Klarinet Archive - Posting 000069.txt from 1994/03

From: Cary Karp <nrm-karp@-----.SE>
Subj: Re: Bb and A
Date: Sat, 5 Mar 1994 08:46:14 -0500

On Fri, 4 Mar 1994, Tom Ascher wrote:

> I am
> curious though, since this is my first A clarinet, if anyone has suggestions
> on use. Like, should I use the same mouthpiece I use on my B-b clarinets
> (a Selmer C*, a Vandoren B-46), or does it work better to use a different
> mouthpiece on an A? Any suggestions welcomed!

Since one often has to switch rapidly between the A and Bb it is common
to use a single mouthpiece for both. If nothing else, this saves the
uncertainty of confronting a dry reed on the mouthpiece which has been
patiently waiting for some use. It is entirely possible that the best
mouthpiece in your collection for the one instrument is not the best for
the other instrument, so you may have to start searching for the mouthpiece
that provides the generally best results on both the A and Bb.

As far as practicing goes, simply make sure that both instruments get
equal time. Since there is a general bias towards using the Bb more, you
may end up doing most of your woodshedding on the A. In fact, as long as
the A feels less familiar, perhaps it should get more than half of your
playing time?

There is, by the way, no intrinsic reason for the A to be weaker in any
part of its range than is the Bb. Since modern manufacturers spend more
time fussing with the design of the Bb (hunting the elusive cheapo but
good student instrument) many Bb models are freer from bugs. It's in the
nature of the design effort, not the animal, itself.