Author: Evan
Date: 2000-12-01 04:42
Listen to Pete, have you ever heard a fatter clarinet sound than Mr. Fountain. He gave #2 reeds to clarinet players for a reason. Most great sounding clarinet players use a medium reed strength, at least one that matches their mouthpiece. A hard reed on a mouthpiece that was designed for a soft reed, with a long face and very open, will sound less appealing than a reed that will allow vast tonal variations because a several embouchers can be used to produce in-tune, good sounding notes. Pete knows this, just listen to his playing. Don't ever start to believe that all good players play on hard reeds, that you should always be playing a harder reed, or that soft reeds are always inferior to hard ones.
To play music, the stuff that actually comes from inside, you need to sound the way you want to sound, and most sounds that are often mimicked are not produced by #8 strength reeds, pros settle into a groove that makes them comfortable with their sound, you should do the same to keep the clarinet a loved instrument. Sadly, when most people think of the sound of a clarinet, they think of the quiet, flat, airy sound of students from high school that try to play on #4 reeds because they think it makes them sound better.
Listen to yourself, don't ever be afraid to try different reed brands and strengths. When doing this, remember to listen to yourself and pick the product that makes you feel good about your playing. Don't try to impress people by playing on hard reeds.
Remember, what is more important: touching the hearts of countless audience members with a clarinet sound that os gorgeous because it is contolled by you, or impressing the second chair player below you with your extremely high numbered reads.
Thankyou for listening, it just bothers me to see everyone on this board playing 3 1/2-5 and no one playing 2-2 1/2, and I am sure someone on this board has a mouthpiece that would be best with a medium strength reed.
By the way, I play vandoren v-12 3's on all my mouthpieces (b45, b45., selmer crystal, charles bay) except my pete fountain, on which I play a med. soft la voz, because it makes me sing.
Evan Weigel
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The Clarinet BBoard
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