Clarinet. History Assembly Cleaning

Transcription

1 Clarinet History Assembly Cleaning

2 History of the Clarinet Johann Christoph Denner (1655 -) invented the clarinet. Invented around 1690, the clarinet is a single-reed woodwind instrument with a cylindrical tube. The clarinet evolved from an earlier instrument called the chalumeau, the first true single reed instrument.

3 Johann Christoph Denner of Nuremburg with the help of his son Jacob improved the chalumeau, creating a new instrument called the clarinet. Denner added two keys to the chalumeau and increased that instruments range by over two octaves. He also created a better mouthpiece and improved the bell (end) of the instrument.

4 In 1843, the clarinet was further improved when Klose adapted the Boehm flute key system to the clarinet. Mozart was the first composer to use the clarinet in a symphony. Clarinet-Concerto- Quintet/dp/B VG _ _- 1_1/Mozart's_Clarinet_Quintet_in_A _Major_K_581.html Mozart Clarinet

5 Parts of the Clarinet

6 Clarinet Assembly Begin by sitting in a chair and setting the case on the floor. It can be difficult to balance it on your lap and put your clarinet together at the same time. Make sure that the case is right side up.

7 Start by putting cork grease on all of the corks where the pieces will fit together. This will not always be necessary, but is important when you first get your clarinet. Remove the reed from its protective case, and put it in your mouth. It will play better if it is wet.

8 First pick up the Lower Joint. This is the biggest piece in the case. Always pick up the parts at the edge, not by the keys. Remember you don't want to bend any keys. Remove the bell and second joint from the case. Carefully twist and push the cork end of the second joint into the bell, turning it back and forth until it is all the way in.

9 Next, remove the first joint from the case. In the picture, a black arrow points to the bridge key. This key is very important, and can easily be bent if you are not careful. Hold the first joint in your left hand, with your fingers over the ring holes on the front of the clarinet as shown. This will cause the bridge key to lift up.

10 Holding the second joint close to the bell with your right hand, slowly twist and push the first joint into the second. Look at the picture to see where the two sections should meet. Try to turn it back and forth in small motions, so that the keys don't bang into each other.

11 Remove the barrel from the case and twist and push the large end onto the first joint. Remove the mouthpiece from the case and take off the ligature (the ligature is the metal or sometimes plastic piece that has one or two screws in it). Twist and push the cork end of the mouthpiece into the barrel. The flat side of the mouthpiece should line up with the back of the clarinet (the part with the fewest keys).

12 Putting the reed on Place the Reed on the flat part of the Mouthpiece. Center it and hold it in position with your thumb Slip on the Ligature being careful not to hit the reed because you will crack it. Next, center the Ligature over the reed making sure that the Ligature is quite low on the Reed and over the unshaved part of the Reed. Tighten the screws nice and tight and you are ready to play.

13 Cleaning Drying your Clarinet Did you know that you are not actually Cleaning your clarinet. What you are doing is Drying it. Clarinets do not like moisture. Pads will deteriorate sooner if they are wet and the clarinet will get moldy after a while. use a swab to remove the moisture from the instrument.

14 Pull-through swabs have a weight on a string that is dropped through the instrument and when it comes out the other side you simply pull the swab through the instrument several times. Simply just remove the Mouthpiece after playing. Let the weight drop through from the Barrel end to the Bell end.

15 Pull gently because the Swab has to clear two metal tubes in the inside of the clarinet. If you pull too hard and too fast the Swab can get stuck and tear. Hold on to the weight at the Bell end and pull the swab through the instrument

16 Cleaning the Mouthpiece Surely there's nothing to cleaning mouthpieces - a drop of detergent in some lukewarm water, a bit of gentle scrubbing with a soft mouthpiece brush - how difficult can it be? Do this every week.