4 Mistakes Most Clarinet Instrument Players Happen to Make
4 Mistakes Most Clarinet Instrument Players Happen to Make
As a clarinet player, taking good care of your woodwind should be the main prerogative. It will ensure that your delicate and stunning clarinet gives its best for the maximum possible time. However, to take proper care of your gear, you must understand the potential issues that may come across.
Some problems occur due to regular wear and tear. And some happen because of the unintentional carelessness or mistakes made by a clarinetist. So, without further ado, let us learn about the common mistakes that every clarinet player should avoid.
The sound produced by a clarinet comprises five unique qualities. These are:
● Stability
● Depth
● Clarity
● Focus
● Color (a perfect balance between darkness and ring)
Dear clarinet player, a little mistake from your end can adversely affect these qualities. And the result? A flat or dull-sounding clarinet. A lot of things can take a toll on your woodwind, including your embouchure and matters with the speed of the air, to mention a few. So, be careful and learn well. Refer to the below pointers for more clarity.
An overview of the mistakes you might be making while playing your clarinet
Is your air speed up to the mark?
A majority of the beginners do not have a clear concept about how much air they should blow in to make their woodwind function properly. Some students don't learn to strike the right balance unless they are into their intermediate level of playing.
If you are a new player, know that the pace of the air impacts the response, quality of sound, and articulation of the clarinet. So, ensure that the air speed is fast enough to produce a clear sound. Listen to your instructor and follow whatever they say to master the art of playing this woodwind gear.
Do you have a firm embouchure?
Many instructors focus mainly on the barrel and the mouthpiece during the initial days of your lessons. It is important. Even if you see that they are not doing it, do it yourself. Do it even if you know how to play the clarinet. The way you use your mouth into the mouthpiece, the embouchure, is critical. When it comes to ensuring a perfect embouchure, your top teeth and the corners play a significant role.
The top teeth impact your focus, whereas the corners impact the overall endurance and quality of tone. See how you play. If your woodwind produces a squeaking sound, you are doing it wrong. Ask your instructor to help you do it rightly.
Is your tongue placement, right?
Clarinet teachers find it very hard to teach tonguing or tongue movement to their students because your tongue is not visible from the outside. So what role does your organ of taste or voice, the tongue, play? It shapes the sound that your clarinet produces.
Always remember! The clarinet produces sound at the front of your mouth. So your embouchure should be good. And, how you place your tongue decides your oral cavity's shape. If your oral cavity is too relaxed, it can produce undertones.
Do you have enough musical instrument insurance coverage?
Although a little out of context (you may feel it that way), having a comprehensive Clarinet Insurance plan is necessary. Learning about your mistakes will indeed help you become a better clarinet player. However, what about the things that you cannot know in advance? What about the scenarios that can affect your musical instruments along with your finances?
We are talking about unforeseen events, such as theft, damage, and loss of your musical gear? Yes, such events are always unexpected and cause unwanted hassles in life. So, before something gets wrong, it is advisable to get the right amount of insurance coverage from a good insurance company. So, now having an instrument-specific insurance policy is also a mistake that most instrument players happen to make.
Although your Clarinet insurance cannot foresee or prevent a stroke of bad luck from hitting you, it can ensure that your finances are safe and you are free from worries after an episode. So, apart from buying the best gear, keeping it safe, and learning how to play it perfectly, making it peril-safe is also one of your responsibilities. Therefore, do your research, explore the choice you have, and find one of the most suitable musical instrument insurance policies to cover your clarinet.