument, and played for longer (and probably better) you would be far better off than I am, so I would at least second Chris P's motion to pull it out occasionally and blow a few notes just to keep the feeling of playing fresh in your memory. I'm having so much fun just playing to satisfying myself, I really think I can be a much better player than I ever was when I was young and suffered from terribly anxiety about my playing (and everything else). I wish I hadn't stopped playing! LOL
As for instrument preservation, I think you have come to the right place to at least gather information to make an informed decision.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-03-04 20:55
Bartmann, thinking again I highly doubt that your embouchure "died". What you are dealing with is a setup that isn't compatible with being a weekend warrior or less.
Go to a good teacher, travel if you have to and get the advice that you need on what setup to use for ease of playing so that you can enjoy it again.
Will make a gigantic difference.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2008-03-04 22:43
DB is likely on the right track... you likely played a setup for the BigDogs - #4V12 on a 5JB? Try something in the middle of the road, and you'll likely get more response, readily.
Playing flute has it's advantages - transpose on the fly, more girls...?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-03-04 23:04
Bartmann, try either a 5RV Lyre or M15 with Rue Lepic 3.5 for a change (as neither will break the bank) and see what you get from that (and the choice of ligature being your own, personally I use a Rovner light).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-03-04 23:10
Chris P wrote:
> Bartmann, try either a 5RV Lyre or M15 with ... <snip>
...or join our band. We need a flutist!
Especially one who can double on clarinet. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bartmann
Date: 2008-03-05 14:20
David,
I had three setups (listed in order of preference)
1. Viotto Mouthpiece - Vandoren White master 3.5 - for most of my playing in Europe
2. Vandoren M13 - Vandoren V12 4 - for when I was playing with American clarinetists
3. Morgan RM 10 - Vandoren Traditional 2 - for when I played with jazz musicians.
Your comment about "Weekend Warrior" is so dead on. By far the most resistant set up was #2. And I long ago abandoned playing on it. Setup 2 held up longer, but now I'm indeed on my last setup number 3. Frankly I don't really love the sound of setup 3 but I would rather try to play than not.
And as for those humidifiers: according to my guage, the humidity is usually between 40 and 50%. I use two and have the smallest opening possible. However since you mention the water can get stale (dare we say moldy) I'll change it weekly.
It is unfortunate that I can't really devote more of my time to clarinet playing like I did in the past. However, if I am successful at this point in my career, then during retirement, I'll have all the resources necessary to continue the clarinet.
Thanks,
Bartmann
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Philcoman
Date: 2008-03-05 16:37
Bartmann, thanks for posting this! Believe me, you're not the only weekend warrior out there. Between job and children, my practice time has dwindled to precious minutes per week. I'm barely treading water at the moment. Very frustrating. Sometimes I want to throw the thing across the room, but every time I open my case I fall in love with my clarinet all over again, so I can't bring myself to give up.
What can I say? Our relationship with music is like any love relationship -- when there are problems we adjust, we change, we learn, we grow.
"If you want to do something, you do it, and handle the obstacles as they come." --Benny Goodman
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-03-05 17:42
Bartmann, count yourself lucky you don't play oboe!
Reeds for these things are more trouble than they're worth, even with daily playing as they can change from being good one day, and completely unforgiving the next (which is usually the day you have a big concert).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: AS
Date: 2008-03-05 20:56
I'd say using no. 3.5 and no.4 reeds could make you feel your embouchure was "dead" after many years of leave from playing. But if you have problems with no.2 reed as well - that's a mistery. Don't know anything about Morgan RM 10 mouthpiece that you used with no.2 reeds, but I suspect something wrong with that mouthpiece.
I got back to clarinet recently as well, just a couple of months ago after about 20 years of "leave". I started with no.2 reeds and switched to no. 2.5 in about a week and to no.3 in about a month. Could play for hours right from beginning, no prolems with embouchure whatsoever. Except, of course, when I tried no.3 or 4 reeds during those first weeks or when using a bad mouthpiece. Then I had feeling that you describe like "dead embouchure"
So I doubt if your embouchure has "died". There should be some other, not so tragic, explanation.
Post Edited (2008-03-05 20:58)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
