Klarinet Archive - Posting 000855.txt from 2000/10

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] embouchures, mouthpieces, reeds
Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 11:06:47 -0400

At 11:06 AM 10/15/2000 -0400, you wrote:
>Back to this mouthpiece deal, I do think sometimes that it would be nice if
>there were perhaps more facings available for beginners. It is expensive to
>experiment with mouthpieces, though, so it is almost impossible to provide,
>say two symmetrical facings for beginners and two asymmetrical facings, all
>at a fairly reasonable price. And, as all of us who teach these little
>demons know, that is where it all comes into play for young students and
>parents.

I have only recently stopped teaching beginning students (regrettably - but
had to because of time constraints taking private students). I absolutely
LOVED teaching beginners - no bad habits formed, no inhibitions about what
they can or can't do, etc. A plyable mold waiting to be created!

So, having said that, I want to stress that while Patty seems to have hit
on an idea - more facings for beginners, I really think what we need is
more consistant and useable mouthpieces for beginners - with less facings!
In other words, some people believe that a beginner should start on a
mouthpiece with a tip opening of 1.01-05. I know Richard Hawkins believes
no one should begin on a mouthpiece with a greater tip than 1.05 (at least,
that's what he said three years ago - people can change opinions over
time!!). But for me, I have the best luck with the 1.10-1.13 tip opening
for beginners - and a medium curve. Coupled with the right reed, any
beginner should be able to produce a characteristic tone and form a very
strong embouchure with this kind of mouthpiece. The trick is not to start
them on a medium open or plain open mouthpiece. AND......be sure that the
brand you are getting is very consistant. I don't think anyone makes a
more consistant, low priced plastic than Clark Fobes. His Debut (I hope I
got that name right) is exceptional for a plastic mouthpiece. While I have
gone on record in the past about plastic mouthpieces (I just don't
recommend them......USUALLY), Clark's is the exception. I have one - and I
like it. I prefer a hard rubber for a variety of reasons.

>A question for Walter, Roger, Clark Greg Smith and the other makers on the
>list: I understand that there are several materials that blanks are made
>of. What material is the most common for beginner mouthpieces ? Is it
>Acrylic ?

And what a perfect segue from above.

What is best? Probably what sounds best. There are reasons the pros play
on hard rubber (generally) and crystal I guess. I know that Bob Spring
likes the acrylic Pyne, and many people swear by Hite's plastic mouthpieces.

What is the most common? Hmmm.....I've seen a lot of beginning players -
especially when I taught beginning band during my public school days (one
of my favorite classes by the way) - and I saw just about everything - from
Grandpa's almost mint hard rubber Kaspar in a vintage Buffet case (I never
did find a good way to aks the parents if I could buy that Kaspar), to a
white plastic, chipped, no-name with a tip/curve that was so flat you could
probably use it for a coaster.

Lately, it seems the plastic mouthpieces that come with the horn are the
most frequently seen. Some teachers in certain districts require the stock
mouthpiece to be removed and have a brand/model of mouthpiece put in with
the beginning rental/sales instruments. In fact, the Woodwind/Brasswind
recently ordered 20 K models from me - and I asked if they were going to
one locaton, the answer was yes. A school district ordered 20 of them for
the beginning cases. *whew* But those are hard rubber and are the exception.

Yamaha was putting hard rubber mouthpieces with their beginning line (YCL
24, 34, etc.), but I don't know if that is true this year.

>If I seem more than a little into this whole thing with beginners and
>equipment, it is because I feel that the band programs and teachers (at
>least where I am) just don't do the job...okay, I won't get started on this.

Why not? For information sake, many of them are not clarinetists (although
that's not a great excuse). At the very least, they should provide a list
of acceptable brands/combinations/reeds etc. that the students should pick
from, and they should ask their local stores to carry those brands. Many
do not.

Hope this helps......I expect you will get a lot of posts on this one.

Sincerely,
Roger Garrett

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

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org