Welcome to Gaia! ::

^^ i think you should wait till your out of college, when your tone is fully developed and everything, its like getting a moenig barrel when you've only played for a year and hearing no difference at all,

yes, such items can make people sound great, but, only if they have the right air, embouchure and such.

Sharon Kam doesn't even have a custom made clarinet and yet she is one of the best clarinetist in the world! [i think!? well she's slowly becoming one] Does it look like my teacher is one of ze top clarinetist with his custom made clarinet gonk no, sadly.

I don't think that most of the time what clarinet we have affects us the most, its our embouchure, it doesn't matter if you have the best clarinet in the world, if your embouchure is messed up or your air or your tonguing is just icky, it wouldn't matter. Its like some horrible clarinetist [like me ^^] playing with the best orchestra in the world [like say...the boston symphony] it wouldn't matter how good they sound, if I can't do anything to make myself musical and in time too, the audience won't like it, as opposed to if one was a musical clarinetist who had mastered time and music in the second movement had been playing with the WORST orchestra in the world--it'd sound beautiful.

was my explanation clear? sweatdrop

Er... bore oil. Just ask someone to show you how first, though.

Hey there, I'm new and I've been playing my clarinet for 1 month now. Pathetic, right?

Well I was wondering if you have any hints really that you could share that you thought was helpful when you were a beginner.

It's not pathetic that you have only been playing for one month! You're very lucky to have "wiser" and more experienced people to help you out. I wish I would have had more experienced clarinetists to help me out when I started.

As for hints and advice:
1. DON'T GIVE UP! Even if everyone else says that you suck. Even if (and probably when) you get unbelievably frustrated with your lessons and/or your ability.
I almost gave up on three of the things that I loved--band, DDR, and martial arts. I got frustrated in each one of them because I practiced my butt off and never got any better. But I stuck with it and did get better, I was just so intent on looking at the negative end of the spectrum.

2. Don't Buy Flavored Reeds. My elementary music teacher said that they're worse to play on, and if they taste nasty, you're going to have to live with it or throw it out and waste money. And the flavor will wear out eventually anyway.

Like Miyoko said, it's hard to give advice when we don't know what you know.

P.S. Sorry I haven't been on lately. I've been really busy with Band Camp, DDR, and Final Fantasy: Chrystal Chronicals. (I rented it, so I've been playing the heck out of it so I get my money's worth)

Today I went to the other music store in my city in the hope that they carried Vandorens. They did. *jumps for joy* So I got them. They were kinda expensive though. They were $2.39 apiece. But I left my clarinet in the storage room at school so I can't try them out. sad

heart hello i'm a freshman for the mighty panther band i'm having so much fun but i need to fix up my clarinet. i've played clarinet for about 2 years and 3 months. I've made freinds with most of the people in my section so i've decided to move on and make freinds with others who enjoy playing. i plan on staying in marching band for the whole of high school. i made some freinds with some 7th graders last year and i can't wait to see them when i'm a sophmore. i want to see their view this year on band. since my closest clarinet buddy from last year moved and is now going to our rival school. heart

www.wwbw.com has awesome prices for reeds! 3nodding
As for me, I usually have to travel for an hour to a decent music store, because the one near me is a cockroach box. xp