 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jacoblikesmusic
Date: 2009-11-03 00:39
Okay so I'm going to order some mouthpieces by Walter Grabner and Clark Fobes to see what I like. Can someone explain to me what characteristics I'm supposed to look for in a mouthpiece. Can you also tell me what sort of tests i should perform to see which one best suits me? Such as music i should try to play with it, etc.
Thanks for the replies!
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-11-03 00:57
Clark Fobes doesn't sell direct any more. You will have to order from a vendor like Muncy, WWBW or WienerMusic.
CHeck first to be sure that the particular mouthpiece allows you to play in tune using your current clarinet and barrel. From there, if you are in tune, start checking the tone and articulation. Play SLOW and LONG TONES for this, not fast runs. You are testing the equipment, not yourself and your playing abilities. Check out some of Tom Ridenour's YOuTube videos on mouthpieces. You might also wqant to pick up a copy of "The Educator's Guide to the Clarinet." Also, check the articles on Ed Palanker's site.
Best of all, have an experienced teacher help you in selecting the mouthpiece. That's the best way to do it. It's worth paying someone for the advice.
Jeff
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Author: OldClarinetGuy
Date: 2009-11-03 01:06
Get help from your teacher. Long tones and slow scales for tuning and some articulation exercises. But, it also just has to be comfortable.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2009-11-03 02:23
Bradford Behn has also some very useful information:
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com/selecting_mouthpiece.asp
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: Jacob S
Date: 2009-11-03 05:06
When I was testing mouthpieces, my teacher had me test intonation, tone, articulation and flexibility. I played a few major scales three octaves, held a long tone and then a long tone with dynamics (nothing to fortissimo in 8 counts and back to nothing in 8 counts), played the major scales again with staccato and legato articulations, and played two etudes. One was quicker and with a good variety of articulations, the other was slower and melodic. She was handing me the mouthpieces in different orders (including my old mp) and had tape covering the stamps so I couldn't tell what I was playing, and then I gave my input. Good luck!
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-11-03 05:44
Do a blind test, like Jacob suggests. You may even blindfold yourself and have your helper hand you the clarinet with different mouthpieces on it, in case you recognize yours by sight even without the logo (e.g. if it has your mouthpiece patch on it).
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-11-03 11:12
And when you're testing articulation, tone, flexibility and control, check all registers and different notes. So you don't end up with a mouthpiece that sounds great in the chalemeau register and can't produce a pp in the altissimo register.
Also, one thing that I usually test for how comfortable I am playing it. I know there will be a degree of it not being comfortable cause it's new, but if I have to fight the mouthpiece for it to play most of the time, it's not worth it to me. If it plays well and I think I can get used to it, that one shows promise.
Alexi
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Author: Bluesparkle
Date: 2009-11-03 11:25
When I went through my borrowed stash of mouthpieces, I played a song that I learned in high school for one of the All State tryouts. Looking back, it was probably selected because it had a good variety of notes in all registers, and there are passages of long notes and quick notes. I practiced so much on this piece that I have it memorized today, so I don't have to concentrate on anything except producing a sound out of my instrument. By playing the same piece with each mouthpiece, I was able to decide which one helped me articulate cleanly, which one had the sound I liked, which one worked with which reed, etc.
I will say that one song isn't enough to give a mouthpiece a fair shot, but it might help you quickly weed out the ones you really don't like. You also need to switch up reeds, so that when today's favorite reed is shot, you can count on the mouthpiece to still perform as you prefer when a new reed is required. Play them all again on a different day. Don't test them in the same order each time, and I really like the blind test, as it removes and pre-conceptions regarding brand name or model number.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-11-03 14:54
Dave McClune, as mentioned above, also makes quality mouthpieces, as does many others. I do have something on my website about this but basically make sure you try them with several different reeds because one may play better with a softer reed while another with a slightly stronger reed. Check out the sites recommended above. Remember, you want to look at the whole package, tone, articulation, intonation, comfort level etc. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-11-03 21:11
It's like buying a pair of shoes......
Bob Draznik
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