 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-10-07 06:50
maxopf wrote:
> Is there any reason for this?
>
No.
But if it works...
Karl
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2014-10-08 01:27
I think you are watching two effects of one cause. The cause is the pause in the music. The effect is that the player takes a chance to breathe. Meanwhile, the player, with body language, also marks the beginning of a new phrase by lifting a finger.
A deeper question is why all clarinetists seem to suffer from Tourette's syndrom and have to move at least some part of their body when they hear their own music.
If you can stand still and play the viola, why is it impossible with the clarinet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciaSeohiZ28
:-)
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2014-10-08 06:50
Quote "If you can stand still and play the viola, why is it impossible with the clarinet?"
No doubt it's a habitual thing that is so ingrained that the Clarinetist probably doesn't even realise he's doing it. And with him gyrating about like that he looks ridiculous alongside the Viola player who looks so well poised and is just letting he's beautiful sounding instrument to the the 'singing' without him trying to add excessive theatrical body movements
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-10-08 07:56
Jerry Lee Lewis took piano playing to a whole new level. The notes he plays are fantastic, PLUS he added a lot to the audience experience with his theatrics, looking not nearly as silly as others who have imitated him since on piano or other instruments. It's all in the name of entertainment. I draw the line at smashing instruments (unless just stage props or of certain expendable brands / models, LOL). And it should work for any style of music, you just have to figure out what fits. I would love to see a whole orchestra going at it while all playing impeccably.
Anyway, I was never any good at theatrics on piano, and now even less so on clarinet. I look at my Youtube videos and say to myself, come on- show some enthusiasm. But it's probably a lost cause. And it's so easy to go too far and feel and look foolish. As I'm sure Lloyd Bentsen would tell me... "I knew Jerry Lee Lewis. Jerry Lee Lewis was a friend of mine. You're no Jerry Lee Lewis."
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: maxopf
Date: 2014-10-08 08:15
I play both violin and clarinet, and I definitely move a lot more when playing clarinet.
I think it's for two reasons:
1. Playing clarinet feels more physically involved than playing violin (or viola.) Clarinet playing requires effort from your fingers, mouth, tongue, throat, lungs, diaphragm, abdominals, etc., whereas violin is mostly arms and fingers. (Not to say that playing a string instrument isn't involved - it is - just a smaller part of you is involved.)
2. Excessive movement is actually detrimental to violin playing, because if you swing the violin all over the place, the bow probably won't land on the string how you want it to land, and the violin could shift from its resting position under your chin. It also just feels really awkward to move excessively while playing the violin - why, I can't exactly explain, it just doesn't feel natural.
When you do move on violin, it's usually for a specific purpose, like facilitating an accent.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-10-09 22:40
I've seen some violin soloist move all over the stage, up and down, back and fourth. On the other hand some just stand pretty still. Fingers and breathing, it means nothing, it's just what some players do. I've never noticed it myself in all my years as a pro and teacher.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: RLarm
Date: 2014-10-21 05:03
When I studied saxophone with a former student of Harvey Pittel he told me to lift my LH index and to pop it down just before making an entrance on a low C#, B or Bb and that it would make the note speak easier. He said that it was a flute technique that also worked for saxophone. During one of Don Sinta's studio classes that I attended during my studies with him he commented on this topic. He asked all of us to stop doing that because it caused an annoying pop and he wanted us to learn to play the low notes without using this distracting technique. However, I quickly noticed that everyone, including myself, continued to employ that technique when confronted with that low note entrance at a soft volume. I have never really thought about this since then until I saw the initial post on this topic. I went to YouTube and there it was with Martin Frost, using the same technique that I employed on saxophone. When I sat down and thought about it I realized I was doing the same thing on clarinet! I also realized that many of my clarinet teachers through the years employed this same technique. Monkey see, monkey do?????
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2014-10-22 03:22
RLarm, I think that's because hitting the key compresses the pad and therefore makes it seal better when you initiate the tone.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2014-10-22 03:24
To clarify, I have seen this phenomenon on my MAG machine when I test leakage. The pads seal better if you close them with some speed rather than doing it slowly.
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