 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: GuitarGirl
Date: 2009-07-01 11:44
Hi all,
I'll first tell you about my musical background. I've played piano since I was 10 (I'm 17 now), I've played guitar since I was 14, and I played clarinet in the sixth grade only. Looking back, I'm not sure why I quit, but it's too late to worry about how good I could have been. I've decided I want to learn the clarinet, and it's better now than later (or the dreaded never). Obviously I can read music already, and I'm pretty sure I remember correct embouchure.
Anyways, I purchased a used Buffet B12 that was re-corked and re-padded. It should arrive within a week.
Do you have any tips for me? I still have my 6th grade band book, so I was planning on re-teaching myself the basics then getting a teacher. Would it be bad to play some of my easier guitar songs on the clarinet? I'm talking about the ones that don't have chords. Is there a good tutorial site for the clarinet? I know there are LOTS for guitar.
Thanks everyone!
Edit: I'm not sure it came with a case, so I need to buy one. I have a Guitar Center coupon for $20, so this case would be $30: http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gator-GC-Clarinet-Deluxe-ABS-Clarinet-Case-545828-i1152359.gc . Is it a good case?
Post Edited (2009-07-01 11:57)
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Author: Jude
Date: 2009-07-01 12:22
Hi Guitar Girl,
I too, had your experience, and made the same decisions you are planning, i.e. to relearn on my own following a gap after playing for a year when I was about 13. At that time I couldn't remember why I had stopped playing, and thought I could pick it up as I was a pretty good reader on another instrument.
Well I was wrong: In the space of a month spent on my own I first thought I'd made great progress and was playing some enjoyable stuff, but because my playing was very inconsistent (especially higher up the instrument!) I knew I needed help and found a local teacher with a very good reputation. The END result was I had a great learning experience over several years with him and have stayed with the clarinet and carried on learning (with help from some really good people) but during those first few months with my new teacher I had to undo much that I'd 'taught' myself in that first month due to my lack of knowledge on the clarinet.
Oh, and the learning process with my new teacher also helped me recall why I'd dropped the instrument in the first place - it highlighted shortcomings in my learning with first teacher, way back when I was 13... but I just hadn't remembered.
The biggest single thing I think that would help you would be to get yourself a good teacher now/as soon as possible if you are serious in laying down good foundations for the future. You can build in a lot of problems in only a month!
However, more than just the technical aspects of playing the instrument, a good teacher will help with any issues you have with the instrument itself. I've leared lots from mine about making small adjustments I would never have had the nerve to do on my own - obvious things like reed adjustments, but stuff like bending keys or sanding cork joints are risky/expensive if you don't know what you're doing.
Good luck
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Author: GuitarGirl
Date: 2009-07-01 12:35
Thanks a lot for the reply. I guess that's what I knew in the back of my mind; that a teacher would be highly beneficial. I know for piano she has helped me tremendously. My parents have offered to pay for my lessons, provided I pay for the clarinet and accessories itself, so I'm going to take the offer.
How long have you been playing now?
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Author: D
Date: 2009-07-01 20:09
Totally agree....a good teacher is probably quite literally worth their weight in gold.
I'd also like to add as soon as you possibly can play with other people in whatever capacity you can. You've probably realised already how much this helps. I think with a single line instrument, unlike guitar and piano where you accompany your self, if it important to learn to blend in and stand out as necessary, and it also helps with your tuning and tone concept, not to mention the jolly old sightreading.
Something else you might find as your school work goes nuts over the next few years is that you don't want or need lessons every week although initially it might be necessary. I've had two teachers (for other instruments) who are professional performers with a side line in teaching. Because of this they were happy to have a pupil who would come for a lesson when mutually convenient every few weeks or even every few months. This meant they weren't 'holding a slot' for me every week and I wasn't paying for something I didn't want or need. As a more grown up learner and having some grounding in music you'll probably find, like I did, that the amount you can take in and also develop yourself is far greater than when you get sent home with two lines of melody to learn and one new note per week as a child beginner. The amount of things you need to work on take a lot longer than a week and I often go back after a month still working hard on things from the previous lesson.
Any way, have a brilliant time with it. And don't forget to give your parents a massive hug for paying for lessons. Parents with a clue.....rare beasts indeed!
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