Thanks for this helpful video. I found the segments on water removal especially helpful. As a new clarinetist I am constantly trying to learn and add instrument care best-practices to my practice routine. I bought the best (IMHO) new instrument that I could afford (Yamaha YCL-650II) when I started playing at the beginning of this year, and it is the first wooden instrument that I have ever owned, so I want to do everything that I can to protect my investment, and minimize barriers to my learning. Thanks again for your videos. They are much appreciated.
Recently, in front of me, a girl’s clarinet cracked, even without temperature changes, she simply unscrewed the barrel and wanted to clean it, as a result the expensive clarinet cracked, she was lucky that she had a guarantee from the manufacturer😂 I watch every video of yours, I live in Russia, your videos are really very useful, I watched a video about ligatures, the best one in my opinion is the knitted one! Will there be videos about the barrel, bell, mouthpiece?
It gets so cold in Cincinnati; I'm always scared of them cracking even though I keep it in my insulated case. These tips are very thoughtful, I'll apply everything I can! Love the images and the simple yet thorough explanations. My keys bind often in the cold, mostly my top 2 trill keys or my A key. I'll definitely keep one of those screwdrivers in my case! One of my bell rings, the bottom one actually, used to be really loose and I didn't know that's a sign of contraction. Thanks for the warnings!
Thanks John for your great videos. We need to take care of our instruments. Many years ago I bought a New pair of Leblanc. Which I had kept in the trunk of the air. That evening a student asked if he could try the B flat and without thinking he blew down it and ping a crack occurred on the side keys so I have been curious since. Although any clarinet can crack it is often because the player does not swab out. I have seen players in theatre work rush out of the pit leaving a wet clarinet and it can crack. Although the manufacturer repaired my instrument but it was never happy with it so eventually got rid of it. Like wise Cyrene heat can cause problems and the wood can shrink. Selmer have brought out their latest Evolution system Which I believe has synthetic inserts into the holes of the top joint to prevent cracking. Once again thank you for your remind us to us. - Bill - UK
Thank you for watching and sharing. Yes, it’s really interesting how some musicians can abuse their instruments and nothing happens. Some are very careful and still suffer cracks. Myself, I tend to err on the side of caution. 😁Thanks for watching!
I have to bring 3 wood clarinets (B-flat, E-flat, alto) to rehearsal each week, but the only way I can get to rehearsal is to take the bus, and I usually have to wait for 20+ minutes in an area that always gets down to -20C or below every winter. For this reason I show up to rehearsal around 45 minutes early so my instruments have a chance to warm up to room temperature.
Hey! It's so cool you put together all these routines in one video! I bought a new clarinet about half a year ago (after playing for a decade on rental well-broken-in instruments) and had to do a research myself to find best strategies how to keep my clarinet in a good condition. My critique will be about some humidity nuances: sometime we can came across the situation when the tenons can get really stiff I would say, so that it's hard to assemble or take apart the instrument even if you've used the cork grease copiously. It might indicate that the humidity level is too high. What would be your advice in this case? Do you monitor the humidity level and try achieve specific level of it? Thanks!
Thank you for the kind words! Sticking tenons can happen at any time of the year. I usually encounter this with new R13's. My repair person has informed me that the reason for this is that the actual wood of the tenon is colliding with the tenon socket. Cork grease is not the answer here, necessarily. The socket or tenon needs to be adjusted, and for that, your repair shop is the best option. Thanks for watching!
I have a 1960's Normandy that I leave out pretty much all day every day and has not cracked. Are older wood clarinets just less prone to cracking since they have been intact for so long?
Not necessarily. There’s always the ‘wood quality’ lottery. I’ve seen older clarinets crack as well. I still advise caution for any make and model, regardless of age. I’m glad yours is intact though! Thanks for watching.
That’s always a possibility! I had a performance, so I wanted to make sure the crack didn’t spread. I know many oboists who take this approach. Thanks for watching!
Less than one minute into the video and you've already struck fear into my heart by saying that you've cracked every single clarinet you've owned 😅
Honestly, I think I'm just drawn to the softer, more unstable wood- how it sounds, feels and responds. Sorry about that! Thanks again for watching!
Thanks for this helpful video. I found the segments on water removal especially helpful. As a new clarinetist I am constantly trying to learn and add instrument care best-practices to my practice routine. I bought the best (IMHO) new instrument that I could afford (Yamaha YCL-650II) when I started playing at the beginning of this year, and it is the first wooden instrument that I have ever owned, so I want to do everything that I can to protect my investment, and minimize barriers to my learning.
Thanks again for your videos. They are much appreciated.
Recently, in front of me, a girl’s clarinet cracked, even without temperature changes, she simply unscrewed the barrel and wanted to clean it, as a result the expensive clarinet cracked, she was lucky that she had a guarantee from the manufacturer😂
I watch every video of yours, I live in Russia, your videos are really very useful, I watched a video about ligatures, the best one in my opinion is the knitted one! Will there be videos about the barrel, bell, mouthpiece?
Tuning barrels definitely requires a video- I'll add it to the list. Thanks for watching!
It gets so cold in Cincinnati; I'm always scared of them cracking even though I keep it in my insulated case. These tips are very thoughtful, I'll apply everything I can! Love the images and the simple yet thorough explanations. My keys bind often in the cold, mostly my top 2 trill keys or my A key. I'll definitely keep one of those screwdrivers in my case! One of my bell rings, the bottom one actually, used to be really loose and I didn't know that's a sign of contraction. Thanks for the warnings!
As my friend Hugh (a bassoonist) would say- welcome to the midwest! The weather here can be brutal to clarinets, but a few simple things can help.
@@john.kurokawa Haha that's very true
Wow, such a nice explanations and such good suggestions! Especially with the orange peels )
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!
We all know it’s not “water” that’s in our instrument. You can say, “Saliva” and we’ll still like you ❤
🍊 Another good use for orange peel!
Thanks John for your great videos. We need to take care of our instruments. Many years ago I bought a New pair of Leblanc. Which I had kept in the trunk of the air. That evening a student asked if he could try the B flat and without thinking he blew down it and ping a crack occurred on the side keys so I have been curious since. Although any clarinet can crack it is often because the player does not swab out. I have seen players in theatre work rush out of the pit leaving a wet clarinet and it can crack. Although the manufacturer repaired my instrument but it was never happy with it so eventually got rid of it. Like wise Cyrene heat can cause problems and the wood can shrink. Selmer have brought out their latest Evolution system Which I believe has synthetic inserts into the holes of the top joint to prevent cracking. Once again thank you for your remind us to us. - Bill - UK
Thank you for watching and sharing. Yes, it’s really interesting how some musicians can abuse their instruments and nothing happens. Some are very careful and still suffer cracks. Myself, I tend to err on the side of caution. 😁Thanks for watching!
What is "the trunk of the air"?
I have to bring 3 wood clarinets (B-flat, E-flat, alto) to rehearsal each week, but the only way I can get to rehearsal is to take the bus, and I usually have to wait for 20+ minutes in an area that always gets down to -20C or below every winter. For this reason I show up to rehearsal around 45 minutes early so my instruments have a chance to warm up to room temperature.
The best way to do it! That's a lot of clarinets! Thanks for watching!
can you do a video on how to apply bore oil
I can…. I’m not a regular user of bore oil, to be honest. But I’ll definitely consider it. Thanks for watching!
Hey! It's so cool you put together all these routines in one video! I bought a new clarinet about half a year ago (after playing for a decade on rental well-broken-in instruments) and had to do a research myself to find best strategies how to keep my clarinet in a good condition.
My critique will be about some humidity nuances: sometime we can came across the situation when the tenons can get really stiff I would say, so that it's hard to assemble or take apart the instrument even if you've used the cork grease copiously. It might indicate that the humidity level is too high.
What would be your advice in this case? Do you monitor the humidity level and try achieve specific level of it?
Thanks!
Thank you for the kind words! Sticking tenons can happen at any time of the year. I usually encounter this with new R13's. My repair person has informed me that the reason for this is that the actual wood of the tenon is colliding with the tenon socket. Cork grease is not the answer here, necessarily. The socket or tenon needs to be adjusted, and for that, your repair shop is the best option. Thanks for watching!
I have a 1960's Normandy that I leave out pretty much all day every day and has not cracked. Are older wood clarinets just less prone to cracking since they have been intact for so long?
Not necessarily. There’s always the ‘wood quality’ lottery. I’ve seen older clarinets crack as well. I still advise caution for any make and model, regardless of age. I’m glad yours is intact though! Thanks for watching.
Don’t forget the Boveda packs. Use (49%) or less for the case. 👍
Boveda packs are great, but I personally prefer to not be locked into a subscription since I have so many of those. Thanks as always for watching!
Super glue? My teacher used clear nail polish when my school horn cracked in high school. I have always carried clear nail polish since then.
That’s always a possibility! I had a performance, so I wanted to make sure the crack didn’t spread. I know many oboists who take this approach. Thanks for watching!