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THE WOODWIND FAMILY
HISTORY The clarinet is an instrument which has existed in similar form for at least 700 years, originally played in Islamic and Asian countries. Johann Denner, an instrument maker, created the modern clarinet around 1690. He took a chalumeau, able to play only low notes, and altered it to play a much larger range. As the clarinet became more popular, more people wrote for it and its range became expanded. Unfortunately, different intrument makers simply added keys as they needed more notes, and it eventually became easier to grab a different clarinet if the music was written in a different key! Two French musicians named Klosé and Buffet changed the clarinet in the 1840's by changing the fingerings of clarinets to more closely resemble the flute fingering created by Theobald Boehm.. Around this same time Adolphe Sax changed the bass clarinet, which had been around since the 1770's, to make it more playable. This is the bass clarinet played today. Also in use today are the alto clarinet, the contra-alto clarinet, and the contra-bass clarinet. PROBLEM SOLVING I recommend that you get started with a teacher so that you learn to hold your clarinet correctly, and make your first sounds correctly. If you get home and still have problems, though, these hints might help.
BUYING A CLARINET There are basically three different types of flutes: Student, Intermediate, and Professional. The prices and qualities are different depending on the brand and model. Here's what you'll typically see: STUDENT clarinets are made of plastic or resonite (similar to plastic), both durable and inexpensive materials. They require less maintenance and won't crack like wood instruments. Some good student model brand names are Vito and Yamaha. There may be others, also. Many students play these instruments as beginners and right through high school. INTERMEDIATE clarinets usually made of Grenadilla wood and are similar to professional level instruments. The action of the keys will work better than on student models. Wood clarinets sound fuller and more resonant than plastic clarinets, but require more care. For instance, wooden instruments require use of some type of humidifier in the case, avoidance of much outdoor use, and the outside of the instrument must be warm before the instrument is played. Without following these guidelines, a wooden instrument will crack and then will not play. Some good student model brand names are Leblanc, Buffet, Amati and Yamaha. There may be others, also. PROFESSIONAL clarinets are made to have the best intonation, sound, and technical playablility. The action of the keys will work better than on student or intermediate models. They have undercut tone holes for the tone quality and intonation. The inside of the clarinet is specially tapered so the sound of the clarinet is even throughout the instrument. The best Grenadilla wood is used, and the instruments are sometimes thicker than non-professional instruments. They also sometimes have extra keywork to help play difficult music. Some good student model brand names are Leblanc, Buffet, Amati and Yamaha. There may be others, also. The best way to buy a clarinet is to actually play it before buying! Some places for us to buy instruments are:
Ellis Music in Bethel, VT - 802-234-6400 - probably the closest
place for us to try out instruments and they have a good service department.
They will often meet or come close to catalog prices. I have
personally purchased instruments from them. CLARINET LINKS Mark Miller's
Clarinet Pages
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