Air Flow

Dear Jason:

I have a student who is having difficulty making a tone on the clarinet. I have worked on his mouth formation/embouchure and airflow, and will sit down 1-1 to do more of this. He is using a "family" clarinet, and it is being serviced today, in order to check that it is not the problem. What I am wondering is if someone more experienced, who has gained some knowledge and tips, could let me know what his problem might be. I assume it has to do with airflow, but perhaps there are other reasons, or things that I am not picking up on.

Another few questions:

What should clarinettists do about building up muscle so that the corners of the mouth don't tire and puff out?

Is it just more breath that will help students play the lower notes (i.e. low F)?

Leaking clarinet

I recently bought my daughter a Buffet student B12. I am just a beginner myself and have a Armstrong which is not very good. Anyway, I have no problem getting notes out of the lower section b, bflat, A etc. On my daughter’s lower section, however, I have trouble getting any notes at all. She also has great difficulty in getting any sounds out of this lower section. It seems like the clarinet is just not blowing through those notes. Could there be something that is physically wrong with the section itself as a whole and needs repair? Any common problem that might be at issue. I thought when she received it that I tried it out in the different registers, but maybe I didn’t.

Rhapsody in Blue

At the beginning of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, there is an upward sliding note played by a clarinet and I would like to know how sliding up or down from note to note is done. I have asked different people who play classical clarinet and they do not know. I have seen and heard jazz clarinet players slide up and down notes and they blend from note to note. I cannot see them pushing down on the keys to change to these close proximity notes. If you know how this is done, would you please tell me?

Reeds

I have a question that I hope you can answer for me. I play the B-flat clarinet made by Selmer and the reeds that I use are made by Rico Royal. They are French File Cut, 2 ½. I would like to know if this is the best type of reed that I could use with my instrument to get the best results when playing. If there is a better type of reed for my instrument, would you let me know what I should be using in place of these reeds?

Thank you for any information you can offer me.

Tonguing

My question has to do with the tone of the clarinet. I have a Buffet E-11, and I love the tone except for one thing. Everytime I play in the upper register, there is a tiny "pounding" or dull noise before the actual note comes out. (It's hard to explain) It's hardly noticeable to a non-musician, but it bothers me. I have tried changing reeds from Vandoren to LaVoz, and I have changed the ligature from the traditional metal to the vinyl/rubber looking ligature in which the screw is on the opposite side of the reed. Now, I'm almost convinced the problem is not in my equiptment, it has to do with my embouchure. Can you please help me? Thanks so much for your time!!!

Mouthpieces

hi, I would like to know if you know about Kasper Mouthpieces??/ for the reason that i found one recently in a bid for $499.99 and its model is Kasper cicero 14.. i would like to know if this mouthpice is eligible for a Bb clarinet and if its really worth the money...thanks