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 Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:41 pm
I don't mean to make a huge scene out of this, nor am I trying to make it into something that the Life Issues forum would discuss, but I want to give up clarinet sad .
Let's put it this way. I'm in band, I'm starting my second year of clarinet. In my section there are 5 clarinets (we have a small band of only about 20). I am the most experience as this is only the junior band. I know it's really stupid, but I always want to be the best at what I do. Anything less just isn't an option and it doesn't make me feel important. Well there's this one girl who hates my guts. Her brother has been playing clarinet for about 8 years and she's gotten tips from him. She knows I'm trying to be the best and now she's the best and it's destroying me. Normally I would keep my eye on her and practice a little harder, but she's bringing me down. I shouldn't care what she thinks, but she's pointing out ALL of my flaws in my music. It may seem like she's only trying to help but trust me, she only does this when our teacher is watching so that she thinks that she's trying to help me D:
Well here's my problem anyways. I CAN'T do it. I'm serious. No matter HOW hard I try, I squeak SO much! And you know the lower notes, like B flat, A, G (where you cover all the holes). And lower, I can't get those for anything. I can try all I want, they all sound the same - breathy! And you can't tell them apart. I've licked my reed like a THOUSAND times, and I'm not positive my reed is in the right position (which I was hoping someone could show?), but I can't do it. It's really bothering me because the rest of my notes sound great and I'm happy.
The thing is, we're currently practicing for our Christmas concert, and me and my friend (who's flute) are doing a duet of jingle bells together. I can't play it because my notes are crisp and I can't move my fingers that fast. Can someone share a story or something? I don't wanna give up, but part of me is thinking I have to sad .
If you help, thanks, I'll try to check back if I remember!
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 8:50 pm
if it makes you feel better, i've been playing clarinet for 8 years then switched because i hated EVERYONE in the section. I didn't start getting really good until i played for like 3 years. that's when I started practicing like crazy. It could be the reed. you have to get it nice and wet. Then you place it on the mouthpiece so you can see a SLIGHTbrown strip over the mouthpiece. the only way that they will stop being so breathy is if you work on it. Find alternative fingerings. They help. It takes a lot of work. Don't Give Up. I Know You Can Do It!!!Let me know how it works out.
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:09 pm
she has the right idea about the reed. getting better is all about scales. practice your scales, youll be on top soon. slowly after practicing all of your scales you will probably notice that, you will have a better idea of the lipping and will be better aware of what you must do, and will be able to execute it better than before. dont worry about starting practicing the scales fast. slowly speed up as you master the motions and lippings. you will become faster along with being better in general. after all any great musician must be able to play any concievable note to be truly great. master the basics before you get to the hard stuff. Music is by no means a "perfect" art form. you have to realize that you cant always the best unless you are willing to stay in it till the end. if you quit now, this girl that hates you will only annoy you more. remember half of the equation is the psyche, the other half the skill. keep practicing, dont give up. sorry about the rant.pm me if you want to respond or want more advice or something.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:40 pm
I'm also in my second year of the calrinet. I just learned some higher notes a few months ago (where you cover all the holes) and they are hard, but you will get used to it. I sometimes write in how many fingers to put down on some of the really high notes I don't have memorized yet. You'll pick it up soon, once you get used to it, its not as hard as it seems. Clarinets squeak, its jsut something that happens. If it squeeks A LOT try to figure out what you are doing wrong, take it to a music shop, ask your band teacher, try a different size reed, once you figure out the problem it shouldn't be so hard. If this girl is annying you, you can always tell her how you feel. Its usually hard to go up to someone and tell them your feelings, but it will help in the end. good luck with it.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:29 pm
Ah! Don't give up! I personally am in my second year of band with the clarinet, and we have a rather large band. Sadly though, A lot of people in band dislike me. I've played on the off-beat so many times now that the teacher had begun to ignore me!
And yet, I forced myself into jazz band and marching band. I know I really suck, so I practice at least an hour every night. I know band is worth it, and you should not give up! Just keep practicing, and if that doesn't work, you could try pointing out her mistakes. She'll get frustrated regardless if there is a teacher there, and she'll make more mistakes. So go for it! Stay in band!
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:49 pm
I know everyone says to give up and i am not saying to give up but i am saying that you should just ignore her, and do your best. believe in yourself and one day you will become better
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:33 pm
The lower notes on clarinet generally do sound 'breathy', even with players with more experience, so don't worry about that. It'll fix in time.
As for the squeaking... make sure the reed is in the right place. The tip should be in line with the tip of the mouthpiece, and it should be lined up really well. If that doesn't help, you should probably try a larger size, or a different brand. Out of interest, what size/brand reed do you use?
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:40 am
Hmm... are you sure there isn't a leak in your clarinet somewhere? That could affect the tone of the notes. As for the reed... yeah, I'm a flute, so I can't help you there. sweatdrop But don't give up! If you really love music, it's worth it!
Maybe, if you just can't stand the people in your section but love the music... consider switching instruments? It's a lot of work, but maybe clarinet's just not your thing.
But don't give up. emotion_hug
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:31 am
Just because some b***h wants to bring you down doesn't mean anything.
You'll get over the squeaky stuff if you keep practicing and it will get easier, trust me.
Don't give up and the next time she spouts off just ignore her. . .(she's a stupid b***h anyway. . .excuse my french ma petit)
alright?
With all its cornyness I must say, "Stick in there chicka!"
(You can do it, ma petit!)
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:33 am
Diamond of Rough The lower notes on clarinet generally do sound 'breathy', even with players with more experience, so don't worry about that. It'll fix in time.
As for the squeaking... make sure the reed is in the right place. The tip should be in line with the tip of the mouthpiece, and it should be lined up really well. If that doesn't help, you should probably try a larger size, or a different brand. Out of interest, what size/brand reed do you use? Agreed. You may just not be pushing enough air through the clarinet, or the reed is really old. . . also, if not enough of your mouth is on it the sound will be dull. . .
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:18 pm
work on your embochure (sp?) and check if your flat or sharp...don't bite down too hard and maybe drop your jaw? and just kinda trill or sumfin to get your fingers to speed up...if it sounds airy then try blowing harder...does that help at all? i'm sorry if it doesn't
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Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:43 pm
oh don't worry about her... shes just jealous of you because she can't beat you!!!! 3nodding but if she does start to get really on your nerves break her clarinet!!! twisted no don't do that... that'll get joo in trouble... ">.> ummm but just ignore her... OOOOO tell her to get over herself!! that always works.. xD
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Fashionable Conversationalist
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:42 pm
Well i think you should get some private lessons and school the s**t out of her!
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 6:43 pm
I know how you feel. I'm a beginner oboe player, and I only played it for about a month before I had to give it back to the middle school. I'm using the high school oboe now, and I'm the only oboe player...I hate it. I normally love hard music, but I can only play really simple stuff on the Oboe. (I'm getting better as I practice more, but still....it sucks.) And I sound like a duck, and I"m having lots of reed problems. (It takes so long to break in those reeds...) I even hear people commenting on how I sound like a duck. D: It makes me wanna hide in a corner. And last year's oboe player graduated, and he was apparently amazing at it and had a great sound.
I say just ignore her, though. That's what I'm trying to do with people making fun of my horrible sound, because it's something that I can't help. A good sound comes with time, with any instrument. Just give those lower notes time- a lot of my friends that play clarinet have trouble with them.
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 7:05 pm
You may already do this, but loosen your ligature to the point where it barely stays on. It REALLY helps out the tone and squeaking.
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