Woodwind Instruments

The 4-0 is a better made flute than the student model 18-0. The 4-0 is a low end professional horn.

This is a good general question (especially since the asker didn't specify which manufacturer or model his clarinet is).

With wooden wind instruments, through the centuries during which they have been made, different markings were used to identify the maker, model, individual craftsman, and even special attributes. Additionally, modern instruments have a development history, and 'original instruments' or 'historical instruments' can often be identified by their key arrangement, the number of keys, and in some cases, the materials used for keys, pads, bushings, ferrules and other such aspects.

One thing which is least likely to help in identifying single-reed instruments' age is the mouthpiece, because the mouthpiece can be worn, broken or 'chewed' until they must be replaced. The remainder of the instruments are much more likely to survive in their original condition.

So. The first thing to do is determine if the instrument is a modern or precursor form. With Clarinets, this can be an interesting process, but it is always safe to say that a plastic instrument is less than 100 years old. Wooden instruments may be any age, and their modernity is determined by the number and arrangement of keys: Bassoons and clarinets moreso than Saxophones (which have been pretty standardized for a long time and were invented in the 1860's, so aren't likely to be older than that!) Flutes have existed side-by-side for decades with very different-appearing key arrangements, because of "open-hole" and "closed-hole" key arrangements. In any case, there are books which show the evolution of key arrangements and might lend a clue.

If your instrument is modern, it is possible that the company which makes it has changed it's appearance (for instance, Ivory was once used as a decoration and strengthener for joints with regularity, but because of poaching laws, is rarely-to-no-longer-available: the year that a manufacturer stopped using ivory and started using plastic or metal would be an easy ball-park indicator of age.) Also, small marks, which might be difficult to find, or might be in plain sight and never considered, might given an indication of the manufacturer, maker, craftsman, etc.

One final possibility is that your instrument might have a serial number that you just don't know about: Sometimes they were placed under the long parts of keys, especially where those long runs involved more than one tube or key-shaft. This would be an obvious place to 'hide' a serial number on an instrument where the manufacturer felt that a serial number would be too mechanical-looking or 'plebeian' to be in plain sight!

The first one to talk to about this is your instrument repairman. When he services an instrument, often the first step is to remove all the screws and shafts/tubing so he can inspect the pivots to ensure that they are properly fixed. At this point, he would have full view of all hidden surfaces. Additionally, repairmen often know (by sight or feel) the specifics of the instruments they regularly work on, and also study the instruments in their variations so they are prepared for undertaking repairs without surprises.

No, I can't play the Sax. I assume you want your sentence put into correct English. Can you play, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," on the saxophone?"

Oboe

Yes

To play the lowest "f": With the left hand, press the thumb key, first, middle, and ring fingers down in their corresponding holes, and with the right hand, press down with your first, middle, ring, and pinky ( on the bottom left paddle) ( looking at it in your hands)

To play a normal "f": Use your left thumb and cover the hole.

To play a High "f" ( top of the bar line ):pretend you are playing a Bb, and add the register key.

This is how to play 3 different octaves of "F".

The Oboe originated in France around 1655 - 1770.

No boys can play it too.

Try looking at double reed specific stores such as forests double reed supply or on ebay

For some strange reason music for the clarinet is hard to find for most jazz and rock pieces. I would suggest getting a like-instrument part and transposing it. I would find a tenor sax part and just play that.

Your right hand goes on the bottom half of the clarinet. The side of your thumb goes underneath the holding piece of the back of your clarinet. The other fingers wrap around to cover the holes. your left hand wraps around so that your ring finger covers the last hole on the top half of the clarinet, your middle finger covers the middle hole, and the pointer covers the top hole. The left thumb covers the hole in the back of the top half of the clarinet.

The number on the reed indicates the thickness of the reed. A thinner reed is easier to blow, but also is more delicate and does not last as long. Most beginners start with a lower number reed and, as their "chops" develop, move up to a higher number. Higher numbered reeds also improve quality of sound. It is most common to see a professional using a 2 1/2 - 3 saxophone reed.

The Vito Reso-tone is a great instrument for beginners. I play Vito Reso-tone Bass Clarinet, I've played a regular Vito clarinet as well.

Well, it evolved thorugh time from the Chalumeau, but it is said it was invented by Johann Christoph Denner at the turn of the 18th century when he added a register key.

no, it is a completely natural form of your mouth, when playing

If you refer to the word "vibrato" yes you can, but a little bit.

Long time ago, specially in the world of jazz it was customary to use a lot of vibrato with the clarinet, but nowadays more modern players use little or no vibrato at all.

There are different tastes out there, some people like it some people don't. The main purpose for making music is to create something beautiful, and if you can do that with or without vibrato it really doesn't matter.

each one is $44 and the reeds are $2-$3

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HUGE range. Student (plastic) model as low as $10 for a generic "non name" model, with name brand hitting upwards of $50. Hard rubber, name brand models go up from there quickly and can hit several hundred dollars.

There are several large on-line dealers that provide quality service, reasonable prices and have excellent return policies.

A great website for pictures would be on his website, at http://www.martinfrost.se/, or you can search Google Images for "Martin Frost".

That is a Pan pipe.

Although we don't have available a date or place of origin, nor are there recorded the names of the individuals who are responsible for the development of the oboe, we do know that it is from the middle 17th century. It's original name was hautbois or shawm.

charlie Parker, Ornette Coleman, Johnny Dankworth

Tacit means you don't play.

i play oboe and its oboes not obi

They are very similar. The oboe has a more round bell hen the clarinet does. The oboe also has a double reed so the "mouthpiece" is different.