Klarinet Archive - Posting 000549.txt from 1998/01

From: Dee Hays <deerich@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Beginner Beginner teacher questions
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 11:47:38 -0500

Lane G White wrote:

> .... This is actually the 2nd student whose progress was completely stifled
> by
> the wretched mouthpiece that came with the horn (the other one couldn't
> even get a consistent tone until she got another mp).
>
> Three questions:
>
> - are there any other teaching suggestions as to instilling the correct
> right-hand position?

It sounds like you're doing all you can.

>
>
> - I don't suppose any of us would argue that most student mouthpieces are
> fairly impossible, but would I be going overboard if I more or less
> required future students to have one of a few "approved" mouthpieces?
> I've always resisted the idea of teachers telling students what to play,
> but in the context of teaching beginners who have no ideas of their own
> and who are just assuming that that piece of garden hose that came with
> their Vito is really a mouthpiece, I'm beginning to think I would save
> them a lot of grief.
>

Parents may resist "requiring" this after having laid out money on the
clarinet. However "strongly suggest" with an explanation of why you want
this would be reasonable. And of course if you have a student with a
definite problem, you would need to insist on a change.

> - What are some inexpensive, but decent basic mouthpieces? I've been
> telling them to get Vandoren B45s, and pointing them to
> Woodwind/Brasswind at about $50 plus shipping.
>
> Gary

I have read that many people find the Hites satisfactory for students. They
are only about half the price of the Vandorens. They are a mass produced,
plastic mouthpiece but more care seems to have gone into their design and
production. But I cannot speak of my own experience.

The only person I teach is my daughter (I am an engineer, not a music
educator) so that's about the limit of what I can come up with.

Dee Hays
deerich@-----.net
Canton, SD