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@@silva777 thanks!

If the cat is pissed you must be doing it right!

I am so glad I made something that found you at the right time! Brad's barrels are really game changing. In terms of how fast you can get one...head over to Brads site www.clarinetmouthpiece.com/product-page/evo-clarinet-adjustable-barrel and see whats going on :) I don't know what his inventory looks like at any point, but I would imagine that he has stuff ready to go.

To have an idea characterized even tangentially related to Bonade makes my day. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment :)

I am glad that you found in inspiring:)

I hope it helps you with that. Let me know how it goes please :)

You ask a good question. It's important to take things that are offered to us but also recognize that sometimes they need to be transformed in some way to be right for our ability level. This can be a difficult thing to do in the early stages . TH-cam content is a challenge because it is geared towards a general audience. The creator can't be aware and tailor it to everyone's unique needs. Do you have anyone helping you learn? If you haven't checked it out already, I have a free beginner/refresher course that may be helpful to you. ClarinetNinja.com

@@clarinetninja Thanks for your response. I am starting to have some lessons next week. Just had a browse through your refresher course. I will be visiting again. The articulation and the fingering ones especially. Thanks again.

TH-cam is a challenging place to share ideas as one can never make something that hits for every viewer. I certainly try to create content that has a wide appeal, but it can be difficult to do.

thank you Gwen!

Thanks for letting me know! I will fix that asap:)

got it fixed...not a lot of times on it. Email me at TheClarinetNinja@gmail.com if you want to get together :)

I could make a version of that! That's a great idea. If you would, email me so that you can be the first to have it :) Theclarinetninja@gmail.com Glad to hear that you like the scales!

It’s been a long time since I made the video:) I am confident that the difference in resistance would be made up for in reed choice and adjustment. At the same time, the silver and gold had the most resistance but not by a lot.

Thank you for telling me! I love it when I have made something that is helpful. Melanie is my most trusted technician friend and knows what she is talking about. I am lucky to have friends like her. (shameless self-promotion to follow) If you haven't checked out clarinetninja.com head over there, get on my mailing list, and check out what the Clarinet Ninja Dojo has to offer.. The best way to level up your sound, while a great clarinet will help, is the experienced player and teacher who can lead you where you want to go. If there is anything I can do to help you with your clarinet purchase let me know!

Talking to Ron is like talking to a very kind history book on the clarinet

I don't have enough information from what you have said to give you specific advice. However, I can tell you that there is a hole open (you are pressing a key you don't mean to OR are not totally covering a hole you think you are) that is making all the notes sound the same. Which hole is the problem? That's the specific part I don't have enough information to say

@ ohhh ok

I am not confident that I know the answer to this. I am sure if you ask Brad through his website he will respond. Wish I knew more:)

Thanks for bringing that to my attention. The website has changed and I didn’t think about that! Will you email me theclarinetninja@gmail and I will find it and send it to you (and change the link)

I am not familiar with that particular mouthpiece. It strikes me that you are using a relatively resistant reed given the circumstances you describe in your clarinet journey. I would check out Brad Behns overature mouthpiece www.clarinetmouthpiece.com/overture-student-clarinetmouthpiece that's a low cost excellent mouthpiece. If you want to go a little more expensive I would try a vandoren 5RV lyre amzn.to/3BS0Z0U

That would be interesting. I cant say with certainty, but I don't think the bore is designed to go with those dimensions....even more importantly I would not be able to run that experiment because I don't have those clarinets (beautiful clarinets) available to me. I wish I did ;)

@@clarinetninja Yes both the longer upper joint and these Behn barrels are designed to have longer gap between the barrel and the throat tones to make them more in tune when you need to pull out.

I don’t have an answer, but I would email blayman directly. That would be cool to have

I am glad it was useful! :)

As clarinets age (and get swabbed over and over) they tend to get sharper

I do swab it while it is together. Most of the swabbing I do is mid performance. Even at the end of the session, I will swab while its together and then wipe off the sockets and tenons

It doesn't matter if it is together or not together. It does matter to dry the joints after before it is put away. Kids should take their clarinet apart before swabbing for two reasons; 1) it reduces the chances they will get their swab stuck in it 2) it is easier for them to manage their general lack of coordination and judgement.

The used clarinet world is much more like the used oboe world than any other instrument. There is no such thing, as far as I know, as a golden era Loree. Many oboeists from major orchestras get a new oboe shockingly frequently. On the other had flutes and saxophones have many eras of many manufacturers that are highly sought after. The nature of metal allows for those instruments to retain the same characteristics as when they were new. Bassoons are lacquered so the wood is far more stable. I was excited a number of years ago to find a golden era buffet R13. I played it sparingly because there were so many oddities in it. I ended up selling it without ever using it on a gig that I felt pressure . My current RC prestige is reaching the end of it's usable life. It feels sad. My R13 greenline feels almost the same as when I bought it 25 years ago. No matter what, I think people should play on what makes them feel happy when they play the clarinet. There are a lot of different things that can impact that.

Interesting. I just bought a newish 2020 r13 of of eBay that plays great. I was thinking of waiting for a golden era but now I’m glad I didn’t.

I only have theories about that. Even in the list you made, Leblanc is missing. That is a pretty significant one. In my estimation, Ricardo needs outside factors to push himself into new challenges on the clarinet. I don't think he would say that....but that's what I saw. I can only imagine the challenges of being able to play that well.

I love you!!!!!!!!!! You are the best kiddo ever!

are you ready for a dumb answer...I don't know. Brad had something has was calling "dark" at the convention in Ireland and I liked it. I am going to make a video about it once he names it and has it available on the website. I had a brief conversation with him about it, but I don't want to put forth information that I am only partially confident is correct. I think all of his equipment is amazing. These mouthpieces in particular are amazing for me.

@@clarinetninja sounds like it is one that he is finalizing to sell to the general public? I’ve tried his Prescott cnc mouthpiece (which I think are still hand finished) and preferred the closed facing which is surprisingly since I’m used to a Hawkins medium facing mouthpiece. I just needed a stronger reed, with it, it felt like I could get the same amount of sound out of it as the Hawkins and was impressed. One of these days I’m going to break down and fork out the dough for the sono (or something similar) and give it a whirl. I’ll probably reach out to him or his company first to chat to see they recommend when I’m ready.

@@samsinite100 I hold Brad in the highest regard. The mouthpieces that are not really for me are top level mouthpieces that are simply not for me. The barrels - amazing. The reed cases - groudbreaking. The reeds - terrific. The bells - I don't know because I have never tried them but I have good reason to think they are great! Even more, he is a terrific person who wants clarinet players to have what works best for them whether it's his product or not. It's probably pretty obvious how much of a fan I am!

Totally agree!

Thank you for such high praise! I feel fortunate to know Ron. Even more grateful he was willing to spend all that time with me. He has a unique set of knowledge and skills.

you know all the right things to say to make my day! :) Thanks!!

I am thrilled that you liked it - and grateful you took the time to say so! :)

Yo! occasionally I investigate who made a comment - I went to check out your channel I love the music and the presentation. I believe you are the tenor player. Sounds great!

@@clarinetninja Thanks! Yes that’s me on tenor, soprano, occasionally flute, and in a continuous struggle with that great beast of woodwinds, the clarinet!

@@FrictionFive I know the multiple instrument struggle well! Flute and Piccolo were the ones (and are the ones) that kick my butt. Doing less playing of the multiple woodwinds than I used to just makes it harder! lol crazy life we chose

It is frustrating that Buffet closed that shop. Liam at burkewoodwinds.com/ is a Buffet vendor. Michal Norseworthy www.nyc-woodwinds.com/collections/bb-clarinets is a resource even closer to you. Alcides and Heather are in Atlanta (obviously NOT close to you) and do an amazing job with their instruments. Alcides plays in the Atlanta symphony and both he and Heather are people I turn to because they always do great things for people (if you were interested in doing things through the mail). I hope this information helps. The Buffet showroom was a magical place! Its a shame it is gone

It sounds to me that your tongue position when slurring may not be putting the tip of your tongue close enough to the reed. (not having heard you play) I would suggest thinking about feeling the tip of the tongue on the reed and evaluating if when you play "normally" it is in that general area. Please let me know how its going:)

@clarinetninja When I renewed my playing I had my tongue planted on my lower teeth. I think that was a function of how much tension and stress I needed to get my emboucure. I've gotten better, my tongue is much higher. When I try to tongue I squeal or find it very ticklish, depending on my position. I don't believe I have great talent, but I make up for it with great tenacity. I'll keep at it.

@@roccoliuzzi8394 I have always found that our own ability to self evaluate talent is a little off (or a lot). If you are not on my mailing list...would you get on it? I have some things coming up I would love to make sure you know about