Klarinet Archive - Posting 000564.txt from 1998/01

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Beginner Beginner teacher questions
Date: Sun, 11 Jan 1998 17:09:31 -0500

At 09:25 AM 1/11/98 EST, Lane G. White wrote:
>- 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.
>
>- What are some inexpensive, but decent basic mouthpieces?

Sorry, but I am inclined to disagree with your blanket condemnation of
"student" mouthpieces. Most are designed to have very neutral
characteristics: medium lay, medium bore, and should be perfectly playable
by most people, assuming they are not chipped up. They may not be the
ultimate in tone, but they should be relatively easy to blow, matched with
an appropriate reed. Inspect, or even try it first, before you condemn a
new student's mouthpiece. I started out playing a Goldentone, about as
cheap as they come, and it is still among my favorites. Yamahas are also
pretty good. I currently use one on my bass.

I've been
>telling them to get Vandoren B45s, and pointing them to
>Woodwind/Brasswind at about $50 plus shipping.
>
How about giving us local retailers a crack at some of the business, eh?

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.