Author: DrewSorensenMusic
Date: 2012-04-05 20:34
It took me a long time to feel comfortable on clarinet as well. In fact, there are still some passages that are quite difficult for me to perform. However, I feel that picking up the oboe has greatly increased my facility on the pinky keys. I don't know if the oboe or clarinet are harder in that particular area, but since they are different, my pinkys are getting lots of different exercises. I also picked up a few Baoding balls, and I do believe these have helped facility and dexterity as well.
The hardest thing for me on clarinet was tuning. I do believe my embrouchure was too loose. Actually it still may be. I studied the flute heavily in college, and as you know, it requires supple lips. The clarinet is quite the opposite, with a firm embrouchure. I countered the problem by purchasing multiple clarinet barrels, settling on a 64mm Clark Fobes ringless. I do not push in all the way, but when the jazz trumpets come a blaring, I can push in and they don't make me sound flat, even when I'm in tune. Truthfully, flutists also do this, probably so they can hear themselves, so the flexibility with the barrel is a necessity in theatre work, especially when you're sat next to high school/college student performers. Now I don't have to have such a firm embrouchure, and can switch back to flute or sax without sacrificing pitch or tone. I'm sure it's not a true clarinetist tone, but I bet 99.9% of people wouldn't know the difference.
Drew S.
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