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Post by bariclaribob on Oct 26, 2008 16:09:56 GMT -5
^When my bd told me to play with a flat chin recently, I spazzed. "Why didn't you teach us this in elementary school!?" (He was my first ever bd.) He claims he did... but I guess he didn't follow through, eh?
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Post by altoclarinets on Oct 28, 2008 20:08:23 GMT -5
Hm. Drum major audition procees starts tomorrow, my BD is a liar, ack.
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Post by clarinetrox2012 on Nov 30, 2008 18:14:55 GMT -5
Since sixth grade. =] Love it so much.
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Post by altoclarinets on Dec 6, 2008 20:47:14 GMT -5
Wow I've been away awhile haven't I?
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Post by altoclarinets on Dec 12, 2008 18:06:02 GMT -5
Ack this poor thread is on life support. *revives thread*
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Post by bariclaribob on Dec 12, 2008 19:25:20 GMT -5
I'll help! AC, you wouldn't like my bd. We rediscovered (for the second time) the two retired alto clarinets we have in our band area. We mentioned it to our bd, and he said that he WILL NOT have alto clarinets in any band he directs.
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Post by altoclarinets on Dec 14, 2008 11:39:39 GMT -5
There is a reason for that. They like to randomly explode and they're honestly a bit more trouble than they're worth. But I love playing it and I made region, so... hey, whatever. If they're in playable shape maybe you could use one for solo and ensemble (if that's your kind of thing). All of this has kind of got me thinking: how many clarinets do we have on this forum? Not to mention subcategories. I know we have at least one other altoist but I think I'm the only one who has ever personally played contra. There was a Bb contra player at region auditions... it was amazazing.
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clarinet361
Band Nerd
Music teacher looking for a job...
Posts: 220
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Post by clarinet361 on Dec 26, 2008 21:49:28 GMT -5
Interesting observation my clarinet professor made: My thumb rest is too low, which is likely causing extra strain on my wrist and thumb (in a nutshell, I have wrist/thumb problems to a point where I only played left hand clarinet for lessons this semester, was in a cast, and had 5 weeks of physical therapy--and yes, there are etudes written almost exclusively for LH; I've been wearing a neckstrap for 4 or so years and that didn't alleviate my pain). The thumb rest should be in a position to allow the thumb to rest under the first finger. Most thumb rests seem to be put in a position that causes the thumb to rest under the middle finger. If you are having pain in your right hand, I would recommend checking out the position of your thumb rest and having it moved. It would also be a good idea to check it out anyway and avoid problems.
I'm also looking for something to rest my clarinet on while playing, something that sits on the chair and holds the entire weight of the instrument. It also needs to allow me the freedom to move and allow me to position the instrument straight in front of me (I currently usually rest the bell on my knee, but that puts the cl. off-center and really isn't all that comfortable). If you know of anything, post.
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clarinet361
Band Nerd
Music teacher looking for a job...
Posts: 220
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Post by clarinet361 on Dec 26, 2008 22:13:23 GMT -5
What have you all heard about playing with a flat chin? My band director has got me drilling it, and I noticed that it does give me a fuller, rounder, warmer sound. I just can't seem to "get" it every time, and when I do, I can't play above a high D (above staff). How to describe it... whistle. Feel the way your chin feels "flat" to the touch? Try playing like that. I have to pull my chin funny by jutting it out, but that just screws up my top lip... once I finally get to put my clarinet in my mouth, I've usually lost it. Maybe I'm crazy... then this is just a little personal quirk. Playing with a flat chin is part of a good embouchure, for as you've discovered, you get a better sound. Adjustment in the tuning of a pitch comes from the tongue. The tip of the tongue is for tonguing, the middle of the tongue for color/timbre/focusing the pitch, and the back of the tongue for register placement and air speed. You'll want to practice forming a correct embouchure daily (with instrument), i.e. spending the first 5 minutes just forming an embouchure and then paying attention to it as you do your warm-ups and literature. Think about saying 'oh' and rolling/curling your lower lip over your bottom teeth as you put the instrument on your lower lip. In terms of what to do with the chin, think more of dropping the chin down instead of pushing the chin out (although there is a little outward movement); I think if your lower lip is rolled in properly, the chin naturally flattens itself. Then rest your upper teeth on the mouthpiece, bring your upper lip down and bring the corners of your mouth in. You shouldn't see a lot of the red of the lips when you have the clarinet in your mouth; puckering the lips doesn't provide a good tone or much control. If your embouchure is set correctly and you still have problems in the upper register, make sure the back of the tongue is high enough. You may just unknowingly be letting your tongue drop.
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Post by altoclarinets on Dec 27, 2008 16:39:00 GMT -5
If you are having pain in your right hand, I would recommend checking out the position of your thumb rest and having it moved. It would also be a good idea to check it out anyway and avoid problems. ... one step ahead of ya. I actually had to turn the thumb rest on my marching horn over because it's not adjustable. Am I the only one who can't march an E11 because the left side C hits the lyre band? Edit: Woohoo, I is a director now!
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Post by ~*Not~a~Stalker~* on Jan 12, 2009 16:59:35 GMT -5
Someone please for the love of God tell me why middle B, C, and D are so hard on alto clarinet!
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hansel2011
Band Nerd
Music expresses the words which can not be spoken...
Posts: 211
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Post by hansel2011 on Jan 21, 2009 20:29:44 GMT -5
I started playing clarinet in 6th grade and have never stopped. This is my first post ever and I am liking this clarinet room!! Nice job.
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hansel2011
Band Nerd
Music expresses the words which can not be spoken...
Posts: 211
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Post by hansel2011 on Jan 21, 2009 20:31:32 GMT -5
Well, my drum major auditions start in March. I really want to be drum major. I always have and always will, but I love marching my clarinet!
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Post by altoclarinets on Jan 23, 2009 18:24:12 GMT -5
Someone please for the love of God tell me why middle B, C, and D are so hard on alto clarinet! You need to get the corks on the right side carrier bar looked at. There are two little trip levers there that hold down the little key between thumb one E and thumb 1-2 D when you are playing those notes, and if they are messed up/ nonexistent, the key will not seal completely. And it will sound like crap, or not come out at all. I'm telling you, exploding is an alto clarinet's hobby. Mine dropped 2 pads on me - 2!!!!- last weekend.
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Post by Lprdgecko on Feb 9, 2009 23:12:36 GMT -5
So we're playing a song in Wind Ensemble right now that has a lot of B-flats in the staff, and I discovered that it's hard for me to play Bb and A in the staff loud without squeaking. The notes, especially Bb, sound really "airy". I know it's a "characteristic" of the clarinet (at least I think so), but does anyone have any suggestions to play these notes loud with a good tone?
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