 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jacoblikesmusic
Date: 2009-11-02 02:04
My marching band director continuosly says I need to play louder for marching season. I'm playing as loud as I can without overblowing. I'm using a Yamaha Custom CSV, Vandoren M13 Profile 88 Mouthpiece, 3.5-4.0 Traditional Vandoren Reeds or Rico Reserve Reeds, and a Vandoren Optimum Ligature with the wave thing plate.
Is there something I should change in order to play louder? Or is there some technique to do it?
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-11-02 04:46
Definitely! You should not be using a good, wood clarinet out on the field. That's just insane and asking for trouble. Get a cheap plastic instrument for marching band. Marching band isn't that much about music and using a professional grade instrument outside is just asking to ruin it.
Are you the only clarinet in the band? If not, why does your instructor care about YOUR volume, instead of that of the entire section? One clarinet doesn't make an entire section.
Jeff
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2009-11-02 11:43
There are some wicked loud mouthpieces out there. The loudest thing I own is from the Bari corporation. Not at all to my taste but undeniably loud. I believe you can do things to the baffle; I'm told that jazz players sometimes put a bit of chewing gum inside the mouthpiece to increase volume. Or you can get these little self-adhesive 'power-pills'.
I once 'refaced' an old mouthpiece in an idle moment. I opened up the tip a bit, which left me with a massive tip rail; so I filed that back with a needle file, leaving the baffle convex inside, just behind the tip. It was almost unplayable but boy was it loud.
The other trick is to switch to Eb :-) Those little devils are just made for marching bands.
Post Edited (2009-11-02 11:51)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-11-02 13:15
Here's another thought. Use a plastic clarinet, and add a Power Barrel form the Doctor's Products website.
Jeff
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-11-02 13:33
When I was in the West Point Band, I went as a spectator to a few outdoor and "bandbox" (courtyard) parades, just to hear how the band sounded. I was never able to hear even a hint of the clarinets, which were drowned out by the brass and drums.
If your band director wants you to play louder, get a more open mouthpiece. If you want to stay with Vandoren, try the B45 Lyre, B45 Dot or the 5JB.
If that's not enough, switch to trombone. ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-11-02 14:56
Sounds like the band director just wants volume not quality. That's always a problem with a marching band. Just over blow and don't worry about the quality. If you still can't play loud enough then I agree with Ken, find a louder mouthpiece, more opened facings that you can "blast". The other thing to do is quit the marching band if you can. Marching band and tone quality just don't go together except like water and oil. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-11-02 15:08
Here I must dissent from the crowd. IF (there is a big if here) the temperature is not below 60 degrees F. and it's not raining, I have no problem with good horns outdoors (that said it is better to use a Greenline outside if you have access to one).
NOW, as for playing loud, I have heard many bands where you CAN hear the clarinets outside and I WOULD NEVER suggest you change mouthpieces to do it. In fact yours can be quite loud enough.
Questions: What makes you think you are overblowing? What is overblowing to you?
In my experience, the top physical limit is the point where the reed just stops vibrating.........that point is VERY loud indeed!!!
As for technique - there is technique. Use a very concentrated stream of air (achieved thinking the vowel sound "EEEEEE") and ensure that you are really using all your available abdominal muscles correctly. One technique a teacher used to "wake up" a student was to have him blow a low E as hard as he could. Then he stuffed a sock up the bell and had him do it again, saying "blow harder, harder, MORE, MORE !!!" (of course, with no sound coming out). Then the teacher removed the sock and had the student try again.............EUREKA moment for student.
.................Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2009-11-02 15:13)
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Author: William
Date: 2009-11-02 15:18
Suggest to your director that the rest of the band could play with more control so as to let all of the sections be heard. I know, from adjudicating many competative summer marching events (drum corps and bands), that musically disaplined marching bands can play with quality and balance. It just takes a musical director who knows the difference between "loud" and "good". Less is more.............
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2009-11-02 16:17
In all seriousness, though, you need to be using a reed that is stiff enough (especially in the heart - the reed's center core) not to close up but flexible enough (along the sides) to vibrate easily. Too hard a reed can cause the sound to lose definition - the intensity that you need to give the sound any "bite." Too soft a reed can close under hard blowing and/or lose focus and start going *very* flat in the upper clarion register (above G one note above the staff). It may be that you can get more projection (which may be what the director really wants, even though he doesn't use the word) with different reed choices without another change in equipment. In fact, if a different reed helps outdoors, it could (no promises - I don't know without hearing you what the band director really wants) even improve your overall sound indoors as well.
Good luck. The good thing is football season is almost over. :-)
Karl
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Author: clarinetdude108
Date: 2009-11-02 20:37
Here's an idea for you....
Take it up an octave!! o.0
In all seriousness, just work on projecting your sound. Projection and volume are two different things, so what sounds louder to you may not carry as far.
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Author: OmarHo
Date: 2009-11-02 20:51
I second what others have said about the mouthpiece. M13's may have a lot of focus, but lack projection.
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Author: OldClarinetGuy
Date: 2009-11-02 21:23
For safety, I would be using a different clarinet. Not because your CSV will crack due to climate , but marching band is a hectic activity and strange accidents happen.
You mean he is asking that one clarinet, you, play louder or the section to play louder ?
You may want to try a Van Doren B45 Lyre. I think it is an odd request from the director
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Author: jacoblikesmusic
Date: 2009-11-03 00:09
Hey thanks for all the input!
I think I'll go get a plastic instrument so my wood one won't crack.
I think I have a Vandoren B45 somewhere in my garage... so I'll try to dig that up.
Any suggestions for a more free blowing mouthpiece for concert band? My M13 is good and all but it just feels a bit constricted. I feel like I'm fighting against my mouthpiece, instead of letting it flow with me. Like omarho said, M13's may have a lot of focus, but lack projection.
I've heard of makers such as Fobes, Grabner, Hawkins, and Behn. Are their mouthpieces a step up from an M13?
Can you introduce me to some models that you find are great mouthpieces?
Thanks in advance!
Post Edited (2009-11-03 00:12)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-11-03 00:12
A mouthpiece is only great when it serves as a connection between you and your clarinet. As such, it's difficult to recommend one. Contact the makers and explain your situation and what you want from a mouthpiece. YThey are better to make recommendations than we might be.
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2009-11-03 00:13)
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Author: jacoblikesmusic
Date: 2009-11-03 00:34
Could you tell me what things I'm supposed to mention when explaining the type of mouthpiece I need?
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-11-03 21:19
IMO attempting to play a clarinet louder in marching band is a waste of time and also is counterproductive to acquiring good technique.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Sambo 933
Date: 2009-11-03 22:42
My school marching band goes to WAY to many schools who's band's just play loud ALL the time and with a very bad sound.
I find that most clarinet players in high school marching bands that are not projecting or getting enough volume are not using enough air or are not supporting the air. I mean you can't just blow hard you have to support it. Not saying that that is your problem, it seems very common to me.
A few simple things I do in marching band to get more volume are using a B45 mouthpiece, which is more open than my M15. I also use slightly worn out reeds because they are a bit softer and easier to play loud on for me.
I also use a plastic clarinet for marching band, some people think the sound bad, but for marching band I have found the opposite of this to be true. The have a shriller and brighter sound that, I think, can be heard better on the field. I would never use my pro horn for marching band. I use to use a bundy, but I sold it so now I am using an Artley that is owned by the school, not a bad clarinet at.
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