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by feeney4you

Micing Clarinet for Live Applications

June 15, 2010 in Articles

I am playing in a duo here in SE Asia, accompanying an acoustic guitar player, playing through some pop and blues tunes. When I’m not playing clarinet, I am picking up the bass guitar or playing the cajon. I would really like to do my clarinet justice, but the sound is currently only ‘acceptable.’

I now have an AKG dynamic mic (the little one with the adjustable gooseneck ) clamped onto the bell, and a Shure SM58 around the middle pointing toward the tone holes in front. I also have a Shure Beta 98, but lacking phantom power, will have to wait until I get a pre-amp.

Any stories of applications that have worked for you in the past would be great!

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by RichS

Finger Tension

November 24, 2009 in Articles

“Hi everyone. I’m new to the site. I played clarinet in high school but gave it up after college. It’s not 15 years down the pike and I picked it up again to study seriously about 6 months ago. I was classically trained but I’m learning jazz.

Anyway, I have always been plagued by bad finger tension, especially in my right hand. It really impedes my technical ability. My right hand becomes almost like a rigid claw in just a few minutes of scale workouts. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to maintain a more relaxed posture/fingers when playing?”

You might consider stretching exercises for your fingers, and maybe getting one of those grip master things as well. Fingers have muscles, and the muscles need stretching and stuff. And frequent breaks. And doing something other than “assuming the position”. Ask pianists. Or guitarists. There are lots of things on the net too. But, I’d start with trying to stretch the fingers first, and your wrists.

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by reedfriendly

Albert System Clarinets

May 3, 2009 in Articles

Does anyone use an albert system clarinet for jazz?  I’ve already talked with a couple of players who swear by them.  (And, moreover, I was impressed by the projection without a mic over a crowded dance floor.)  It’s pretty easy to find a cheap fixer-upper on ebay, so I’ve been thinking about taking the plunge.  Any thoughts?

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by jazzybuffet

Why Do my Posts never go up?

March 15, 2009 in Articles

“Can anyone explain to me how the “pending” thing for posts works? I can never get a post up.”

E – Basically, I need to approve them. And your “posts” were kind of either already answered in previous articles (ie: is the E11 good to learn on…..any clarinet is good to learn on), or is $80 good for a B45 (dunno, check ebay?).

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by colonelhayden

Zinn Regimen for Clarinet?

March 15, 2009 in Sheet Music

I wrote a comment on the ii-V-I progression post, but perhaps it is more appropriate for discussion on a main post. I was on the Jazz-Sax sight and found the Zinn Practice Regimen. I had it before, and just got the latest update (which looks awesome!). I have a clarinet I just got and a piccolo too. I found the flute regimen, but also listed was a clarinet one, though I cannot find it for the life of me. Anyone know of it/where to get it? It is simple enough I suppose to write one out myself, though it would take me 3 years to do with my schedule! I know that I can figure it out and not need to look at every note, but I like something tangible to work from. Thank you for any and all help!

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by ericdano

Inauguration Performance Was Taped

January 23, 2009 in Articles, News

Inauguration-Recorded MusicFrom Yahoo News:
“Washington – Whether you loved or hated the classical music played at President Barack Obama’s inauguration, unless you were sitting within earshot of the celebrated quartet, what you heard was a recording made two days earlier.”

“They were very insistent on playing live until it became clear that it would be too cold,” said Florman in a telephone interview Thursday night.”

Yeah, I don’t blame them at all. It was a great John Williams arrangement though. Here is the actual performance.

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by ericdano

Mitchell Lurie Dies

November 29, 2008 in Articles

From the LA Times
“Mitchell Lurie, a world-renowned clarinetist and clarinet teacher who taught for many years at USC and the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, has died. He was 86.”

Another titian of the Clarinet passes on.

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by OrangeRhythm

R13, E13, Selmer, or others? Suggestions in picking the right clarinet…

March 31, 2008 in Articles

I’ve been playing the clarinet on and off for seven years. I own a student Buffet B10 but I feel the tone quality and the feel of the keys have its limitations. I’m renting a wood selmer 10. The feel of it and the tone quality sounds much better than my plastic clarinet. Selmer has a richer tone and I feel comfortable with the keys. I’m thinking of getting a better wood clarinet. I’m deciding between a Buffet E13 or R13, considered Buffet makes the best clarinets. However, I still had some doubts since I did not have the best experience with my B10. I know it would be best to try them out, but I’d like to know if anyone can give me any suggestions of which brand or model I should go for. I also like to know which actually might sound better, the R13 or the Selmer 10. Or if there’s any great selmer model I could look for.

I basically play classical, but I also like to play some Jazz.

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by mmmichael

Gonzalez FoF reeds?

March 31, 2008 in Articles

does anybody played on the gonzalez “for our friends” reeds? I’ve heard pretty good things about them, and only one comment about not-so-good responsiveness. Supposedly they have a high percentage of playable reeds per box and the cane is organically grown and at least 7 years aged. I just need to buy more reeds and I want to try something besides v12s and hand-me-down reeeds (I really need to start saving them, too).
Does anybody have their own opinions?

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by Mike P.

Reed Suggestions for M13, M15, 5JB, B45

March 31, 2008 in Articles

I’m trying out a few mouthpieces – a Vandoren M13, M15, 5JB, and B45. Does anyone have any suggestions for reeds that might work well with these? I have an R13 and play mostly jazz/big band and some classical.

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