Klarinet Archive - Posting 001135.txt from 1997/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: bad tone
Date: Sun, 26 Oct 1997 12:57:01 -0500

Number of years playing has no impact whatsoever on when a person moves to
a harder reed. Reed strength is determined by:

mouthpiece facing
embouchure strength
the way a student uses their air

Many students are ready for a Vandoren 3 (on a David Hite Premire
mouthpiece) within ten weeks.......some of my best young students are
ready by then. I have two right now who are 7th graders who are on V-12
4's on a Robert Scott mouthpiece with a 118 facing. They were on 3's
within 8 weeks. These two 7th graders are terrific young players...one
was just seated 2nd chair IMEA (IL) ahead of 8th and 9th graders, and she
is working on Mozart 1st mvt (Concerto)....which she is ready for.

Roger Garrett

On Sun, 26 Oct 1997 Cheddar99@-----.com wrote:

> Size 3 and they've only been playing for 10 weeks????? I just switched to
> vandoren 3s two years ago and I've been playing for 7 years. the new students
> need to play on much softer reeds. I started on 2s and went up to 2 1/2 my
> second year. This student is probably playng flat because she's not
> supporting her sound. Make sure she is breathing from her diaphram
>
> KD
> Los Altos, California
>