Klarinet Archive - Posting 000263.txt from 2001/08

From: "emily worthington" <emily.worthington@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Crystal Mouthpieces VS Rubber Mouthpieces
Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 13:45:42 -0400

Here is a brief account of my experience (as a relative beginner) of crystal
mouthpieces:

When, after three years of lessons, I changed my plastic student clarinet
for my current Leblanc model, I didn't like the K10M mpc that came with it
so I borrowed one from my teacher until I had time to go shopping for one of
my own. What I borrowed was a Ria C2 crystal mpc. I believe that they are no
longer manufactured. I loved it. When I eventually got my own mpc I bought a
Vandoren A3 crystal. I loved that even more, and took my grade 7 ad grade 8
exams on it. However that 'went to heaven' when someone bumped into me as I
warmed up in a crowded dressing room before a concert and the mpc collided
with my front tooth. My tooth was fine, but the mpc lost a large chip from
the inside of the tip.

My point is in reference to your query about the suitability of crystal
mouthpieces for beginners. I don't know whether my unusual choice of mpc
helped or hindered my progression as a player - when I was playing it I
received two confusing comments about my playing: one from Paul Harris, the
editor of '80 graded studies for the clarinet' which appears regularly on
the ABRSM syllabus (the usual disclaimer, I have no vested intrerest in this
publication) who said I had a 'very centred tone'; the second from the
clarinet tutor at the Surrey County Youth Orchestra, who siad my tone was
'too dispersed', and recommended that I change to a rubber mpc because the
crystal tone was 'unfashionable' and said that it had hindered him in
getting work as a performer. (Has anyone else had anyexperience of this?)

Now to my uneducated ears 'dispersed' and 'centred' sound pretty
contradictory; anyhow now I play on an ebonite Weinberg M1, which until
recently I found far harder to control than _either_ crystal mpc. So I guess
it depends on the beginner!

>From the PoV of a young (pre-teen) beginner, obviously the damage
vulnerability paired with the expense of these mpcs makes it a bad idea - I
was 14 when I started playing on them, and old enough to be constantly
terrified of dropping mine, particularly the one which didn't belong to me!

I disagree with Bill about grip and mpc patches though - I never had one on
mine and didn't find it 'cold and unforgiving', more reassuringly solid.

My two penneth! I hope it helps.
Em.

----- Original Message -----
From: "rgedo" <rgedo@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Crystal Mouthpieces VS Rubber Mouthpieces

> Dear List,
>
> This is another issue I would like to receive your
> input on. What are the main differences (advantages
> and disadvantages) of the Crystal mouthpieces against
> Rubber mouthpieces.
>
> In particular I know the Pomarico brand which is one
> of the largest producers of Crystal mouthpieces in the
> world and understand they are excellent however a
> little difficult to control. Perhaps because of this,
> they are not recommended to beginners?
>
> Thanks in advance and best regards to you all.
>
> Robert
>
> Do You Yahoo!?
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