Klarinet Archive - Posting 000723.txt from 2001/01

From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Mouthpieces
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001 18:22:48 -0500

I haven't made myself clear. I'm not in the least suggesting that "playing
the same mouthpiece can or will give you the same tone as someone else who
plays the same mouthpiece." I think I said as much in the paragraph that
followed the one you quoted.

I'm only suggesting that if A can produce his sound on a Vandoren M15, then
at least I know that A's type of sound _can_ be produced on an M15. It's
almost certain I will _not_ be able to reproduce A's actual sound
characteristics because of all the variables other posters have cited, not
to mention that my skill level may never approach A's. But at least I will
know that the sound I'd like to produce can be gotten from an M15, and that
I therefore have the potential to produce something similar with it, which
is something I may not know at the outset about any other mouthpiece.

I also said that this way of choosing equipment makes less sense as a player
becomes more advanced, because the player naturally comes to rely less on
other people as models as his own internalized concepts develop strength. So
I'm suggesting that using A's equipment as a starting point is most useful
for the developing player who still relies heavily on A for stylistic and
tonal inspiration.

All of that said, I think the best way for a young or inexperienced player
to choose a mouthpiece is to take the advice of a skilled and experienced
teacher. There is equipment out there that is of good quality and
sufficiently generic that good technique will produce good basic results no
matter whose model is being emulated. Choices among slanted or straight
walls, open, medium or close tips, long or short curves, deep or shallow
baffles, concave or flat tables, etc. really are hard to make for a
developing player. Advice based on skill and experience can help avoid many
of the frustrations that can result from trying to make choices without
knowing how to evaluate their results.

Sometimes _I_ find these things confusing, and I've been at this for a long
time.

Finally having run out of breath...

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: William Wright [mailto:Bilwright@-----.net]
> Sent: Monday, January 22, 2001 10:25 AM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] Mouthpieces
>
>
> <><> Karl Krelove wrote:
> It makes sense, though, that if you admire a particular sound and would
> like to emulate it, you'd stand a better chance if you use equipment
> that is capable of producing that sound.
>
>
>
> I think that it is misleading to suggest that playing the same
> mouthpiece can or will give you the same tone as someone else who plays
> the same mouthpiece.
>
> For example, if I knew exactly which mouthpiece Richard Stoltzman
> uses, I think my chances of reproducing his tone (or anything near it)
> would be zero.... and this includes even if I used the same barrel and
> reed and clarinet body as he does.
>
> Cheers,
> Bill
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> 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
>
>
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
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