Klarinet Archive - Posting 000075.txt from 1998/07

From: thomas@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Re: Reeds for Beginners
Date: Sun, 5 Jul 1998 09:44:04 -0400

I don't think the question should be whether it's a certain brand that's
good or bad for beginners, but whether whatever the child is using is proper
for a child so as not to develop bad habits, or whether whatever the child
is using is *hindering* progress.

Most kids, when they start, are in group lessons. Taking the time to work
on reeds is not an option. Ricos are not that bad for beginners. I know of
one former clarinet teacher in my school who insisted the clarinets use
Mitchell Luries. When I got there, the kids all had fuzzy tones, I switched
them over to the Ricos and voila, no more tone fuzz.

I would be more concerned with the mouthpiece - and even then I wouldn't
*make any student buy a good mouthpiece (or VanDoren reeds) until they
reached a certain level of ability or maturity (physical and playing). The
school district in which I live rents Armstrong instruments, the clarinets
come with H-Couf mouthpieces. These are pieces of junk, no kid can play on
anything higher than a 2 or 2-1/2 reed on them, therefore they all play
flat. So I convinced their teacher to tell them right off, go get the Hite
Premiere. That is a really great mouthpiece for the money, great for kids,
you really can't beat it. And that's what I mean about proper for a child.

Lynn
thomas@-----.com

********

Sometimes the note sees the attack coming,
and retreats........ ;)
-- Niles Crane

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