Author: Dzialo
Date: 2009-04-22 06:10
I just wanted to ask a few things that I can do to improve how I play, my sound and such. I am interested in upgrading some parts of my Clarinet, since I am unable to buy a completely new Clarinet at this time. I have played at state and national level competitions with this thing, so I feel I am above the average user.
I use a B12 Buffet Crampon, Bb Clarinet.
I use Vandoren V12 3 Reeds.
I use the Plastic Buffet Mouthpiece that came with the Clarinet
QUESTION 1:
What mouthpiece would you recommend? I was looking at the B45 or the M15 88 profile. I tend to play 'light and brisk music,' so I play on the upper octave and like my notes to be pure and firm. I also enjoy playing 'dark and moving,' music, so I can go to my lowest notes from time to time.
QUESTION 2:
Over time, it seems that my Clarinet doesn't respond to me like it used to? If I jump from note to note, there is some kind of lag or delay in response. I need to press harder on my keys as time went on to make sure my pads covered all my holes.
I just don't have that control anymore. It's like my Clarinet has become harder to play. It takes more effort to get those notes out.
QUESTION 3:
Why do I still squeak from time to time? I have never before until this year, when I felt my Clarinet has been slipping away from me. I don't know what's happening. I used to love my Clarinet. I could play with freedom with it, and I could feel and hear it, and so could others, but now that just isn't there.
QUESTION 4:
I believe some of my dismay may have been from the rainy days of Marching band. I was forced to use my Clarinet in the rain, and it ruined my pads, I complained and felt that I should not be forced to play in the rain because of possible damage from the weather. My teacher did fix a few of my pads, but not all of them; if I am correct, he/had someone replace at most 4 pads.
QUESTION 5:
I tend to play more advanced work. Is what I play more advanced them my Student B12 Clarinet, could this be why I feel my Clarinet has hindered me because I have progressed and began to play more advanced music?
QUESTION 6:
What can I do about playing on harder reeds? I like playing on them, but they become rather hard to play on, because this has to do with my plastic starter mouthpiece. I get a much more firm and steady tone, it's much more becoming, I want to have that bold full sound, but I also want to still be nimble.
QUESTION 7:
How can I prevent my reeds from getting so wet from my saliva? I try to play with dry air. As my reed gets wet, it gets kind of flimsy, and I have to take it off and dry it. I didn't think that I generated so much saliva.
QUESTION 8:
Why is it so hard for me to articulate a 16th notes, as if were to toung each one, they just don't all come out of I play at the needed speed, it's kind I just ran over them, just in my mouth I can feel my toung where each note should be, but it just isn't there. Sometimes I kind of run over myself when I have to articulate them all.
If I need to hope around in a slur, sometimes notes just come out. (High to low)
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I think I just need to take my Clarinet to be looked at. As I have dropped it a few times, and I have bent some keys, such as my side trill keys. I can't use the 2nd from the bottom because if I press it, it stops the 1st bottom one from working and leaves it open and I can't place because it isn't closed. So I have to make sure that I don't use it when playing F#'s, etc.
Please excuse my ignorance, the Clarinet just came natural to me, so when I played something, it sounded fine and I didn't have to bother tweaking with other things such a mouthpieces, etc. However, I want to become more 'aware' of my Clarinet, and make sure that I polish up how I play and what I play with.
Thank you for your responses. I miss my Clarinet, and I cry whenever I think a about how I am not able to play it like I used to.
Regards,
Christopher Dzialo
Post Edited (2009-04-22 06:18)
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