Klarinet Archive - Posting 000984.txt from 1998/02

From: Rich & Tani Miller <musicians@-----.net>
Subj: Re: "You get ONE choice...."
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 16:05:52 -0500

You don't necessarily have to just try one mouthpiece. Woodwind and
Brasswind will allow you to try several mouthpieces and then return the
one(s) you don't want. They may charge a small fee for returning
mouthpieces. I love my Gigliotti (boy I hope I spelled that correctly on
this listserv) but it's probably not a great mouthpiece for jazz playing.
One of my students played a solo with his high school jazz band at a
competitive festival on the same type of mouthpiece. One of the
adjudicators commented that he had a wonderful "classical" sound but it
wasn't really appropriate for the style he was playing. I took it as a
compliment (he was just accepted at Temple!) but realized that a different
mouthpiece might have more flexibility for jazz playing.

Back to the original topic, I've had several students try three or four
mouthpieces at a time from Woodwind. Make sure you know what ones you
want to try or they'll choose for you--I wasn't real impressed with their
choices.

Ken Wolman wrote:

> I've read the stuff on the sneezy.org page and consulted the relevant
> homepages for manufacturers, I've gone through the archives...so nobody
> tell me to RMFP:-).
>
> I want to experiment with mouthpieces. I used to think the mouthpiece
> came with the clarinet, you replaced it only if it fell out of a
> window or you used it as a doorstop. I guess not.
>
> The one that came with the Selmer is a Selmer HS*. It's probably real
> good, I just want to experiment a bit as I get back into playing
> again. I've already discovered that a Vandoren Optimum ligature makes
> a world of difference, so why not a mouthpiece.
>
> What I'm trying to get into is jazz playing and improvisation. That's
> the objective. Given that...given the fact I'm buying myself ONE
> mouthpiece for now...what do you advise?
>
> If you had to pick your absolutely favorite mouthpiece for jazz....
>
> Ken Wolman