Klarinet Archive - Posting 000115.txt from 1996/10

From: Sherri Hill <sheba@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Mouthpiece question
Date: Sat, 5 Oct 1996 16:52:47 -0400

On 2 Oct 90 at 18:47, John McFalls wrote :

> How should I clean my clarinet mouthpiece?

A repair man and a very good Clarinetist ( two people ) gave me this advice:

1) Do not ever put a mouthpiece (ebonite or hard rubber ) in warm or hot
water, it may warp.

2) To clean it you should use a Q-tip and alcohol.

3) If you want to swab it after playing, get a mouthpiece chamois swab. Try to
NOT use the cotton pull thru that you use on the rest of the Clarinet. They
are different material and should be treated that way. The cotton swab will
slowly scrape off the insides of the mouthpiece. It is not a sgnificant amount,
but it can alter the moutpiece enough so it doesn't seem like the same one you
originally purchased.

Oh dear, this reminds me of a story. Does everybody want to laugh or cringe? Or
both?

When I first started the Clarinet I rented one. And I was lucky it was a wood
one, not great, but pretty good. Well after a year of playing I didn't like
the smell and didn't think the swabbing was enough so I ran the parts under
warm water !!!! I played that same instrument for many years, not realizing
what I did. My teacher looked at it one day and asked why the wood inside felt
so rough? I couldn't imagine why, I only washed it I said with some water.
Ooops. True. Guilty as charged.

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-Sherri (Sheba@-----.net)
This is the sig for October 5, 1996; Day 279 of 366
How much time he saves who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does
or thinks.
- Marcus Aurelius
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Madness has no purpose. Or reason. But it may have a goal. - Spock
Quoth the Raven, Eat My Shorts.
Sir, I protest! I am NOT a Merry Man! _ Worf
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