 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Colby
Date: 2009-09-06 17:15
I'm going on 5 years of clarinet playing and ever since I started, I've been playing on a Vandoren M13 lyre mouthpiece that my band director had every clarinetist in beginning band buy. I have since tried to branch out by buying a B45 with a bigger tip opening, but find it hard to play and that I just sound infinitely better with my M13. After looking at a chart on http://www.jodyjazz.com/facings.clarinet.html, I now realize that I have one of the smallest tip openings around.
My question to the BBoard is, should I step up my game and play the B45? Will people look down upon me because I play the M13 with such a small tip opening? I currently play on 3 1/2 strength reeds with my M13 and have trouble getting a half decent sound out with 3's on my B45.
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Author: patrickryan04
Date: 2009-09-06 17:22
Colby, there are many great players who play on the Vandoren M13. If your getting the sound that you and your band director like on the M13 then there is no need to change your mp set-up. Maybe you could consult a local clarinet instructor on the matter.
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2009-09-06 17:33
Beginners really shouldn't start at either extreme, which is why the 5rv and 5rv lyre are so popular for beginners with vandoren. I'm not sure why so many teachers start their students on B45 or M13\M13 lyre.
The M13 lyre was developed to mimic the vintage chedeville mouthpieces. Many of the qualities have been put in these mouthpieces, making them very good.
The M13 lyre is an excellent mouthpiece, many professionals play on them. There is no shame in playing it!
If you wanted to try others, just for the sake of something new or to play something different from everyone else, try an M15 or M30. Playing something different from everyone else solely for that purpose is a waste of time however.
If you feel your mouthpiece isn't quite like it "used to be", order 3-6 new M13 lyres and find the best one.
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Author: Colby
Date: 2009-09-06 17:36
Thank you Patric and NBeaty for your replys
I guess I'll just keep using my M13, and possibly my B45 for marching band.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-09-06 17:41
why do you want to change? are you unhappy with your sound?
if its not broken, don't fix it...
if you really want to change, try a m15. but a m13 is excellent - i'd leave it alone unless you're unhappy with your sound
what does your private teacher think?
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Colby
Date: 2009-09-06 18:06
I use to have a private lessons teacher when I was in 6-7th grade when I lived in Frisco TX (just 30 minutes north of you pewd), but then I moved to some **** stain town in Arkansas where asking for private lessons is nothing but a joke. :(
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Author: Ed
Date: 2009-09-07 01:35
Many people play the M13 lyre very successfully. Some have jobs in major orchestras. Those are probably my favorite of the Vandoren mouthpieces. I personally don't care for the B45. If you were looking at the facings on the JodyJazz page, keep in mind that those mouthpieces are much more open, catering more to the jazzer or doubler who would be more at home on sax.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-09-07 02:41
No problem with trying other mouthpieces (I try a few a year just for fun and sometimes end up switching). But remember, no matter WHAT mouthpiece you currently use, someone's out there that will say it's essentially 'crap' or 'overpriced' or something like that and recommend something else. So just ignore people's opinions on YOUR mouthpiece (especially if they aren't there to hear what YOU sound like on that mouthpiece). And just go for what sounds good and is comfortable to play.
WARNING: SOAPBOX AHEAD...
Keep that in mind for everything. It's not about what brand, style, etc. equipment you play. It's "are you in tune, does it sound good, and is it easy to play (as in you don't have to 'fight' the equipment and it's comfortable for you to play).
Don't get stuck in the "I play a harder reed than you so I must be better" game, or "You should be playing a _____ brand clarinet made of _____ material with _____ coated keys, etc. etc. etc." Just use what works.
THAT BEING SAID....
Stick with what works. If you feel like trying out some new stuff, go right ahead. And enjoy the hunt, as I call it. But honestly, I would never, EVER base my equipment on whether it'll be "looked down" upon. Just remember, if someone is looking down on equipment because of brand or model or something like that, just ignore it. It's YOUR equipment, use what YOU like.
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Author: justme
Date: 2009-09-07 03:03
As others have said, don't worry what others think, do what works best for you.
But if you're going to go to a more open mouthpiece you might want to try cuttiing down your reed strength and see how that works out for you.
As far as privite lessons...
Tell me about it!
Where I live there are no "private lessons" unless you want to take guitar or piano ( and those are about 25 miles away!).
You can take a few clarinet lessons I guess ( 25 miles away) but I don't think that they would be "top notch."
Oboe, Bass clarinet, sax, or real quality clarinet, you'd have to drive 95 -100 miles each way and hope that it isn't storming here in East Texas because it floods between there and here ( not to mention the usual hail, high winds and possibly a tornado which isn't unusual!).
Just Me
http://woodwindforum.ning.com/
"A critic is like a eunuch: he knows exactly how it ought to be done."
CLARINET, n.
An instrument of torture operated by a person with cotton in his ears. There are two instruments that are worse than a clarinet -- two clarinets
Post Edited (2009-09-07 03:21)
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