When you perform, your instrument becomes an extension of your body. You both are like one body (how romantic).
But because you are one body, the sound you think you produce with your clarinet, is not the sound you are really producing.
If you were a trumpet (just imagining) you would feel your entire body vibrating to make the sound come out. You’ll hear it well (as a trumpet) but not exactly as clean and beautiful as someone from the audience.
Because you are it; and you are vibrating—your vibration avoids a clean reception of the sound you make.
Now, coming back to the person you are. When practicing, you must think about the last guy up in the last row of the hall. The one with no money and could only afford the cheapest seat.
He has to hear you clean and beautifully. So you have to play (perhaps) a bit louder/scratchy to reach him. Even if you sound scratchy here on stage, it may not up there. It may not for the people in the front row either.
How to know (and how to practice):
· Use your ghost—Imagine you are a ghost and you hear the sound from just outside your body. This takes practice and training, but you must know what kind of sound you are producing from outside of your body, and how to change it according to the hall or venue. If you’ve never tried this before, then try:
· A recording device—At least one of your gadgets at home has one. Use it. Try different volumes and characters and see how it sounds for you as an instrument and from the outside. Then, train your ghost so you can keep doing it when your phone runs out of battery.
Remember, you are an extension of your instrument, isn’t that awesome? Learn how to hear yourself from out there! It will give you a whole new perspective on technique and music.
For the Empire!
CESAR AVILES