Klarinet Archive - Posting 000412.txt from 1997/06

From: deerich@-----.net
Subj: Experiment
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 10:04:48 -0400

I have always been interested in the development of student musicians
and the quality of various levels of instruments. Often a student
starts with a plastic instrument and uses the mouthpiece that came with
it. Since this is a very inexpensive mouthpiece and the mouthpiece does
have a major affect on the sound, has any one tried the following
experiment:

Step 1. Play the student plastic instrument with its original
mouthpiece
Step 2. Play that same instrument with a quality mouthpiece.
Step 3. Note the differences.

If you have or have access to the clarinets and mouthpieces to try this,
I would be interested in the results. I don't have access to the
plastic clarinets and student mouthpieces or I would try this myself.

I have always believed that the mouthpiece makes a significant impact on
the sound and that this would be true on student instruments as well.
Also if this is true and documented, it would provide an avenue for
serious junior high and high school students to get a better sound even
though a better clarinet might too much for them or their family to pay
for.