Klarinet Archive - Posting 000418.txt from 1997/06

From: deerich@-----.net
Subj: Re: Experiment
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 1997 11:22:27 -0400

Mark Charette wrote:
> In the school district where we were formerly, all students
> had to buy a Vandoren 5RV mouthpiece before coming to band
> in middle school. Period. The band instructor (not a clarinet
> player, btw), understood the 5RV and could adjust the reeds enough
> to help each student. If each student played on a different
> mouthpiece, she felt that she couldn't spend enough time helping
> them with other things; she'd spend all her allotted "clarinet time"
> on finding the right reeds for the mouthpiece. Since the time allotted
> to each section of the band was rather limited, she wanted to make
> the best use of the time. She made exceptions for students with
> private teachers; however, most of the students in 6th grade
> didn't have private teachers.
>
> It made sense to me then (I had questioned why I had to spend another
> $70.00 on a mouthpiece) and it makes sense now. (I knew nothing
> about the mechanics of clarinet playing then; I think I know less
> now

So long as everyone knew why the teacher took this approach, I too agree
that it was reasonable approach (too often a teacher dictates equipment
choices without any explanation). I wonder if perhaps though she should
have allocated some of her teaching time to instructing the students on
finding and making simple adjustments to good reeds. This is important
even if everyone is playing the same mouthpiece.

My own school teachers did NOT take the time to find the right reeds for
the mouthpieces and did not even teach us where to look. I learned that
on my own later and also learned a great deal from my older daughter's
private teacher (I started taking her to one in the 6th grade). In
retrospect, I find this really strange as my school teachers did take
the time to schedule individual lessons with each student (something
that has been non-existant at the schools my daughters have gone to).

But what I am really after is an opinion on the amount of difference
that a quality mouthpiece will make on the sound of a student grade
instrument. Yes, I realize that this will be subjective but I am still
interested.

Looking forward to your input.

   
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