Klarinet Archive - Posting 000347.txt from 1996/03

From: "Daniel A. Paprocki" <dap@-----.US>
Subj: Re: equipment choices
Date: Wed, 13 Mar 1996 10:19:21 -0500

Lawrence,
First, find a good teacher. Check the professional orchestra or
university in your area. Do some lessons with that person. They could
give you some advice or might have some mouthpieces for you to try. They
also can check to see if you embrouchure is right or other mechanical
aspects of your playing check out.
For equipment, the two most important (actually they're all
important) things are: a good mouthpiece and a well adjusted clarinet. You
might want to have a good woodwind craftsman like Clark Fobe do an overhaul
on it - it's well worth it. Mouthpieces are really a personal preference.
Get good reeds - V12 or whatever. The ligature isn't that important
(compaired to mouthpiece, reeds, and well adjusted clarinet). Ligatures,
again are a personal choice. The best way to sellect a ligature is find a
music store with 6 or 7 different types and try them or go to a clarinet
conference (the Oklamhoma conf is top notch) and spend a couple of hours
trying clarinet toys like we all do.
Professionals play with a variety of setups. It all boils down to
what you like or what works for you but the first play to stop is in
finding the best teacher in the area and join the Clarinet Association -
you get a quarterly magazine with all sorts of clarinet articles and ads
for clarinet toys.

Dan

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Daniel A. Paprocki
dap@-----.us

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