[Dixielandjazz] Vibrato for clarinets

Bill Allen ballen at deltapathology.com
Thu Sep 20 12:45:12 PDT 2007


Can anyone give any example of vibrato being used on clarinet in an
orchestra? I know i can't think of any. Hence clarinet being taught sans
vibrato.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Larry Walton Entertainment - St. Louis" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
To: "Mr. Bill" <ballen at deltapathology.com>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 12:55 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Vibrato for clarinets


> I think that the clarinet becomes a whole different instrument when
vibrato is used and I personally think that it adds a whole new dimension
and level of artistic expression.  Eliminating vibrato, to me, is the same
as eliminating dynamics, speed variations or any of the myriad expressions
that a clarinet or any other wind instrument is capable.
>
> If you don't want to deal with vibrato, take up the piano or drums.
>
> There is one glitch and that is when young clarinet players go to contest.
BTW contests are a big deal in a lot of schools.  Vibrato is often graded
down if used.  Some judges love it and others will give a deduction for it.
No one seems to be neutral about it.
>
> I always informed my students of this and recommended that it not be used
unless the director asked for it and almost always in a solo rather than in
section.
>
> Vibrato is typically not taught in H.S because clarinets almost always
work in section.   That is assuming the typical H.S. band director has the
time and ability to teach it or just doesn't have his head up his A**.   I
taught it to clarinet players if they were also sax players and had some
musical taste.  It can be chaos in a section if you have a bunch of kids
trying it and they don't know what they are doing.
>
> Clarinet vibrato at least on the H.S. level is a very mixed bag.
> Larry
> St. Louis
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