Klarinet Archive - Posting 000282.txt from 1997/02

From: Jrykorten@-----.com
Subj: Re: Mouthpiece Cheese
Date: Sun, 9 Feb 1997 14:23:11 -0500

On Feb 9th Sherri wrote that

-Sherri mailto:sheba@-----.net

>On 7 Feb 97 , Frank Garcia wrote :

>> I have a wierd question. Some of my students have expressed their disgust
>> at the appearance of my mouthpiece which has a white, chalky ring around
>> it. I joke around about it with them, calling it "barnacles" and "cheese".
>> I Have never been able to get totally rid of this stuff. I have tried
>> scraping it, vibrating it in a jewelry cleaner and plain old soaking in
>> soap & water, but none seems to do the trick. Any suggestions? Are there
>> any chemicals I could use that are non-abrasive, won't discolor the
>> mouthpiece and won't kill me?

>Is one way of preventing this, brushing your teeth before playing? I carry
>a toothbrush, sometimes I go from a day job to a rehearsal or show with no
>time to go home in between. And my mouthpieces haven't gotten this way.

Not the case, this is saliva that leaks from the corners of and from the
surface of wet lipped players that evaporates to leave the minerals that are
the natural composition of our bodily fluids (similar in concentration to the
ocean!).

You want no deposits, use dry lips instead. Not as sensual for romantic
music, but OK for Berg.

Some earlier writers wrote about using toxic chemicals on mouthpieces...
since we don't know how much is absorbed by the mouthpiece and subsequently
leaks into the mouth I highly recommend against these chemicals. Just my
opinion.

Jerry Korten
NYC