i was wondering on your opinion on using vibrato on the clarinet. my high school teacher said never but i have heard otherwise... i am in 9th grade first chair. does it even work on clarinets? thanks!~! happy new year

~#shanna~#

oops sorry, i switched my name and the subject around

A little. Tastefully.
Opinions vary. It depends on where you are using it. I can tolerate a little, but if a clarinet player started using the amount of vibrato that a flute player did, I would want to murder them.

In the words of the Great Simeon Beliison (you know, the editor of the Klose )Vibrato is used by players who want to hide their sound because it is not good enough. The Clarinet`s beautiful sound should not be hidden behind what I call sound wrinkles (registered). The clarinet along with the horn is an instrument that doesn`t need vibrato. A flute would become boring without vibrato. Same with the Oboe. Vibrato should be a taboo in clarinet playing. Unless you are playing jazz, but that is a world I don`t want to touch. My suggestion is to never use vibrato (that`s one of the things that make the clarinet better than the saxophone hehe...)

Honestly I am going to go the "vibrato rules 24/7" route on this one....

Ok maybe not, but I don`t think it`s a crime everytime it`s used. While playing the Mozart Concerto, yes vibrato is a sin. I even think most Brahms pieces should be sans vibrato, even though Jack Brymer recalls in his book a violist that played with Richard Muhlfeld, (whose playing was the inspiration for Brahms` clarinet works) used "big vibrato". The clarinet is just really not an instrument I find needs that vibrating sound in most genres. Maybe in contemporary pieces like the ones The Gotham Ensemble plays with my friend Thomas Piercy as the clarinet in that group vibrato should be allowed- I don`t mind it in his pieces, but then again how many of us are playing on a custom made large bore Rossi? I really don`t think most clarinetists should use it in the majority of their playing, because few can pull it off, and so the end result is just some overly expressive, monotinous noise. In conclusion- just don`t do it boys and girls.....

Bradley

Just to clarify- I meant the violist who talked with Brymer told him about Muhlfeld`s "big vibrato".

Orlando also said to tell you all he meant Bellison.

Bradley

I say it depends totaly on song, style of music, and how many people are playing with you. Some songs vibe sounds great, others not so much. Jazz you want it almost all the time, classical only sometimes, but there is that sometimes. If you are soloing on clarinet on a classical piece don`t use it, unless you want to, and let that great clarinet sound come out. If in a bigger group use a slight vibrato, and then it adds a little more feeling to the music, but only if you are teh only one doing it. But when it comes down to it it is all just personal taste, like when I am playing sax it bugs me not to add vibe, but on clarinet i rarely do, all personal taste.

thanks eeryone you really helped alot

Rachel`s comments are the best and I totally agree with what she said about vibrato. I never ever used vibrato until I started playing the Copland concerto and I used it the TINIEST bit on some of the longer high notes and it seemed to fit in nicely.

The problem with vibrato is the controversy- which we are experiencing here

Even on flute people criticize players for their "style" of vibrato, and when it is used. Imagine how many criticisms will follow a performance on clarinet with vibrato. As clarinetists I just don`t think we need such a big problem to add to our other areas that draw criticisms. We have a good enough tone already, and we can be very expressive without making our tone shiver.

Just let Orlando, my fellow high school sophmore clarinetist at New World School of the Arts and new poster to this board (who just won a concerto competition with a professional orchestra playing the Copland and will perform it January 25th) read that post about you using vibrato for the Copland.....LOL!

Bradley

i am a master clarinetist i know its possible i have done its very difficult though all you have to do is shake your hand on the key but it takes a lot of practice good luck!

Ummm key vibrato?

Must be a new one to me- I was only aware of diaphragm and jaw vibrato.

Bradley

Dear Rachel B: do you really think that the "Shaky" sound is a good idea for the Copland? I think the first movement of the Copland should be about complete control and letting your musicality bloom. Frankly, I don`t think you`ll be able to do that with Vibrato. After the cadenza, I see no place for you to dare use the "Piecewrecker." If you have any ideas about style in the Copland, please let me know. I might be able to help you and your ideas migh help me.
Sincerely, Orlando

Thank you, Rachel Your bribe money will arrive soon.
Another opinion I`d like to express is that there is good and bad vibrato.
Good vibrato is vibrato that adds depth and warmth to one`s sound. This is the kind that I can tolerate.
Bad vibrato is vibrato that just sounds like the note is shaking all over the place. This really gets on my nerves.

I`m first seat clarinettist in my school band. I get so annoyed when the girl next to me uses vibrato. I think vibrato isn`t needed for clarinet, especially in a band. I admit I have used vibrato in one of weber`s concerto`s, one of the long notes in the middle, contrasting, slow section of the piece. I think it fit in quite well and added to the music, but geneally I don`t use vibrato. It should only be used very selectively if at all.