 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2009-02-05 17:46
Hi everyone!
As I am likely travelling to the southwestern US in March, I am looking for tips on bringing musical instruments when you travel, ie: what I should and shouldn't carry (I've heard about not carrying small screwdrivers), and my husband who is a school music teacher that plans on taking a trip to Europe next year (band, vocal, and strings) would like to get some ideas. (Not bringing the instruments is not an option, I'm visiting a piano teaching friend there who has some piano students who also play clarinet, and want me to show them a few things, plus we're planning clinics and workshops in the schools in her area. I'm only taking my Bb and A which is in a Protec double case.
I did a search on google and the clarinet board but didn't find much specifics, maybe those of you who travel a lot can give some tips. (I'm also planning to write an aticle about it)
Thank you in advance for your help!
Meri
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2009-02-05 17:52
No screwdrivers, reed knives (duh). Carry the case on the plane (duh again), it should easily fit under the seat. If it doesn't quite fit, casually put your feet on it so they don't notice as easily =)
If you have a reed water container, empty it of water. I'm not sure why people carry water around for days on end, but some do! Bacteria traps...
Most of the time they just ask if you have a laptop in there, then after the xray they want to know what they are. Just make sure you're standing there when or if they open the case. If you say "can I help you open that, it's very fragile" they'll let you.
I once had someone ask me what kind of clarinets I had, to my amazement. Of course, this was someone with a degree in music (recently graduated) who ended up working for TSA! Not exactly reassuring...
It can also be helpful to put non fragile things in checked bags (music etc.) that can make your case much lighter and easier to carry around.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-02-05 18:08
NBeaty gave you good advise. Bottom line is not to carry anything sharp or can be used as a weapon, even a small one. A double clarinet case will never be a problem. Many of my students regularly carry their bass clarinets on board. I always tell them to just carry it on their backs or shoulder and walk through boarding the plane as if it's OK and they won't be stopped. When I went through security on the way home from the Oklahoma Symposium several years ago and my bass and double case went through the machine the security guard said "I've seen a lot of these today, what are they", so I told her it's the end of the symposium for clarinets and we're all going home. No problem, just make sure all "weapons" are in your stored luggage. I think your ligature is safe, unless it's one of those string ones that they think can be used to choke someone.
Good luck, have a great trip. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2009-02-05 18:25
Ed wrote: "just make sure all "weapons" are in your stored luggage"
But I'm not sure I want to put my E-flat clarinet in my stored luggage??!
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2009-02-05 19:00
Two different anecdotes re travelling Dulles to Boston this past weekend.
My son's cornetto (antique brass instrument) was stolen from his checked bag -- either by Jet Blue personnel or by TSA.
Student travelling to Boston for BU audition, also Jet Blue, had no trouble carrying on Buffet low-C bassclarinet going; briefly challenged on return, but the pilot said "oh, a tenor sax." Fit nicely in overhead both ways.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-02-05 19:21
I posted this some time ago in a different thread but it may be relevant to the current topic, so: When I had to fly with a baritone sax, I stored it in its instrument case with a bit of bubble wrap around the instrument to keep it from moving around inside the case; then I packed the case/instrument inside a large cardboard box filled with packaging material (more bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, etc.) as if I were shipping it via the Post Office or UPS. I attached a small rope handle to the box to make it easier to lug around the airport, and I checked it as luggage. Had no problems.
If you're concerned about carrying your clarinet on board, you may consider checking it as luggage thusly --- that way you can also pack such things as reed knives, etc. which you would not be allowed to carry onboard.
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Author: Tony Beck
Date: 2009-02-05 19:54
I travel a lot for work, all within the US, and almost always bring clarinets. My Bb-A double case is too big to fit under a coach seat, but goes in the overhead easily enough. Instead, I usually put instruments in individual cases. An A and Bb, or Bb and Eb will fit in a Totes zip-up bag along with a jacket, a book, and some munchies. It will all go under a seat. Going through security I tell the x-ray folks that the weird looking things are clarinets. Once or twice they have commented, but they have never wanted to open them for inspection. Lately, I have been getting a lot of TSA letters in my checked bags stating that they have been opened for inspection. NEVER put anything valuable in there. If a tempting item won’t make it as a carry-on, I’ll ship it to the hotel for pickup (call ahead and get approval). That way valuables travel insured, with a tracking number, and are waiting when you check in. It’s a pain, but your stuff has a better chance of getting there, and back.
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Author: William
Date: 2009-02-05 20:09
If you are carrying an electronic tuner/metronome, I suggest packing it in your checked luggage with the battery removed and stored separately. I now pack my reed cases in my checked luggage after a security agent once removed my Harrison case from my clarinet case saying, "what's this thing", opened it and spilled all the reeds on the floor. I also usually check (in a separate clear plastic bag) my reed knife, RW, screw drivers, cork grease & etc--pratically everything except my actual clarinets and mouthpiecies. In all my travels in the USA & Europe, I've never had a problem carrying my clarinets on board as long as these precautions have been taken.
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Author: marshall
Date: 2009-02-05 21:09
I've never had any problems with a small screwdriver, and one flight where I had one in my bag was between Detroit and LaGuardia and back (and I'm sure you can assume how tight security is in both of those airports). Thenagain, I don't exactly look like a guy who could kill someone with a 4" piece of metal.
I usually just check everything but reeds and the instruments themselves. Music, screwdrivers, metronomes, tuners, reed knives, etc. They all go in my checked bag.
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2009-02-05 22:03
A few years ago my wife flew from Texas to the U.K. to visit our new-born grandson and his parents. Since she was going to be there for a couple of weeks she decided, on the advice of her teacher, to take her oboe along and continue her daily practice routine.
When she was in the process of clearing Heathrow security for the return trip to the U.S. a very polite, yet firm, British security agent opened her oboe case and asked her to put it together and play in order to prove that she indeed was a musician. Imagine the stern security guy's radiant smile when Deb played "God Save the Queen!"
Jolly Good wouldn't you say?,
Lynn McLarty
Austin, TX
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Author: Jkelly32562
Date: 2009-02-05 23:36
lynn,
Are you sure she didn't play "My County tis of Thee?"
Just kidding......
Jonathan Kelly
jkelly32562@troy.edu
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-02-06 03:40
Also, if you carry around a blayman stand, be prepared to have them go through your bag and look at you questioningly when they pull out a 25 pound solid metal base as though to say, "Um . . . and why do you need this heavy blunt object?!" After explaining I'm a musician and it's a stand to hold up the clarinet, I usually just get a smile and get sent to the boarding area, but it'll happen. Might wanna put that one in the checked baggage .. .
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Author: allencole
Date: 2009-02-06 08:55
I've only had two problems carrying instruments. In one case, TSA decided they had to open my ProTed case and dumped the instrument out from about 1' above the table surface. Luckily no damage, but you have to watch them.
Also, I had a tenor sax in a flight case taken from me at the door to the aircraft by Aer Lingus after repeated assurances that it was acceptable as a carry-on. The case was bound by a strap--which was badly needed. The horn came off the carousel at Shannon with two of three latches undone. (interestingly, I saw a trombone in a full-size case lashed to something in the rear of the cabin by the restrooms)
I would be surpised if a double clarinet case, or even a bass clarinet case (where the upper and lower joints separate) were a problem.
On the other hand, I toured Europe per-9/11 having no problems with an alto sax in a flight case and a clarinet in a Pro-Pac.
If you carry something the size of a tenor sax or larger, I suggest keeping some duct tape inside the case. That way you can secure it if it's taken from you once it's passed TSA inspection. (of course duct tape may qualify as some sort of hijacking aid.)
One of the best things we can do as a group is to get some arts-loving congressfolks to revisit what they were calling the "Tuba amendment" a few years ago.
Allen Cole
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-02-06 10:16
UK security have always asked me to open any bags myself... I always wondered why, but I can see now that it's a good idea, having read the above!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-02-06 11:29
Only when I was out in Malta last year did I realise I'd been carrying a load of needle springs in my wallet (had been for some time) and had passed through airport and dockyard security on several occasions with these going unnoticed.
I only discovered I'd been carrying them all that time when I realised I'd been in the hotel pool for about 30 mins. with my wallet still on me, so when emptying everything out to dry I came across the envelope with an assortment of needle springs I kept by for emergencies.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2009-02-06 12:12
I've travelled both directly and through US airports to Central America with my instrument without any problems at all. Security would see the clarinet on x-ray and know what it was. So far I haven't had to assemble it or even open the case, but that day is probably coming.
Taking extras out of the case and putting them in the checked baggage is a good idea to lighten the load, especially if you have to run from a delayed flight to the connecting flight late at night - fortunately also delayed! We felt like we were on "Amazing Race".
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Author: awm34
Date: 2009-02-06 12:51
I take my clarinet everywhere in its Gator case and inside my carry-on suitcase (and with an old-fashioned metal music stand). I've never had any security problems and many screeners have commented (favorably).
Alan Messer
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2009-02-06 13:21
One other suggestion: Make sure it's obvious which side of the clarinet case is up, in case security people open it, by marking each side. Living in fear that a security person might lift a case, open it upside down and spill the clarinet out on the floor (banging the edge of the table on the way down), I made circular labels on my computer and applied them with clear packing tape to each side of the sturdy old Bundy cases I'm most likely to use if I travel with a clarinet. (Using an old Bundy case is also a good personal security measure, because people who know and might steal clarinets might not take the risk if they assume the old Bundy case has a low-value old plastic Bundy in it -- but on the negative side, it's easy to confuse which side is up on those cases.) Each label has a picture of a clarinet with a fragment of music. On the bottom, the label has a red border and a slash through the clarinet, a form of the universal "Don't!" warning. On the upper side, the border is green, with the message, "Open This Side Up!"
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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The Clarinet Pages
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