 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Annie
Date: 2003-02-20 01:03
Hello to the Board!
I am about to start teaching private lessons and I need to know something...when should someone change their reed strength and what effects the reed strength. For instance, I currently use Vandoren V12 3.5 and I used to use 4s but they got too hard for me, why did this happen? I know that sometime I will have to suggest a student move up or down. Thanks for your help.
-Annie
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Author: Karel
Date: 2003-02-20 02:18
Annie, I am putting the reply to your question about alternative reed trimmers to Cordier (without the "u") here, because the thread will have scrolled out of view shortly. At IMS I found a Vandoren discontinued trimmer, and one by Rigotti. What surprised me was the description of the Cordier, stating that it can be adjusted to maintain the tip's original curvature. I don't see how. The problem I see with the Vandoren is that the replaceable blades may run out of stock, unless they are a universal independent item.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-02-20 15:12
VD reed trimmer--I've had one for years and the blade has not worn out. Mine came with a replacement blade that I have yet to use.
Reed strength: one needs to play a reed that allows tone production without undo "bite" causing sore lips and early fatigue. If your student has to play loud to "get the sound", plays contantly with a breathy tone and has trouble tonguing clearly because the reed does not respond, then perhaps the reed is too stiff. If the tone is quite "brite" lacking in depth of resonance, becomes shrill in the highest registers (or these high notes do not sound at all) and a full range of dynamics (ppp to FF) is not possible, then the reed may be too soft. To complicate matters, these suggestions are all relative to the students embouchure, oral cavity configuration and quality of mouthpiece being played. You, the teacher, must diagnois and correct these issues for your student and therefore, I might suggest that if you have too many questions concerning these issues, that you are not quite yet ready to offer private lessons that will be effective to any clarinet students musical or professional growth.
My orchestral set up is a Kaspar #14 mpc with V12 3.5 reeds on vintage R13 A & Bb clarinets. For jazz, I use a custom "Glenn Bowen" Woodwind G8 mpc and V12 4,0 reeds on a third vintage R13 goldplated clarinet (the gold has nothing to do with the sound--just "showbiz") The tip opening on my G8 is closer than on the Kaspar #14, so I need a stronger reed. Rule: The more open the tip, the softer the reed--the closer, the stronger, etc. Weaker embouchures will also demand softer reeds, stronger "chops" demand stronger reeds--but only to a point. Eventually, your student should develope embouchure strength to support the strength of reed that the mouthpiece needs to produce a resonate, breathfree clarinet sound that responds easily in all registers. The V12 3.5 reed is the average, however many experianced clarinetists play reeds that are stronger due to a closer tip opening or basically stronger "chops" (embouchure). You need to analyse your students needs with repect to embouhure strength and configuration, and qulity and tip opening of mouthpiece to dtermine the appropriate reed strength needed. Again, although you may be a good player, you may really not be ready to make these judgements for your students without further study of mouthpiece, embouchure, equipement and effective study materials (method books, excercises, practice schedules). Hope all this AM cyberbable helps a little--whatever you do, good luck and enjoy clarineting. (and put your students needs first)
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