Klarinet Archive - Posting 000744.txt from 2003/05

From: "Jeroen T. Salm" <jtsalm@-----.nl>
Subj: RE: [kl] Viotto Mouthpiece
Date: Thu, 29 May 2003 02:52:11 -0400

Mr Takashi Kawai [mailto:kawai@-----.jp] wrote
> Verzonden: donderdag 29 mei 2003 6:50
> Aan: klarinet@-----.org
> Onderwerp: Re: [kl] Viotto Mouthpiece
(...)
> On the other hand, I'm curious why wide openning=20
> mouthpieces, like B45, are so popular in the States. Well,=20
> certainly they can make loud tone(!), and easy to make sound.=20
> However, they are difficult to control.(especially=20
> intonation) In Japan, most students use Vandoren's 5RV lyre or B40.
>=20

Mr Takashi,

I myself have the feeling (after years of experience) that a "lighter" =
reed
(for instance vandoren 2,5 or 3) is (feels) more flexible intonation- =
and
colourwise than a stronger reed (3,5, 4 of 5). To keep "that" feeling of
resistance with those lighter reeds, I need a mouthpiece with a wider
tipopening (your air can get away). So, curious as it might be: I think =
"the
other way round" than you, Mr Takashi.=20

Students of my play (generally!) Vandoren mouthpiece B45 Lyra ("widest"
tipopening) with relative light reeds (2 or 2,5). I play German Bore
clarinets with a Zinner mouthpiece (with a "special "Bahn", called G.
Pieterson) , relatively wide (!) tipopening and (relative) light reeds =
(no3
Vandoren White Master, sometimes 2.5 on A clarinet).=20

But, in my opinion, it=B4s difficult for someone who plays on "heavy" =
reeds,
to go "down" to lighter ones. It takes a couple of months, because the
embouchure needs to be somewhat less tense with the lighter reeds (wich
gives, btw, I think, more control on intonation and colouring) and to
achieve that, well, that=B4s not that easy.

By reading the posts on this forum for years now, I have the feeling, =
the US
players (like the Austrian and Swiss?) (generally) tends to play on
(relatively) quite heavy reeds (compared to me :-), and compared to the
majority of Dutch players. Many years ago I was very astonished to =
notice
that Vandoren comes with reedstrengths higher than 3,5!! Who on earth =
would
need those, I thought: unplayable for me, also after seriously trying =
and
even now, doing my workouts weekly, I can=B4t play them at all... :-)

Yours,
Jeroen T. Salm
(The Netherlands)

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