Klarinet Archive - Posting 000585.txt from 1995/12

From: Bill Page <BPage3@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Re Tammi Spencer's comment on uniformity
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 1995 08:03:02 -0500

Dan Leeson's response to Tammi's comments...

"When I read that posting, I did a slow burn and vowed that I would
calm down before posting anything on what appeared to me to be a supreme act
of stupidity...there are also a few foolish (teachers) who impact far too
many students in an adverse fashion...I'm going to bed. My teeth hurt from
clenching them."

reminded me that when I started playing clarinet in the 7th grade, my teacher
recommended (not insisted) that all of us use VanDoren 2RV mouthpieces with
number two-and-a-half reeds. His argument was not one of sound, so much as
it was of more efficient learning. He believed that with rented student
clarinets of varying quality, the use of a more professional level mouthpiece
with standard reeds would make it easier to learn to get a good sound.

Made sense to me when I tried to learn guitar on a $20 box I bought at a pawn
shop which had strings nearly an inch above the neck...later when I tried to
play a Martin I realized that, had I owned a good guitar when I was 17, I
might have actually learned to play the dang thing.

BTW, I still use a B45 mouthpiece with my old Buffet.

I've logged out until after the new year...y'all have a happy Christmas --
and call me if you come to Tampa...

Bill Page
904-666-7662