Klarinet Archive - Posting 000385.txt from 1997/04

From: Lord Rob <rteitelbaum@-----.EDU>
Subj: RE: kids, equipment, reeds--when?
Date: Thu, 17 Apr 1997 08:58:22 -0400

Kim,

Being a highly opinionated person, I am naturally happy to offer my
thoughts on this subject. First of all, I think the band director you talked
to who wants to put all his clarinetists on the same setup is making a huge
mistake, unless his students are all beginners. My own high school band
director tried to do a similar thing (he was a brass player, as most So.
California band directors seem to be) and I asked him if he would advocate
putting all his trumpet players on the same mouthpiece. He said "Of course
not, different players have different embouchures and mouth shapes." Then
comprehension suddenly flashed across his face as he realized that reed
players, although far smarter than brass players (couldn't resist), are not
biologically different. The fact is that one person's optimal setup may be
a disaster for another.

That said, I think the best time to start getting better equipment is as
soon as it becomes reasonably clear that the child is going to stick with the
instrument and be committed to practicing it. I mean, it doesn't do to buy a
child an R-13 and have them quit after 2 years. On the other hand, I agree
with you that better equipment may bring more enjoyment to the playing.
At least, it certainly did for me. It was in the 9th grade that I stepped up
from a cheap wood clarinet out of the '50's to a Buffet E-13, and shortly
after of course I started looking for a good reed/mouthpiece setup to match.
I feel this was the optimal time, as it wasn't until high school that I really
started taking the clarinet seriously.

As for the reeds, I think it couldn't hurt to discuss soaking and rotating with
them, but as far as actually trying to find the reed that's best for them, it
seems that would be somewhat pointless to do before their embouchure
develops fully. And remember that when they eventually buy a good
mouthpiece, they'll probably have to find a different type of reed than the one
they used on their previous mouthpiece. Of course, these are just my
seldom-humble opinions.

Rob Teitelbaum
Claremont McKenna College