Klarinet Archive - Posting 000107.txt from 1998/11

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Starter Clarinet?
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 1998 16:05:55 -0500

On Wed, 4 Nov 1998, Michael Cogswell wrote:

> I would like to solicit some advice on selecting a clarinet for a complete
> beginner. What clarinet / mouthpiece / reed combinations seem to be a good
> starting point for a total (adult) novice?
>
> MikeC

It will be interesting to see what people answer!

As one who still teaches beginning students through adults and has taught
beginning band, I'll give my opinion - but many will have other opinions that may
be just as valid!

Preference:

Yamaha YLC 34 or Evette Schaeffer beginning model plastic clarinets
wood versions make no difference and I don't recommend
Yamaha stock mouthpiece is often very good - however, some alternatives:
Vandoren 5RV, Fobes student model & Hite student model (both
plastic), I face a hard rubber Babbitt blank for $35
Reed: Rico Royal 2 with a quick switch to Rico Royal 2.5
When they are ready for anything beyond that, move them
to Vandoren 3's.

If the person is an adult, I would still recommend the same except for the
mouthpiece - I would invest in a hard rubber mouthpiece.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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