Klarinet Archive - Posting 000865.txt from 2001/01

From: "William J. Pontarelli" <bill@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet Choice
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 14:44:08 -0500

This is the first time in months that I have ever responded to any
message I have gotten from Klarinet. I just enjoy reading them and learning
from them. When I read about the teacher that says that all his students
play the same mouthpiece it reminded me of the time just recently I went to
a guy in the symphony to smooth out my technique and improve my hand
position and finger position. He tried to change the barrel I was using and
increased the strength of my reed and changed my ligature and mouthpiece and
even suggested that I get a new clarinet. Now, I am a professional jazz
clarinetist (you know, bending and squeezing notes lots of vibrato, hard
phrasing on the off beat, punching and wavering notes) and all I wanted was
to improve my technique. I asked him how everyone could play the same
mouthpiece and strength of reed when everyones tooth position, palate
height, and throat opening are different and that sound is dictated by one's
oral anatomy. He couldn't answer me. I told him that vandoren reeds are
too stiff for me to play but he insisted I play them. I read him a passage
from Buddy Defranco's new book that said that it was nearly impossible to
play jazz on a classical setup but he ignored me. There are lots of guys
out there like the one you described.

Dr. Jazz
-----Original Message-----
From: Will Cicola <clarinetguy@-----.net>
Date: Thursday, January 25, 2001 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: [kl] Clarinet Choice

>>I had a very maddening experience yesterday.
>>
>>I sent a private high school student to a very well-respected School of
>>Music for an audition to be accepted for school next year. The student
>>will get in, and she will do very well. Here is the maddening part. The
>>professor, while complimentary of her playing, told her that she should
buy
>>a particular brand of mouthpiece - that all of his students play on that
>>mouthpiece. He did this without trying out her mouthpiece or even
>>examining it. The mouthpiece is a Portnoy - a really GREAT Portnoy - and
>>one that has had a minor tweaking here and there by different famous
>>mouthpiece makers. I always thought it was so good she should just remain
>>on it. While I don't mind if he tries it out and thinks it might not be
>>good for her playing (which I would disagree with - but would understand),
>>to suggest a new mouthpiece immediately on one hearing without trying
>>it...............
>>
>>*sigh*
>>
>>I contacted another professor at another school who is a wonderful person
>>and teacher, and hopefully this student will have another choice for where
>>to go. I was really, really surprised at the ridgidity of this
>>person. The funny thing is, I don't think he even plays on the mouthpiece
>>he recommends - he plays on a Kaspar - and one that is completely
different
>>from the mouthpiece recommended.
>>
>>*double sigh*
>
>I live in a town with a moderate-sized state univerisity, and from time to
>time music ed majors make the trek on down to my high school to give
>lessons....pre-student teaching, I believe they call it. Anyway, I was
>receiving a lesson from one of htem one day, and she asked what size reed I
>was using. (At the time, I believe it was a 4.5.) She looked shocked and
>said "Why are you using that??? All of us here are (name of college) are
>playing on 3.5s!!!!"
>
>Far be it from me to question the opinion of a college professor, but
>doesn't dictating reed strength (or, at the very least, not encouraging
>exploration) seem a bit excessive, especially at the college level? I was
>under the impression that reed strength choice was determined by the facing
>of the mouthpiece...and if every student at this college is playing on the
>same mouthpiece, that goes back to the situation above.
>
>Oh well...there are several other reasons why I wasn't planning on going to
>that college anyway...
>
>(On a completely unrelated note, I play on a Fobes CF mouthpiece that I
just
>got, and I love it!! Thank you very much, Mr. Fobes!!)
>--
>Will Cicola
>I don't need a life. I've got orchestra!
>
>
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