Klarinet Archive - Posting 000311.txt from 2003/01

From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] shopping for first mouthpiece
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 10:53:48 -0500

Paul, I would submit, with no prejudice against the recommendations you've
already had from Richard and Jeremy, that you have much more to learn before
you are equipped to make any decisions about mouthpieces or reeds. You have
a teacher. He (she?) has both experience and the opportunity to hear your
playing first hand. My recommendation is that you DON'T start experimenting
with equipment while you still don't have a reliable feel for what it should
be able to do or what it can't be expected to provide. Get your teacher's
suggestion and, until you have good reason to do otherwise, follow it. If
you have confidence in the teacher, have confidence in his/her guidance
until you have a basis on which to make judgments of your own.

There's so much variety in both reeds and mouthpieces, and everything that's
out there works for someone or it wouldn't be marketable. Too much shopping
can confuse and frustrate even an experienced player. Just stay with what
your teacher is comfortable with and concentrate on basic embouchure
formation, articulation, breathing and fingering techniques. Once you feel
fairly firm ground under you, you have the rest of your life to try other
equipment, and you'll then have some basis for judging which helps you and
which doesn't.

Good luck!

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Ebersman [mailto:list-klarinet@-----.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2003 1:08 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: [kl] shopping for first mouthpiece
>
>
>
> I have just started on clarinet. It's my first reed instrument ever
> and I've only done a little flute, so breathing's a bit of a challenge
> too. I don't seem to be getting too many squeeks but I'm definitely at
> the novice end on mouth control right now.
>
> I got a good deal on a used Buffet E11 w/stock mouthpiece. I found a
> teacher who seems quite good but not much of a gear head. He's got me
> started on the Rubank and Hite books and long tones and I'm raring to
> go.
>
> I've gone through the archives, including all the various tidbits
> about a mouthpiece FAQ. I have also been reading the Pino book avidly.
>
> However, everyone talks about general designs but doesn't tie them to
> actual mouthpieces (and reeds).
>
> So, based on my teacher's background and the books he's given me, it
> seems like I'll be doing classical technique first. That's fine with
> me; I like the repertoire and want a really solid embouchure. I've
> learned other instruments where I didn't get a solid grounding early
> and had to unlearn/relearn later.
>
> My teacher likes the Mitchell Lurie Premium reeds. From the reed
> comparisons I've found, this one seems to be more on the flexible end
> for each strength.
>
> Given all that, what mouthpieces should I be looking at? What reeds
> other than the MLP should I be checking out? I don't mind going
> through a half dozen boxes of reeds I might not use again. Ever guitar
> I buy gets the same treatment of trying out 6 sets to see what's best.
>
> Thanks!
>
> --
> Paul
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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