Klarinet Archive - Posting 000629.txt from 1995/05

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Lisa Clayton asks the most critical question in clarinetistry!!
Date: Mon, 22 May 1995 13:28:10 -0400

Lisa asks when to give up the mouthpiece that came with her clarinet
and buy a new (and presumably better) one?

There are no absolutes here, Lisa. It is possible to get a very fine
mouthpiece by the wildest of accidents, but it is not probable that
you will. As a working hypothesis, you should assume that the stock
mouthpiece that came with your instrument was made by the devil to do
nothing but hinder your ability to improve.

As for mouthpieces in general, I offer you the following question: if
a professional cannot play well on a poor mouthpiece, how is it
possible for a beginner to do so?

If one has a choice of a great clarinet and a lousy mouthpiece OR
a lousy clarinet and a great mouthpiece, there is no choice to be made.
The part between your mouth and the barrel is absolutely the most
critical part of the the instrument. It is the valve that will allow
wonderful things to happen or nothing at all to happen. And it is your
obligation to divest yourself of all possession, selling them all for
the sole purpose of buying a quality mouthpiece.

Nothing, absolutely nothing is more important. If you are married and
have children, sell them all into perpetual servitude and use the money
to buy the best mouthpiece made by peoplekind. If you are not married,
burn down your house, collect the insurance money, and buy mouthpieces.
If you don't have a house, or if you don't know how to make a fire,
consider walking out in front of a bus to collect that insurance, but
get rid of the stock mouthpiece at once before it does more damage to
you!

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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