Klarinet Archive - Posting 000530.txt from 2000/10

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpieces - resistant or free blowing
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 13:34:48 -0400

At 11:33 AM 10/10/2000 EDT, you wrote:
>The fundamentals of acoustics tells us that all else being equal, a more
open
>tip provides more resistance. While it is not necessarily empirical fact
that
>asymmetry causes more resistance, it is reasonable from many players
>descriptions (including mine) that it adds rather than subtracts from
>resistance.

Well, the fundamentals of building strength tell us that building muscles
up begins with breaking them down. Then they build back stronger. The
underlying message is that our endurance is not dependent upon how long we
run or how hard we run but how we train for the length of the run we have
decided to run!

In contrast then, if we never try to build endurance with the open tip to
achieve the results that the open tip provides, we always lose endurance
when we try to test the theory. I'm saying that many players have
virtually no endurance problems with open mouthpieces because they train in
such a way as to avoid those pitfalls. As with any piece of equipment, you
trade one value for another.

>You've lost me. Neither of these have anything to do with the usefulness of
>selling mouthpieces as you state nor do they seem to fit the separate
>discussion of personal endurance.

Well, I wasn't referring to something you said - I was referring to
Walter's response. I don't necessarily believe that a more closed
mouthpiece results in better clarinet playing or better response, just that
more people are comfortable with a more closed mouthpiece to begin with -
ultimately if the mouthpieces we make are designed with those players in
mind, than we will sell more mouthpieces. I hope that makes more sense.

Kind of the same discussion could ensue if we discussed double tonguing or
if you should or should never use vibrato when playing the clarinet. Some
people are comfortable with the status quo because it feels good and works.
In most cases that's great. But I am arguing that, just because you
believe that for you a more closed, symetrical mouthpiece works best for
you, it doesn't apply to everyone. It's a proven fact - proven by people
who are as successful at what they are doing as you are at what you are doing.

My only argument is with the statement that says -

"It seems to me, implicit in this statement is the notion that something
extraordinary is available to one if they are willing to work extra hard at
what it takes to play a mouthpiece like this. In my opinion it is not
necessary to feel as though one needs to work hard to make a mouthpiece play
beautifully and reliably when it can be done just as well with less effort."

does not take into consideration that people are in fact playing a
mouthpiece "like this" (open and asymetrical) with great success. It
ignores that success that others have achieved. In a sense, while you
don't directly say it, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that open,
asymetrical mouthpieces are not valuable - at least not as valuable as
medium faced, symetrical mouthpieces. It seems that it is too ridgid a
statement considering the number of people who play on such mouthpieces!

If a person only makes a single type of mouthpiece - or stays away from the
more open mouthpieces, then that's fine. But to say that they do not work
or are less effiecient, etc. etc. it then appears to be a bias that ignores
other approaches.

Sincerely,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Symphonic Winds
Head, Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
(309) 556-3268

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

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