Klarinet Archive - Posting 000124.txt from 2003/04

From: CBA <clarinet10001@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Mouthpiece Problem!!, Help!
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:31:01 -0400

First of all...

I NEVER buy a mouthpiece I haven't played on...doesn't make any
sense. If the store won't let you try it, go somewhere that
will. I only buy beginner mouthpieces like the Hite Premiere and
Fobes Debut by mailorder/phone order. ALL other mouthpieces I
buy I play first, PERIOD. If it doesn't work, don't buy it.

Secondly, are you studying with a teacher? If you aren't, and
you are not already at a professional level, I would not buy any
more mouthpieces until you consult with, and study with a
teacher for a while. One reason is they can help isolate your
embouchure problems and SUGGEST mouthpieces that might help you.
The other is, if the Hite mouthpiece works, I would get a more
mature embouchure FIRST before moving on to another mouthpiece.
One of the strengths of beginner mouthpieces, specifically the
Hite Premiere and the Fobes Debut is to be VERY easy blowing and
easy to control. This allows a beginner to work on the
embouchure WITHOUT having to fight the mouthpiece or adjust to
the mouthpiece.

I would take the O'Brien back regardless of where you are in
your studies and whether you study with a teacher or not. It
doesn't work for you...'nuff said. You might have to pay a
restocking fee, but unless you have scratched the mouthpiece in
any way (metal ligatures and teeth do that) or unless you bought
it closeout or "as-is", you can take it back, as you should with
ANY equipment that doesn't work for you.

Kelly Abraham
Woodwinds - New York City
--- RAYRAYGRIFF@-----.com wrote:
> I first played on a Hite Premier mouthpiece. Recently I have
> been fascinated by crystal mouthpiece and all the hype I was
> hearing about them from professionals and Message Boards. So I
> went out a purchased an O'brien Mouthpiece. So I took it home
> and I started playing it. First off it is very hard to blow
> into, it wasn't as free blowing as my other mouthpiece, also
> coming down from the octaves is a weird, it doesn't want to
> come down from the upper octave it like i'm overblowing it (i
> think that problem is just me and my embouchure). Also there
> is so much pressure when playing notes around the Middle C
> area. Also it plays SHARP!!!!!, i think that might be because
> my embouchure may be too firm? when i relax i get a better
> response but not the response I was looking for. ANY
> INFORMATION AND TIPS WILL BE GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!.

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