Klarinet Archive - Posting 000598.txt from 1998/09

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Vandoren 2 1/2's
Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 02:09:26 -0400

At 06:32 PM 9/16/98 EDT, JCLizmod wrote:
>We had our first clarinet lessons today- I'm on a medium reed, and my teacher
>advised us to switch to Vandoren 2 1/2's . I was wondering if at 7th grade
>level Vandoren 3's would make much of a difference in my playing? Also, is
>there a difference in difficulty between the two?
>
Has your instructor checked what mouthpiece you are using, much less what
your embouchure looks like? For example, on alto sax I use Vandoren 2 1/2
or Hemke 3 with a Selmer C* mouthpiece for concert playing, but LaVoz
Medium with my metal Otto Link for jazz playing. Too many teachers decide
that a particular brand and strength of reed is the only one, and force
everyone in that direction. It may work for THEM, but each person's
embouchure is different, not to mention their equipment. Vandoren makes
fine reeds, but they do not make the ONLY fine reeds. While I don't want
to tell you to ignore your teacher, ultimately you have to use what works
for YOU, NOT the teacher.

Sorry, but you hit one of my hot buttons.

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.

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