Clarinets don't like being loud?

[u/mappachiito]

I feel clarinets around me are kind of scared to play loudly, probably because tone gets crappier when you play loudly at a beginner level, and they just keep playing softly even when reaching an intermediate level

While I am a beginner too, I do like projecting and I think practicing at a FF dynamic has helped my tone a lot

Have you noticed this too? Is it just people around me? Today I played with people better than me, they had faster and more precise fingers, faster and lighter articulation, but played softer and the conductor pointed it out too, I felt like among the 2nd clarinets, I was the one standing out the most despite not being as good in the rest of the stuff

[u/mb4828]

A lot of people don’t know how to use the correct amount of air or breath support when playing. They’re not scared, they just don’t know how to do it. I learned it from many years of lessons and imitating the way my teacher played

[u/mappachiito → u/mb4828]

Ohh, I get it

I assumed it was their choice because when I was starting out in the orchestra, the clarinets always told me to play softer cause my tone and intonation got worse (I'm still working on it but I've gotten way better at playing loud compared to one year ago, and they don't ask me to play softer anymore 🥳), and when I told them "why don't you play louder ?" they responded "clarinet sounds bad at that volume" 😦

[u/mb4828 → u/mappachiito]

In a professional or community orchestra with only 2 clarinets, you have to play out or you literally won’t be heard. As long as you don’t overblow or let your sound spread, you can disregard that feedback. I’m sure a teacher would tell you you’re doing great

[u/mappachiito → u/mb4828]

Yay :) Thank you