Klarinet Archive - Posting 000259.txt from 1997/08

From: "Jeroen T. Salm" <jtsalm@-----.nl>
Subj: Re: Reed strength - Kell story
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 1997 19:16:52 -0400

hello all,
How strange: it's common here (Netherlands-Europe) to begin (the children
who start playing clarinet) with Vandoren (French cut) #1,5 or 2. We end
with 2,5 or 3 (so for the professionals!). Why this huge difference in reed
strength between USA and (parts of) Europe? Average mouthpiece: Vandoren
B40/45
Does someone have a clue? I find this quite interesting...I mean: we (soft
reed blowers) also search for clear sound, dark colour, clearness,
flexibility, clear altissimo register...etc. etc.
(for instance: Walter Boeykens: 2,5-3 : Karl Leister: 2,5 )

yours truly,

Jeroen T. Salm
The Netherlands
jtsalm@-----.nl

----------
| Van: David C. Blumberg <reedman@-----.com>
| Aan: klarinet@-----.us
| Onderwerp: Reed strength - Kell story
| Datum: maandag 4 augustus 1997 15:12
|
| This conversation reminds me of a Reginald Kell story I heard once.
| Mr. Kell was performing in Denver, and went to a local music store asking
| for Vandoren #2 reeds (I'm pretty sure that was the strength). The music
| store clerk (yeh, you know....) said to him " here is a box of #3's - all
| the good players play on these."
|
| David C. Blumberg
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Date: Sun, 03 Aug 1997 10:25:54 -0400
| From: "Craig E. G. Countryman" <cegc@-----.net>
| Subject: Re: Student Books (Vandoren 3.5)
|
| Indeed, the Vandoren 3.5 is too stiff for any beginner. I started on
| 3s, and 2.5s for a time, before graduating to the 3.5. I think the
| beginner should be more concerned with making a tone, and working on
| rounding it as well as the embouchure.
|
| The stronger reed just polishes the tone, and adds the ability for a
| much clearer altissimo register, the latter of which the beginner will
| not need right away, and the former which I believe should first be
| worked on with embouchure.
|
| - ----------------
| Craig Countryman
| cegc@-----.net
| David C. Blumberg
| reedman@-----.com