Klarinet Archive - Posting 000164.txt from 2002/03

From: "Patricia Alison Smith" <pattiesmith@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Variation on buying a new clarinet
Date: Sun, 10 Mar 2002 20:51:42 -0500

Mike Edmonds wrote:

First timer here, I just bought a no-mouth-piece clarinet on ebay, a yamaha.
Anyone have any recommendations on reasonably priced reeds/mouthpiece
combos?

Patricia:

I strongly suggest the Clark Fobes Debut as a good "Starter" mouthpiece -
good for any beginner, young or adult. It is consistently made, and plays
smoothly in all registers. It also responds well with practically any reed.

I would suggest you try Mitchell Lurie (the regulars) or LaVoz Reeds for
starters, since Vandorens and some of the other "premium" brands tend to be
a bit capricious, at least in my experience.

As far as a good ligature is concerned, why not try a Bonade or Bonade
inverted? They are reasonably priced and do the job well. (One
suggestion - do not succumb to temptation and tighten the screws too tight!
Tighten the top one barely at all, and the bottom one just snugly enough to
do the job!)

I have found that often, one can obtain fine results with good equipment
gotten at a reasonable price. Mr. Fobes' Debut Mouthpiece is one of the
best deals around. I have had students get some wonderful results with it.
I also find that, though adult players who come back to the horn after a
long layoff demand more of themselves, they tend to gain more satisfaction
from their playing if they relax and do not try to use such stiff reeds and
such a resistant set-up. One does not have to huff and puff and try to blow
a house down! After all, one is playing the clarinet, not imitating the Big
Bad Wolf! *G* Also, on a more serious note, a set-up that is too resistant
can cause a player to breathe much too shallow, and defeat his/her own
purpose. Odd, that.

One way or another, good luck. HTH
Patricia A. Smith
pattiesmith@-----.net

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