[Dixielandjazz] Clarinet Newbie

Wed Jul 11 07:09:42 PDT 2007

Very interesting post, Larry, and valid comments IMO; but . . . . . Are you
proposing a form of Zen reed playing in saying 
::snip::
 The clarinet will play a pretty good sound even for a beginner and other
than some intonation problems that are inherent in the thought tones (G,A,
Bb) is pretty good until you get above the staff. ::end snip::
Or . . . . 
::snip::
That monster vibrato that Bechet had also would have the effect of releasing
the pressure if he was using a chin vibrato but I think he may have been
using a thought vibrato which is ordinarily a very bad practice.::end snip::

If only thinking could make it so :-)

Regards,

Tom Duncan
Doctor Dubious and the Agnostics
PO Box 2118      Teaneck, NJ 07666
P   (201)836-6076     FAX   (201)833-4143
www.doctordubious.com

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of Larry Walton
Entertainment - St. Louis
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 12:00 AM
To: Tom Duncan
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Clarinet Newbie

Please, above all get a teacher.  The clarinet is full of pitfalls for the
beginner that is trying to teach himself.  I know because I did it.  Russ
alludes to the cross fingerings and there are alternate fingerings that
sometimes beginners try to use that just aren't good such as using the
sliver keys.  It's easier to learn it right in the first place.

For heavens sake do not take up the Soprano sax as someone suggested until
you have about 20 years in on the saxes and then probably not.  Even Sidney
Bechet quit the first time he attempted soprano because he couldn't play it 
in tune.    That vibrato he had would mask the intonation problems of the 
instrument and that may be the reason he had such a wide vibrato.

The soprano sounds like a duck in the low register and something entirely
different in the high and unless you are an accomplished player it will stay
that way.  Unless you have good chops and a very good ear do not attempt the
Soprano.

One time I opened a sax book and the very first sentence in the forward was
"The saxophone is the easiest instrument to play badly."  That is the truest
thing I ever read and it has stuck with me.

I find that you need much stronger chops to play Soprano than Clarinet.  The
clarinet will play a pretty good sound even for a beginner and other than
some intonation problems that are inherent in the thought tones (G,A, Bb) is
pretty good until you get above the staff.  There the clarinet is like a
trombone.  I can slip to any note between A and C above the staff, fingering
C, using lip only so intonation can be a real problem for some people up
there.  Some of my high school students never learn to play up there.  They
are often a whole tone flat because their chops aren't strong enough to play
in tune.  Then they try to compensate by biting which ruins their tone and
makes the lip sore.  Fortunately there is the third clarinet chair.

The Soprano has a whole different angle of attack and because of the angle
requires more muscle power than clarinet.  The lower lip on clarinet is
supported by the teeth but the soprano because of the more straight in angle
gets the sharp edge of the teeth.  So to have a good tone and keep the lip
from getting sore you have to have chops that are strong and can support the
reed / mouthpiece without biting.  By the way that's true on clarinet too. 
That monster vibrato that Bechet had also would have the effect of releasing
the pressure if he was using a chin vibrato but I think he may have been
using a thought vibrato which is ordinarily a very bad practice.

Let me repeat, get a teacher and for heavens sake stay away from the
soprano.  It just isn't a beginner instrument.  It's true the Clarinet is
more complex but don't be mislead by the easier fingerings of the sax.
Larry
St. Louis
----- Original Message -----
From: "Russ Guarino" <russg at redshift.com>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Clarinet Newbie

> The clarinet is more complex with respect to fingering than the flute 
> and I would recommend a teacher rather than a book to learn how to 
> play the horn. For maximum efficiency, certain fingering patterns are 
> used under one set of circumstances while different fingerings are 
> used under other circumstances.
>
> Russ Guarino
>
> Russ Guarino
>
> Bob Loomis wrote:
>
>>    Just rented a Bb clarinet from a local music store to try out as 
>> I'm hankering to play some trad/Dixieland but flute just doesn't 
>> quite cut it for that genre. Picked up a 2-CD set of Benny Goodman 
>> trios and quartets yesterday, too. Have some Bechet CDs.
>>    So far it seems possible I might in time learn to actually play 
>> clarinet fairly well. I have a beginner's book with CDs and already 
>> have learned a few notes in lower register (A, G, F, E, D, C,
>> Bb) but thought maybe someone on this very knowledgeable list knows 
>> of worthwhile Web/self-educational resources ... Thanks in advance!
>>
>> Bob Loomis
>> Concord CA
>>
>>
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