 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SebastianB
Date: 2022-09-10 04:10
I'm an adult beginner. I did some time on saxophone previously (soprano). I just picked up a Vito Reso-tone 3 and will soon have a first lesson. I have two burning questions:
Embouchure--is there something I can read that exhaustively surveys current theories of embouchure formation? I'd like to not miss out on ideas I might find more amenable until it's too late to change. Is there a Joe Allard influence running through any current schools of thought on this?
The magic universal clarinet--regarding tone I'm like a dog with squirrels. Almost anything turns my head. Isn't it possible to take a nice responsive colorful clarinet and use reed and mouthpiece choices, and maybe barrels and even bells to sculpt something more focused for some situations, and something less focused for others, something warmer here, something brighter there?
I have been reading a ton on this forum so I have a developing picture of skepticism about the affect of some accessories, how much tone is built in to clarinets vs. what the player creates. Which is just to say: feel free to tell me basic things, but if your time is limited, feel free to jump to advanced concepts.
Thank you for reading!
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2022-09-10 05:17
SebastianB wrote:
> I'm an adult beginner. I did some time on saxophone previously
> (soprano). I just picked up a Vito Reso-tone 3 and will soon
> have a first lesson. I have two burning questions:
>
> Embouchure--is there something I can read that exhaustively
> surveys current theories of embouchure formation? I'd like to
> not miss out on ideas I might find more amenable until it's too
> late to change. Is there a Joe Allard influence running
> through any current schools of thought on this?
I'd suggest you buy this download https://vdoc.pub/download/the-art-of-clarinet-playing-6jeifa4l8hi0 where Chapter 4 covers this topic.
> The magic universal clarinet--regarding tone I'm like a dog
> with squirrels. Almost anything turns my head. Isn't it
> possible to take a nice responsive colorful clarinet and use
> reed and mouthpiece choices, and maybe barrels and even bells
> to sculpt something more focused for some situations, and
> something less focused for others, something warmer here,
> something brighter there?
Ok....let me try to take a stab at this one. I'll offer myself as an example. I play a Vandoren M15 mouthpiece.
If I switch to a Vandoren M30D my sound will be more "covered." In other words high notes will tend to sound.....smoother (I'm fishing for words here because everyone's definition differs).
Let me try another way. Here are two extremes. The M15 might make me sound SLIGHTLY more like the sound Doreen Ketchens puts out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcP2sAX90jI and the M30D SLIGHTLY more like Jon Manasse https://youtu.be/S9nTKA3meRc?t=191, not that I am any where close to either musician's abilities.
I just offered each for extremes.
As to which sounds better; depends upon who you ask. This classically trained player aspires more to sound like Mr. Manasse but this is not a right or wrong thing.
But that said, the magic sauce to sound, a decent playable instrument notwithstanding, is in YOU. How you grip that mouthpiece, tongue position, breath, bite, unique genetic attributes, etc.
>
> I have been reading a ton on this forum so I have a developing
> picture of skepticism about the affect of some accessories, how
> much tone is built in to clarinets vs. what the player creates.
> Which is just to say: feel free to tell me basic things, but
> if your time is limited, feel free to jump to advanced
> concepts.
>
> Thank you for reading!
>
Assuming playable equipment, and while mouthpieces and fine instruments can make a difference, it's not as if anything but practice makes you "a better sight reader."
This is even more so for the beginner. The shortest path to proficiency, sadly, is not short, but the most direct route is a good teacher, good etude books, a metronome, a working setup and dedication.
Post Edited (2022-09-10 05:21)
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Author: SebastianB
Date: 2022-09-12 09:57
Thanks SecondTry, I'm having a read of the book.
Tony, thank you for the very clarifying material at the link. I had somehow missed the interesting thread on Allard mentioned there. It is nice to find someone thinking in terms of essentials and holding out for conceptual clarity.
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Author: SebastianB
Date: 2022-10-17 06:34
In case someone else passes through here with the same curiosity about whether there's a clarinet with a lot of tonal options available, apparently the Buffet Tradition strikes some people that way:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=439139&t=436026
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Author: m1964
Date: 2022-10-17 07:33
Maybe, it would be good to just start with the teacher and try to 'absorb' his method first, without getting too deep into the theory.
Knowing the theory is good but having a good teacher is essential (IMO).
Coming from playing sax, there may be a lot to re-learn which (for me) was/is more difficult then starting from the scratch.
You also need to accept that there will be no quick progress. As we get older, the muscles become less pliable and are more difficult to condition/strengthen, endurance is more difficult to develop, etc.
At least, that is my own experience.
At last, regarding the clarinet: it is much more important to have the instrument properly regulated/adjusted, with pads that seal well, tight tenon corks, etc. than having an expensive instrument that does not seal and is difficult to play.
At least, plastic clarinets usually have good tone hole surfaces and are easy to re-pad.
Once you have a good start, you can upgrade your instrument.
Anyway, I wish you good luck and a lot of patience.
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Author: SebastianB
Date: 2022-10-17 08:41
m1964 - Thank you! I fear patience will be needed also by other forum members as I try to use theory to keep my motivation up and the pitfalls minimized.
Anyway I have now a Uebel Advantage, which humbled me on the first day by sounding, in my hands, exactly the same as the 7213.
I have a teacher. He, too, may need patience. :-)
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