Basic Clarinet Care Series - Keep it Dry!

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 08:00:00 +0100

Basic Clarinet Care Series, Part I. - Keep it dry!

This might be a “no-brainer”, but I think it bears repeating. Whether your clarinet is made of plastic, rubber, or wood - always, always swab out your clarinet after playing – even just a few minutes’ worth of condensation can cause cumulative damage to the bore and pads. Spit is destructive!

Forestone Reeds!

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 08:00:00 +0100

I recently had the opportunity to try out these new reeds, and decided I should devote a page to them. I used cane reeds through school and into my adult life until recently when I tried Legere reeds. I found them to be quite good, and really liked not having to worry about the effects of weather on my reeds. Once outdoor concert season was over, I went back to cane reeds.

Until, that is, I read about Forestonereeds on the Clarinet Bboard. I contacted Forestone and purchase [...]

Why Music Lessons Aren't Just For Kids

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Like many musicians in Southern
California, I play in a variety of community groups with players of
widely varying skill levels, from beginner to pro. Many colleagues who
are high school age and beyond have asked me as a teacher, “Why should I
take lessons? I know the fingerings. I know how to read music. What
could you possibly teach me that would make it worthwhile?”

When an adult begins playing, they have high expectations. Perhaps
they want to sound like t [...]

Circular Breathing - The Final Word

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 08:00:00 +0100

The final word - I was able to actually maintain a steady (somewhat) tone in the practice room, but not to the degree the performers in the YouTube links (see previous blog).

It really could come in handy though. I'll keep working.

Oh, the concert? In the performance, even though the passage in question was extremely soft (ppp) it was also quite exposed and I didn't want to risk it. So I chickened out.

I give myself half a point for effort.

Circular Breathing - In the Practice Room

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Thu, 13 May 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Practice begins

As of today, I can maintain an air stream from air stored in my puffed cheeks while inhaling only about 20% of the time. AND only with a soda straw in a glass of water. However, the 24th isn't here yet. Here's what I'm doing:

Inhale-exhale-puff cheeks while exhaling-expel while inhaling-repeat.

My observations to date:

I can expel the stored air from my cheeks while inhaling, but haven't yet mastered how to smoothly transition back to norma [...]

Circular Breathing - The Research

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Sun, 09 May 2010 08:00:00 +0100

According to Wikipedia:

"Circular breathing is a technique used by players of some wind instruments to produce a continuous tone without interruption. This is accomplished by breathing in through the nose while simultaneously blowing out through the mouth using air stored in the cheeks.

It is used extensively in playing the Australian didgeridoo, the Sardinian launeddas and Egyptian arghul, as well as many traditional oboes and flutes of Asia and the Middl [...]

Circular Breathing - My Goal

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Thu, 06 May 2010 08:00:00 +0100

I'm in a band playing a work that has long, sustained notes in the clarinets. The notes are mostly in the lower and throat tone range, and we are one to a part. As I tried to gracefully exit and re-enter the piece every 10 bars or so, I wished for the ability to circular breathe.

I read somewhere that if the blogger has a goal to work towards it makes it that much easier. Since getting this blog started again has been a struggle, I'm hoping they're right.

So here goe [...]

My New Venture

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

I've been
considering alternatives to the "traditional" employment scenario (8-5
Monday to Friday, regular paycheck, employer benefits, 401K, etc.) To
bring in a little cash and keep me busy I've been selling stuff on
eBay.

I also answered an ad for "music teachers needed" and had a great conversation with Jason Blair of Drumming Uncut
based in Alhambra, Ca. He wants to branch out into other instruments
and has lots of good ideas for build [...]

The Clarinet Clairvoyant Returns!

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Hi everyone, I'm back! Just wanted to let you know that so watch for more, much more....coming soon!

Back to School

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Well where did this summer go?

Here it is, Labor Day Weekend, and school starts next week. Band camp has come and gone (to my daughter's relief, I think) and they're looking forward to their first show. Parent preview night was Thursday 8/28 - I was travelling on business and missed it!

Community Band has started up again. Our first rehearsal, the clarinet section accounted for 50% of the entire group! Yeah! We've got a nice mix of [...]

The Seasons of Community Band - Summer

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100

I like playing in summer band – the group is larger, and there’s more diversity. We have players ranging in age from 10 to 71, from beginners to semi-professional. In summer band many aspiring music teachers pick up new instruments; sax players take up the oboe, or violinists learn percussion. Clarinetists branch out to bass clarinet, flutes to piccolo.

Summer band literature offers the old standards (A [...]

Shopping for a Clarinet

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100

I’m currently test driving a Buffet R13 clarinet that belongs to my friend Mark, a colleague from community concert band who bought it about a year ago. He’s never been happy with it, and now insists it’s “possessed”.

First, the barrel developed a crack (that was replaced by the retailer he bought it from.) He also experienced intonation problems so pronounced he was constantly adjusting the barrel [...]

Clarinet 911 - Squeaks and Leaks

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

May 30, 2008

I used to have a student who could not play squeak-free no matter what. Every single note was a squeak or a squeal. Hopefully you don’t have that same problem, but the reality is, squeaks happen to everyone from time to time. Some are caused by reeds, embouchure, bad karma, whatever, and others by a malfunction of some kind with your instrument.

First, [...]

Trials and Tribulations of Transposing

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

trans·pose /v. trænsˈpoʊz; n. ˈtrænspoʊz/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunci[v. trans-pohz; n. trans-pohz]

In a musical context, it means “ to reproduce in a different key, by raising or lowering in pitch& [...]

May 17, 2008

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Clarinet Conventions

I won’t be going to ClarinetFest this year – my oldest son, Greg, was born on July 4 so it’s a major event in our family (ClarinetFest is typically held the week of July 4 – WHY.) However, I’d love to attend a similar event, and began looking around for other opportunities. There’s quite a few coming up! Check these out:

33rd University of Oklahoma Clarinet [...]

May 14, 2008

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to my blog! Since this is the “Clarinet” clairvoyant, let’s talk about the clarinet. When doing a bit a research I realized that, just like people, clarinets come in all sizes, each with their own unique place in the music world. There’s the sopranino Ab and G, soprano Eb, D, C, Bb, and A, alto and contra-alto in Eb, bass clarinet in Bb and A, and contrabass in Bb. Of course, the most common are the Bb, A, Eb, alto and bass. Correct me if [...]

bienvenue

bmausbach@yahoo.com — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the whimsical blog of the Clarinet Clairvoyant where I post my latest triflings as they unfold and are presented before me. But a word of caution for those who seek me out. I am no prophet, I see little more than the shadows of wood.

In the future, you may access the Clarinet Clarivoyant's musings directly at www.clarinetclairvoyant.com

Good tidings and good bass

- The Clarinet Clairvoyant

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