The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Previous Message | Next Message

Re: adult beginner tangents

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)

Reply To Message | Avail. Forums | Flat View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

Topics