Klarinet Archive - Posting 000697.txt from 1997/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: A Beginner's Question - Cleaning a mouthpiece
Date: Sat, 13 Sep 1997 18:20:42 -0400

When I was in college, I swabbed my mouthpiece regularly....and it wore
the tip down. The clarinet is much less likely to wear than the interior
of a mouthpiece......made of hard rubber or plastic. I like the silk
swabs...less abrasive than cotton and more absorbent. Do what you
like...it's your mouthpiece! However, my advice to my students is based
on the experience of having worn a mouthpiece down....luckilly, it was not
one I would play for life!

Roger Garrett

On Sat, 13 Sep 1997 GTGallant@-----.com wrote:

> If swabbing kills your mouthpiece, why run it through the clarinet?
> Clarinets cost about 20 times more than the average mouthpiece, and should
> you rinse it with water and let it air dry? Absolutely not. The amount of
> wear a cotton or soft material swab will produce is insignifigant - as long
> as no sharp metal or plastic is protruding from the weighted end.
> Mouthpieces can easily be cleaned with a mild soap (dishwashing liquid, hand
> soap). My opinion and advice....swab my dear, swab!
>