Instrument
Project
Beginning
Band/Ms. Moser James Wilhelmi
Period
5
10/2/08
Necessary
Clarinet Supplies
The number one supply for a clarinet is reeds. Reeds vibrate to make the sound in the clarinet. Every
clarinetist should have about three working reeds inside their case all the
time. Another key supply is a swab.
Swabs are used to clean the moisture out of the clarinet. Also, every
clarinetist should have cork grease.
Necessary
Clarinet Supplies
·
Reed
Reeds vibrate to make the sound in the clarinet. Every
clarinetist should have about three working reeds inside their case all the
time.
·
Swab
Swabs are used to clean the moisture out of the clarinet.
·
Cork
Grease
·
Reed
Guards Reed guards protect the tip of the reed from breaking off,
which is very important.
Clarinet
Care
Once a musician is
finished playing his or her clarinet, the first thing to do is to take off the
reed and put it into the reed guard. Secondly, take
the mouthpiece off. Next, take out the swab and pull it through the body
several times. After that, take the pieces apart and, one by one, clean the
joints and put the pieces back in the case. Lastly, pick up the mouthpiece and
dry it with a cloth. Always be careful! Another important thing is to wipe the keys
with a cloth every week, because the oil from fingers is bad for the keys.
How
to Handle the Clarinet
For any musician, the
main rule for handling their instrument is to be careful. The clarinet is no
exception. When carrying the clarinet around in its case, always keep a firm
grip on the handle so the case is not dropped. If a clarinet is dropped or
kicked, even when it is inside the case, it will break. When a clarinet is set
down, the keys should always be facing upwards. If the keys are down, they will
bend and mess up the instrument.
How
to Store the Clarinet
The best environment to store a clarinet in is a cool, dry place. Even though the instrument is in its case, storage in an
area that meets these requirements is best for the clarinet. If
the clarinet is in a safe place where it will not fall, like at home, it is
good to leave the case open for a while to let the instrument air out.
The most important rule to remember is not to let the clarinet get in contact
with moisture when in storage.
How
to Prevent Theft or Loss of the Clarinet
A good way to prevent the loss or theft of an instrument is
to simply keep it in a safe place where nothing will happen to it. For example,
a locker is a good place for an instrument. If there is not a safe place,
another tactic is to never let it go out of your hand. Identification tags are
a good idea because they can be tied to the handle of the clarinet case. If the
clarinet is found by someone, they will know how to contact you.
Clarinet
History
The clarinet was
invented by Johann Christoph
Denner in the late 1600s. He modified an
instrument called the chalumeau by adding the register key. This key greatly
increased the range of the range of the instrument. Here is a timeline of the
clarinet “evolution”:
Late 1600s- the clarinet is invented by J.C. Denner
1712- First ever pieces written for the clarinet
1716- Earliest clarinet use in the orchestra
1740- Third key is added
1750- Fourth and fifth key are added
1757- First clarinet concerto
1771- Mozart composes his first works using the clarinet
1785- Mouthpiece and barrel become separate pieces
1791- Sixth key is added
1806- Iwan Muller invents key
pads, the metal ligature and the metal thumb rest
1812- Iwan Muller invents the
first known thirteen-key clarinet
1820- German clarinetists begin playing with the reed
touching the bottom lip instead of the top
1831- Bottom lip technique popularizes around the world
Clarinet
Fun Facts
Did you know that:
-The first modern clarinet was invented in
-The wood to make most clarinets comes from
-A normal B flat clarinet has the largest range of any
common woodwind?
-A normal B flat clarinet has seven holes to be covered?