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Oh, you know, stuff
My back has pretty much stopped hurting, which is good, because my legs hurt. Yes, Binghamton's practicing again, three times before Gilbertsville -- I missed the first one, a couple weeks ago, due to illness, but I was there for Saturday's. We did some Bampton and a bunch of Ducklington, including one new dance that looks like it'll work pretty well, assuming it doesn't kill us.
I missed band practice last week due to unloading the pod (and was going to miss it anyway due to Thornden Morris practice, but I skipped that too), and this week apparently there is no band practice (and I was going to miss it anyway due to Thornden Morris practice). So it seemed a good time to take my #1 clarinet to the shop. The guy my old high school band teacher recommended -- who was seconded by my new community band director -- used to work for one of the local music stores but went into business for himself when the store closed. Older guy, I'd say over 75 if he's a day. He looked over the clarinet, said the pads looked not bad... surprising since the information I have leads me to think they're over 50 years old, but certainly I haven't had any problems attributable to bad pads that I've noticed. And yes, the tenon corks do need replacing. I pointed out a sticking key. He's going to strip the instrument down and replace what needs it. Thinks it'll cost $65 to $75, which is less than I was expecting.
I mentioned the barrel to him. He agreed I need time to get my embouchure back to strength and that may be the sole reason I'm playing flat. The barrel can be shortened if it needs to be, but I won't do that right now. Saturday the Click barrel I'd ordered arrived, but I'm returning it: it doesn't fit, at least not on my #2 clarinet and I'm pretty sure that means it won't fit on #1 either. The lower socket is too small for the upper joint tenon. A solid wood or plastic barrel could be opened up to fit, but the Click's lower socket is a thin plastic double wall, so I'm not going there. Maybe I'll start looking for a shorter wood or plastic barrel on eBay.
Also, the Easter Bunny came.
I missed band practice last week due to unloading the pod (and was going to miss it anyway due to Thornden Morris practice, but I skipped that too), and this week apparently there is no band practice (and I was going to miss it anyway due to Thornden Morris practice). So it seemed a good time to take my #1 clarinet to the shop. The guy my old high school band teacher recommended -- who was seconded by my new community band director -- used to work for one of the local music stores but went into business for himself when the store closed. Older guy, I'd say over 75 if he's a day. He looked over the clarinet, said the pads looked not bad... surprising since the information I have leads me to think they're over 50 years old, but certainly I haven't had any problems attributable to bad pads that I've noticed. And yes, the tenon corks do need replacing. I pointed out a sticking key. He's going to strip the instrument down and replace what needs it. Thinks it'll cost $65 to $75, which is less than I was expecting.
I mentioned the barrel to him. He agreed I need time to get my embouchure back to strength and that may be the sole reason I'm playing flat. The barrel can be shortened if it needs to be, but I won't do that right now. Saturday the Click barrel I'd ordered arrived, but I'm returning it: it doesn't fit, at least not on my #2 clarinet and I'm pretty sure that means it won't fit on #1 either. The lower socket is too small for the upper joint tenon. A solid wood or plastic barrel could be opened up to fit, but the Click's lower socket is a thin plastic double wall, so I'm not going there. Maybe I'll start looking for a shorter wood or plastic barrel on eBay.
Also, the Easter Bunny came.
