Klarinet Archive - Posting 000087.txt from 2002/10

From: Paul Dods <pewd@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: painted mouthpieces
Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2002 13:41:36 -0400

yup , you're right, it was a tad harsh

ok presuming the author is in fact a young student:

1. please don't paint it, there's a small possibility it could warp the
mouthpiece, destroying its tone. a mouthpiece is a finely engineered,
designed and manufactured piece of equipment. treat it carefully and with
respect and it will give you years of service. mines been use for 20
years - still plays fine - and i treat it very very carefully.
2. nail polish isn't food, it contains toxic substances (poisons) - why
would you want that in your mouth? my chemistry background says 'no no no -
its poison - keep it off your mouthpiece'.
3. since you didn't paint yours, you have more common sense than those
who did. I am suprised you director allowed it. its a delicate piece of
equipment, treat it right it will last for years. its not a toy. don't
treat it like a toy. treat your music studies seriously.
4. the reed question - its not a contest. don't listen to the peer
pressure. if you 're getting a good tone and response, then you have proper
strength reed for you. making a good sound is the desired goal at this
point in your studies. everyone's mouth and embouchure is different, which
is why they sell different strength reeds in the first place. concentrate
on making a good tone - and the reed strength will take care of itself.
you'll know when its time to go up to a stronger one when you find the
present one is too soft. but that's up to you and your teacher, not up to
your friends.

paul

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Roberts" <timr@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Re: painted mouthpieces

> On Tue, 01 Oct 2002 20:52:18 -0500, Paul Dods <pewd@-----.com> wrote:
> >
> >>you could use fingernail polish to make it a pretty color. A clarinetist
in
> >>my band painted her mouthpiece this pink color with nail polish. I think
it
> >>looks stupid, but everyone else loved it, and nod all the reed players
have
> >>painted mouthpieces except for me.
> >
> >I know new members to the list should keep their eyes open and their
mouths
> >shut, but this one caught my attention.
> >
> >This is a joke, right? Or are we dealing with an elementary school
student
> >who needs to be told that musical instruments are precision pieces of
> >equipment which must be treated with care and respect. And what kind of
> >band director would tolerate such nonsense?
>
> I think that's a little harsh. I agree that it seems silly, but unless
the
> aromatic hydrocarbons in the polish react negatively with the rubber in
the
> mouthpiece, and assuming they stayed away from the rails and the table,
this
> practice should be harmless.
>
> I suspect many school directors would be gratified just to know that their
> students were taking a personal interest in their instruments!
>
> --
> - Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
> Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
>
>
>
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>

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