...It`s driving me insane! In the middle of the most smooth and lyrical pieces an impertinent little squeak ruins the character of the music (not to mention leaving me in an utterly humiliated state!)

Please, please help me overcome this flaw! I`m too serious a player to be making these amateur noises!

how long have you been playing for?

Obviously not long enough ;-)

SQUEEEEK!

Quite true...I have`nt been playing long enough, but who has at 16? I started playing clarinet when I was 12.

Thanks in advance
....(I do hope someone has some advice)

Maybe you need different reeds, or a different mouthpiece. When I switched mouthpieces I could play perfectly.

hey
I have that same problem to
try playing in front of a mirror (maybe your emb. is messed up)
Hope this helps

If you have had your mouthpiece for more than three years, this is your problem. The reason you will need a new mouthpiece is because of the natural wear that occurs on any mouthpiece. This is caused by the reeds gently vibrating against the table and sometimes being scraped against it (when you are adjusting the location on the facing).

For a good, solid mouthpiece, try Bundy, Yamaha or Pearl (if you`re daring!!!).

Alex

Not one to cast doubt on ability, but why is it when something goes wrong the worker blames the tools and not the worker?

Whats to say its not spit interference? Poor breath control? Asthma (and/or smoking)?

Its really naive to think that a "this is definately the problem" response can be derived without seeing/hearing the fault first hand...

Actually Chris, the common fault is very possibly the mouthpiece.It is said by professional clarinetists worldwide that to produce a good sound you must have a good mouthpiece. I fully agree after working for 7 years testing and refacing mouthpieces that mouthpieces do need to be replaced. I once hand finished a hard rubber mouthpiece by Vandoren (I DO NOT RECCOMEND) The tip facing was .60. Two years later, the customer came back to me and had me look at it. I found that the facing was .54 on the left and .57 on the right.

This is why I reccomend the new mouthpiece.

Alex

I`ve only been playing for 2 years, and everyoen squeaks every once and a while. Relax and try a new reed/mouthpeice.

hi i was your fist reply

i`ve been playing since the start of the school year and my teacher says thet even her father (a seasoned clarinetist) squeaks occasionally so i don`t think that squeaks are "amateur noises"

Im a senior in high school that made all-state band and 1st chair wind ensemble....and you know what?....I squeek sometimes!! An occassional squeek is expected. So dont worry about it unless your squeeky a lot, then follow that advice givin above. Good luck!

Thanks everyone!

Oddly enough, I just bought a new Vandoren mouthpiece (5RV lyre, I think?) last July. It seems to primarily happen when I`m nervous, so maybe if I don`t tense up everything will flow smoothly.

OK, then your problem may be:

1. You got a bad mouthpiece that needs to be refaced. Ask your teacher or band leader where you can find a good one.
2. You aren`t pulling your chin down enough. Practice in front of a mirror.
3. You need to work on keeping the clarinet at a 45 degree angle and keeping your mouth about 1/4 of an inch on the mouthpiece.