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Author: Dan Oberlin ★2017
Date: 2017-09-17 19:41
Does anyone have experience with using a synthetic reed for a beginning student? He's currently using Mitchell Lurie 2 or 2.5 on a Fobes Debut.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2017-09-17 23:18
Tom Ridenour recommends it, but considering how much trouble young beginners sometimes have learning to line up a cane reed correctly, I'm not sure how much the extra precision required for a synthetic reed would take away from the possible benefits. Also, unless he has something unusual going on he should probably be moving up reed strengths in relatively quick succession. My high school students sometimes use synthetic reeds on the Debut for marching band, but the results are never as good as with cane.
It's been a long time since I used Mitchell Lurie reeds but it is possible that you might see some better results from another brand. The Mitchel Luries of old seemed to get water logged quickly and if that's still the case might make them less than ideal for even a beginner.
My beginners use Juno reeds (made by Vandoren) and then switch to Vandorens when they max out on the reed strengths available with Junos. This usually also about the time that they are ready to appreciate a better quality reed with a thicker heart.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2017-09-17 23:52
The Debut, if I remember correctly, has very thin side rails as well as a thin tip. My experience with Legere's on the Debut was not good.
From my readings, synthetics usually work better on mouthpieces that have wider side rails as well as a slightly thicker tip railing. I'm quite sure Tom Ridenour's Encore has wider side rails. They can be purchased very cheaply on that auction site.
I'm thinking of starting over again and plan to get an Encore and put a synthetic reed on it. At 70, I would be playing just for fun.
I suggest ordering an Encore off of that auction site and try it out with a synthetic. I believe there is a two week trial period.
Good luck!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-09-18 00:01
I've never had a beginner play on synthetics, so I can't say whether or not I like the idea in practice. I only rarely start a beginner these days, but if I did I'd have three concerns that would probably keep me from trying it.
1) As nellsonic mentions, alignment is crucial, at least with Légère reeds. Add to that the difficulty of actually seeing where the a Légère is on the facing with respect to the tip and side rails, and I'm not sure how much trouble the synthetic would cause against what it might save.
2) Légères tend to play flatter than cane, so a beginner's tendency toward flat pitch might be aggravated.
3) Synthetics in general seem to need more attention to keeping the tone focused. I actually need more careful embouchure control to maintain life in the tone (as well as keeping the pitch up where it needs to be), especially around the throat area of the clarinet.
Maybe these issues can be compensated for in the beginner's equipment or by future improvements in synthetic reeds, but my gut feeling is that right now it's easier to develop good control of pitch and tone with responsive (and, when necessary, more easily discarded) cane reeds. When I show my high school students Légère reeds, they already know what to listen for.
Karl
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2017-09-19 03:28
I don't normally have beginners use plastic reeds for four reasons:
1) Cost. It is prohibitive.
2) Durability. Synthetic reeds are not THAT much more durable, and for students who might accidentally break their reeds due to inexperience and misuse, they are not the best option because of item 1.
3) Student Growth. Students may start on a 2 or 2.5 reed, but after only a few weeks move into a better suited reed.
4) Value. You won't get the best value out of the reed since you'll use it for such a short time, or break it prematurely.
Overall, it would be kind of like buying nice designer clothes for children. They grow out of stuff and are hard on clothes, so it's not really the best investment in my opinion.
All this being said, once a student is ready and comfortable there's no real reason (other than the ones mentioned above) that they shouldn't be explored.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
Post Edited (2017-09-19 03:30)
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