Klarinet Archive - Posting 000462.txt from 1996/05

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fredj@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Doubling Advice
Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 15:11:14 -0400

Randy,
I teach both clarinet and sax and have students whom I teach to
double. The general wisdom is to chose a mouthpiece which is closest to
the primary instrument. In this case, a sax mouthpiece which RESPONDS
(but not particlarly which physically FEELS) most
like a clarinet mouthpiece. I use a Meyer #5 (on Tenor, a #4). Other
less "wild/uncontrolled" mouthpieces are the Selmer S80, the Vandoren A35,
the Berg Larsen, the David Hite, the Morgan and lord knows how many other
"doublers'" mouthpieces. The alternatives are Jazz mouthpieces with a very
large bore and shallow scoop such as the Wolf Tayne, Rovner, Meyer 6-8,
most metal mouthpieces, Dukoff, etc.
These are BIG, BRASSY mouthpieces which sound great for jazz but are
very questionable for classical doubling/shows. Hope this helps.

Fred Jacobowitz
Clarinet/Sax INstructor, Peabody Preparatory

On Fri, 17 May 1996, Randy_P.Fotiu wrote:

> I would like some alto sax mouthpiece advice and I thought some of the
> clarinet players that double on sax might be able to help out. My son
> plays the piano now and wants to play the alto sax in the school band.
> I would like to start him off with a good quality mouthpiece and probably
> a student quality horn. What are some mouthpieces you can recommend
> for a beginning student?
>
> Also, I might like to try out the sax. I play the clarinet with a
> mouthpiece that has a relatively long facing and a medium-close tip
> opening with a 3 + reed. In terms of mouthpiece and its setup, are
> there any special considerations for clarinet players doubling on the
> alto sax? When I decided to play the clarinet in grade school one of the
> advantages in favor of selecting the clarinet was the possibility of
> doubling on the sax, but so far I haven't played more that a couple
> dozen notes on the sax. Thanks in advance.
>