Klarinet Archive - Posting 000228.txt from 2009/03

From: Tim Roberts <timr@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Sqeaking
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:19:03 -0400

On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:03:05 -0400, "Michael and Linda Marmer"
<mlmarmer@-----.com> wrote:
> Thank you Michael, as yes, I just went to a 4 Mitchell Lurie reed, because I
> used 4 and 5 for so long as a teenager. Never had this problem.
>
> I will go down to a 3 as I did not have this problem with 2.5 I was using
> this year.
>

Since it has not already been said, allow me to point out that
experience and embouchure are not the primary factors that determine
which strength of reed you should be using (although they certainly are
contributing factors).

Each mouthpiece is designed to work properly with a relatively narrow
range of reed strengths. A relatively open curve (with a wide gap at
the reed tip) needs a softer reed. A relatively closed curve (with a
narrow gap at the reed tip) needs a harder reed. If you are using
different equipment now than you did as a teenager, your experience
there does not apply.

Continuing my bad habit of overgeneralizing, it would be rare to find a
single mouthpiece that gives adequate service with both a 2.5 reed and a
5 reed.

--
Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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