Klarinet Archive - Posting 000233.txt from 2003/10

From: Randy Ratzlaff <rratzlaff@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] [clarinet] reeds for beginners?
Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 21:15:36 -0400

Good Evening!

I am one of those "insane" band directors and a clarinet player.

Yes, I start my 6th grade beginner clarinets on Vandoren #3 with 5RV
lyre mouthpiece. I have had tremendous success with it. Yes, we do a
lot of breathing exercises. We spend a couple of weeks just on
mouthpieces and barrels until the embouchures / air / posture / tone is
established.

Like I said, it works for me, just as your system seems to work for you.

"insane" band director

On Wednesday, October 8, 2003, at 08:50 AM, Christy Erickson wrote:

> Our local band directors use Rico number 2 reeds for beginners,
> although I
> started my own daughter with VanDoren #2 in 5th grade. They break/chip
> so
> many in the beginning that it really doesn't pay to buy more expensive
> ones
> until they can handle the instrument well and have a good understanding
> of
> how to put it together properly. I can't imagine a beginner having to
> start
> with a VanDoren #3, unless of course the band director wants to cut
> down on
> the number of clarinet players. Most kids would simply get frustrated
> and
> give up on playing the clarinet with reeds in that strength. I would
> gently
> let the band director know that this VanDoren #3 requirement for
> beginners
> is insane, although I wouldn't quite put it that way.
>
> Christy
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
>

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org